While running Windows Update if you receive error code 0x8000FFFF, E_UNEXPECTED – Unexpected failure then this post offers some working fixes. It can even occur when updating Microsoft Store apps at times. Here are a few things you could try to fix the issue.
Microsoft Store or Windows Update Error 0x8000FFFF
Here are a few things you could try to fix the 0x8000FFFF, E_UNEXPECTED – Unexpected failure error:
- Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Install Updates in Clean Boot State
- Delete SoftwareDistribution contents & Reset catroot2
- Clear Store Cache
- Cryptographic Service
- Check Root Permissions
- Use Media Creation Tool Instead
- Check Log Files.
Let us take a look at these in detail.
1] Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
To run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, go to Settings, then open Update and Security and then select Troubleshoot from the left menu. Now locate Windows Update under Get up and running and click on the Troubleshooter button to start it. The troubleshooter will scan your system for possible errors and will also try to fix them automatically. This might help in resolving any underlying issue for the given Windows Update Error Code.
2] Install Updates in Clean Boot State
Clean Boot State is a state in which your computer has started with a pre-selected minimal set of drivers and programs. It is generally used to solve and troubleshoot advanced Windows problems by isolating them. Try installing updates in a Clean Boot state as there might be a third-party application or driver interfering with the update process in the normal mode.
3] Delete SoftwareDistribution contents & Reset catroot2
The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder located in the Windows directory and used to temporarily store files which may be required to install Windows Update on your computer. It is thus required by Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. There is a possibility that the Software Distribution folder is a reason for this error as there might be some corrupted update files. So it is best to delete its contents.
You may want to also reset the catroot2 folder. The Catroot2 folder stores the signatures of the Windows Update package and helps in its installation. You can also try deleting its contents if you are facing Error 0x8000FFFF.
4] Clear Store Cache
A damaged Windows Store cache can also be a problem underneath this error. Windows Store is closely related to Windows Update and resetting Store cache can fix the 0x8000FFFF error. Follow this post on how to clear Windows Store Cache in Windows 11/10.
5] Cryptographic Service
Open Services Manager and ensure Cryptographic Service is set to Automatic and Started. Cryptographic Service is responsible for Automatic Root Certificate Update which retrieves root certificates from Windows Update Service. This could also be a possible reason for this Windows Update Error.
6] Check Root Permissions
Check the permissions on the root of C: and ensure that BUILTIN\Users have Read access. You can read more about this on TechNet.
7] Use Media Creation Tool Instead
If nothing seems to work for you and you want to install this major update. What you can do is use Media Creation Tool to download the update separately and then later install it. Media Creation Tool is super simple and very easy to use.
8] Check Log Files
Log Files contain very vital information about errors and crash that we as normal users usually tend to forget. So check if you can find anything useful in logs related to the update error and why did it fail. The logs are located at %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.
These were a few possible solutions to the 0x8000FFFF error code that you might face while updating Windows. All these solutions can be carried out independently or one after another.
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