How to Fix ‘Windows Update Error 0x80070020’ Issue

Do you know how to Fix ‘Windows Update Error 0x80070020’ Issue? Users who are running Windows 11/10 are unable to install the most recent version of Windows Update as a result of the error code 0x80070020. This is a very annoying problem. A great number of users have posted about this update error in the forum thread that is devoted to resolving the 0x80070020 error. Microsoft has already made available an automatic solution to the 0x80070020 error, which can be accessed through the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

The 0x80070020 error was discovered for the first time toward the end of 2017, and Microsoft quickly issued hotfixes for all versions of Windows Update as well as a fix for Windows 11. Error 0x80070020 with Windows Update is most commonly caused by software programs that interfere with the process of automatically updating Windows. Antivirus software, for instance, that performs scanning in real time could potentially cause problems for the process that handles automated software updates.

It is important to keep in mind that an overly cautious antivirus program or a running antivirus scan are not the only possible causes of this problem. The Windows Update error 0x8007002 could also have been brought on by a WU inconsistency, a GPU software that is incompatible with one another, or a damaged system file that has an effect on a WU dependency. We mentioned below are the ways how to Fix ‘Windows Update Error 0x80070020’ Issue.

Causes of the ‘Windows Update Error 0x80070020’ Issue

1. Network Issues: Poor or unstable internet connectivity may lead to the update error.
2. Insufficient Disk Space: If your device lacks enough storage space, it can hinder the update process.
3. Third-Party Antivirus Software: Security software may interfere with Windows updates, causing the error.
4. Corrupted System Files: Damaged or corrupted system files can disrupt the update installation.
5. Background Applications: Running applications in the background might conflict with the update procedure.

How to Fix ‘Windows Update Error 0x80070020’ Issue

Restart Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)

1. Press Win + R keys to open the Run box, then input services.msc and hit Enter.
2. Go to Background Intelligent Transfer Service in the list of services, right-click it and select Properties.
3.  In the new window, navigate to the Startup type and set it as Automatic.
4. If the service is not running, click Start. If the service is running, click Stop first of all and click Start again to restart the service.
5. After that, click OK and Apply to save the change.

Perform an in-place upgrade

1. Download Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s website.
2. Once you download Media Creation Tool, run it.
3. Select Upgrade this PC now.
4. Wait while Media Creation Tool prepares the necessary files.
5. Select Download and install updates and click Next. Wait while updates are downloaded.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen until you reach Ready to install screen. Click on Change what to keep.
7. Select Keep personal files and apps. Now click Next.
8. The installation will now start. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete it.

Perform a Clean Boot and Install the Windows Update

1. Open the Run box and type msconfig in it, and hit Enter.
2.  Inside the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab. Then select the Hide All Microsoft Services checkbox.
3. Now, click Disable all button. And click Apply to save the change.
4. Navigate to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
5. In the Task Manager tab, select the first enabled application and click Disable. Here you need to disable all enabled applications one by one. After disabling all programs, close Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration Startup tab.

Restart the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)

1. Press Windows Key +R and enter services.msc. Press Enter or click OK.
2. Find Background Intelligent Transfer Service. Right-click and open Properties
3. On the General tab, find Startup type and choose Automatic.
4. If the BITS is not running, right-click and choose Start.
5. Confirm selection and close window.

Perform SFC

1. Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Select Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin) from the list.
2. In the command line type sfc/scannow
3. The process should last a few minutes.
4. After it’s done, close the Command Prompt.

Use Command Prompt

1. Start Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Now run netstat -aon | find “:80” and netstat -aon | find “:443” commands. You’ll see a list of information. Look at the numbers at the right side. These numbers represent the ID of the processes that are using your network connection.
3. To find a problematic process, you need to open Task Manager. You can do that by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
4. When Task Manager opens, go to the Details tab and look at the PID column. There you should be able to find the same numbers you got in Step 2. Find the problematic process, select it and click End task.
5. Now go to Services window and check the PID column for any numbers from Step 2. If you find a match, right-click the service with that PID, and choose Stop from the menu. Keep in mind that certain services are required by Windows, so be cautious while disabling service,

Conclusion

Through the addition of various new features and functions, the Windows update contributes to an improvement in the quality of the security updates. The process of updating, on the other hand, is not particularly streamlined, and there is a possibility that errors will make certain things more difficult to complete. The error known as “Windows Update Error Code 0x80070020” is one of these errors. It is possible for this to occur if you are utilizing an antivirus program or if there are missing or corrupted system files. The Microsoft Official Website is a good place to get more help.

Questions and Answers