How to Fix ‘Windows Update Error 0x80240034′ issue

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Do you know how to Fix ‘Windows Update Error 0x80240034′ issue? The ‘Windows Update Error 0x80240034′ may appear on your screen whenever you attempt to update your Windows 11/10 operating system. In the event that your Windows Update fails to complete, it will remain stuck at 1%. After that, you will notice that the unsuccessful updates have the error code 0x80240034 associated with them if you click on View Installed Update History. Every time you attempt to upgrade Windows, you will experience this issue once more.

Additionally, keep in mind that this is not occurring with a single version of Windows Update specifically. There are individuals who are experiencing this issue that have different builds of Windows. When Windows Update fails, some users receive a different error code, but when they look at the history of Windows Update, they still see the error code 0x80240034. This is something more that should be mentioned.

While we do not know for certain what causes this problem, the most likely cause is that the update files are corrupted. This is the most plausible explanation. On account of this, the most typical method how to Fix ‘Windows Update Error 0x80240034′ issue is to reset the cache that Windows uses to store updates. As a result, it could be related to the manner in which the update client transfers settings from the previous version. If you require additional assistance, you may go to the Microsoft Official website.

Causes of the ‘Windows Update Error 0x80240034′ issue

1. Internet Connection Issues: Poor or unstable internet connectivity can lead to update errors. Ensure a stable and reliable internet connection before attempting updates.
2. Corrupted Windows Update Components: Corruption in the Windows Update components, such as the Software Distribution folder, can trigger error 0x80240034. Clearing or resetting these components might resolve the issue.
3. Insufficient Disk Space: If your system lacks sufficient space, Windows may struggle to download and install updates. Ensure you have enough free space on your drive.
4. Software Conflicts: Third-party antivirus or security software can sometimes interfere with the update process. Temporarily disabling such software may help identify and resolve the issue.
5. Background Services: Some Windows services need to be running for updates to install successfully. Ensure that essential services like BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) and Windows Update service are active.
6. Outdated Windows System Files: If critical system files are outdated or corrupted, it can lead to update errors. Running system file checker (sfc) or DISM (Deployment Image Service and Management Tool) scans can help repair these files.

How to Fix ‘Windows Update Error 0x80240034′ issue

Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

1. Open “Settings“. You can open them by going to Start and searching for Settings. Press Enter to open the Settings.
2. Move to the “Update & Security” section and click on “Troubleshoot“.
3. Run the Troubleshooter.
4. You can proceed with the Troubleshooter with default steps and follow the on-screen instructions. Once it is completed, you have to restart your computer and see if the error persists or not.

Download the Update Manually

1. Open any internet browser from your computer – for example, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.
2. Open the website Microsoft Update Catalog
3. Enter the update code that you want to download and install manually from the website’s search option.
4. Locate and update from search results.
5. Make sure you find the one that is according to the architecture of your system. The most common architecture is x86 and x64. So, double-check if you are looking at the correct update or not.
6. Download the update by clicking on the download button in front of them.
7. Execute the downloaded setup of the update and proceed with general settings.
8. Restart your computer.

Turn OFF the Windows Developer Mode

1. Go to Settings > Update and Security and select For developers on the left.
2. At developer features, choose Sideload Apps
3. Click Yes at Turn on app sideloading.
4. Then go to Settings –> Apps -> Apps & Features > Manage optional features
5. Click at Windows Developer Mode and click Uninstall.
6. Restart your computer and try to install the update again.

Run SFC

1. Press Windows+Q and type cmd.
2. From the search results, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator.
3. A new cmd window appears. Type sfc /scannow and then hit the Enter key
4. Wait until the scan and repair process is finished.

Clear the SoftwareDistribution Folder

1. Press the Win + S shortcut.
2. Into the search field, type command prompt.
3. Right-click on the top result and choose Run as Administrator.
4. Type the net stop wuauserv command and hit Enter.
5. Next, input the rmdir %windir%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q command and hit the Enter key.
6. Now, type the net start wuauserv command and hit Enter.
7. Once done, restart Windows and the error should be gone.

Run a DISM Scan

1. Press the Win + X shortcut to launch the Command Prompt with administrator rights.
2. Type this command: dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth. Hit the Enter key.
3. If the DISM utility fails to obtain replacements for the problematic files, use your installation media instead. Connect it to your device and type this command into the Command Prompt window: dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:/Repair/Source/Windows /LimitAccess.
4. Make sure that you replace the value of C:/Repair/Source/Windows with the actual location of your installation media.
5. Hit Enter to execute the command.

Change Windows Update service type

1. Right-click on Windows key and select Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type the following commands in Command Prompt window. To execute them, press Enter after each one.
   • SC config wuauserv start= auto
   • SC config bits start= auto
   • SC config cryptsvc start= auto
   • SC config trustedinstaller start= auto
3. Finally, restart your PC.

Conclusion

The Windows update error 0x80240034 usually occurs during the download process. And you can see the Windows 11/10 error 0x80240034 with the “failed to download” or “failed to install” message when you view the Windows update history. If you encounter the error 0x80240034 when downloading or installing the Windows 10 update, try the following solutions to fix the error immediately.

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