How to fix Windows Update error 0x80242016

Here is a guide to fix Windows Update error 0x80242016. Windows Update errors are not new as users keep running into one or another update error every now and then. One such error is the error code 0x80242016 that occurs while you install some feature or quality updates manually or automatically.

What is error code 0x80242016?

Windows Update error code 0x80242016 means that the state of the update after its post-reboot operation has completed is unexpected. You may see a message WU_E_UH_POSTREBOOTUNEXPECTEDSTATE in the error logs.

Users experiencing this error code might miss out on important updates like bug fixes and other improvements. It is anyway crucial to keep your system up-to-date to avoid potential security threats and get new features. Hence, it is essential to get rid of this error code and install new Windows updates successfully. If you are also facing the same error code and are unable to fix it up, this post is for you. In this guide, we are going to discuss some working methods that will help you resolve Windows Update error 0x80242016.

How to fix Windows Update Error 0x80242016

Here are the methods to fix Windows Update error code 0x80242016 on your Windows 11/10 computer:

1. Try some general troubleshooting methods.
2. Run Windows Update troubleshooter.
3. Run DISM and SFC scans.
4. Reset Windows Update components.
5. Disable third-party antivirus.
6. Disable Proxy connection.
7. Restart relevant Windows services.
8. Download and install updates manually.

Let us discuss the above methods in detail now!

1] Try some general troubleshooting methods

At first, you can try some general tricks to get rid of this error code. Here are some simple tips that you can try and that might resolve this issue:

• Restart your PC and then try installing the update again.
• Install Update in Clean Boot and see.
• Make sure you are connected to a stable internet, else you will face errors while installing Windows updates. Try switching to a good speed internet and
• If there is any connected USB drive or any other external device, try to unplug it.
• Do check whether the date and time of your PC are correct. If not, you might receive this error code.

In case you tried the above suggestions and the error code still persists, you will need to try some other methods to fix it up.

2] Run Windows Update troubleshooter

You can make use of the Windows Update troubleshooter to resolve this error code. It is good at fixing different Windows update errors and might work for this one as well. To use it, press Windows + I hotkey and click on Update & Security. Then, go to the Troubleshoot tab and tap on the Additional troubleshooter option. Select the Windows Update troubleshooter and click on the Run troubleshooter button to troubleshoot Windows updates problems.

See if this fixes up the issue for you. If not, there are some other reasons for the error that need to be taken care of. So, try some other fix from this guide.

3] Run DISM and SFC scans

Your PC might be dealing with some system file corruption or some important file required for installing updates might be missing from your system. In that case, you can run DISM and SFC scans to restore the good health of your PC and might resolve this issue.

First, try running the SFC scan and if that doesn’t help, execute the DISM scan command. Simply open the Command Prompt with administrator rights and then enter the below commands in CMD one by one:

sfc /scannow

After that, run the below DISM scan command:

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

The commands will take a while to be executed completed. When done, attempt to install the Windows update that was giving you the error code 0x80242016.

4] Reset Windows Update components

You can also try resetting Windows Update components to tackle this error code. It is effective in many cases when Windows Updates fail to Install and might fix this as well. You can manually reset Windows Update components to default with the help of the Reset Windows Update Components Tool.

5] Disable third-party antivirus

If you are using a third-party antivirus suite on your PC, try disabling it and then install the Windows update again. This is because there are chances that your antivirus might have misconstrued update files as potential threats and thus updates were failed with error code 0x80242016. So, temporarily disable the antivirus program and then check if the error is gone or not.

6] Disable Proxy Connection

Try disabling your proxy connection if you are using one and then recheck if the error persists. To do that, simply open the Internet Options by typing the same keyword in the search box. In the opened Internet Properties window, go to the Connections tab and click on the LAN Settings button. After that, simply uncheck the Use a proxy server for your LAN (These settings will not apply to dial-up or VPN connections) option. Finally, press the OK button and then reboot the PC to check whether you are able to install Windows update without error code 0x80242016.

7] Restart relevant Windows services

The Windows update might be failing with error code 0x80242016 in case the important Windows update services are not running. So, you can resolve the error code by restarting the relevant Windows services.

Simply launch the Command Prompt as an administrator and type the below commands in the given order, and then press the Enter button to execute them.

Net Stop bits
Net Stop wuauserv
Net Stop appidsvc
Net Stop cryptsvc
Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
Net Start bits
Net Start wuauserv
Net Start appidsvc
Net Start cryptsvc

See if you are able to install Windows updates without the error code 0x80242016.

8] Download and install updates manually

If you are still unable to download and install Windows updates, try installing the updates manually. For that, you need to follow the below steps:

1. Firstly, open the Setting app by pressing the Windows +I hotkey.
2. Now, click on the Update & Security category.
3. Next, in the Windows Update tab, locate the View update history on the right side and click on it.
4. After that, from the list, look for the update giving you the error code 0x80242016. You need to note down the KB number associated with this failed update.
5. Then, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website and type the above KB number in the Search box, and press Enter.
6. From the search results, download the latest update with your KB number by clicking on the Download button.
7. Finally, double-click on the downloaded update to install it.

If it is a Feature Update, you may use the Windows Update Assistant Tool.

How do I fix Windows Update 91% stuck?

If the Windows Update is slow or stuck at a certain percentage like 91%, you can try fixing it up by using some troubleshooting tips. Try deleting the Windows Update file cache, running Windows Update Troubleshooter, resetting Windows Update components, or running Windows Module Installer. There are some more fixes that you can try if these methods don’t work.

Hope this helps.