Windows 10 update error 0x8000ffff | Fixed
Alexandra Bagratian
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The world is changing rapidly, and it is quite a wise idea to keep your Windows up to date. However, such a path might seem rather thorny – it just so happens that Windows updates are so good at trying your patience before introducing great innovations. The notorious 0x8000ffff error is a case in point.
The error code 0x8000ffff means your Windows 10 is having update issues. This error usually appears after Windows updates and locks the Windows Store. Besides, it can crop up after your performing the system restore or when you try to install a newly downloaded app.
We hope that the following tips will help you fix this issue.
The Windows 10 Update Error 0x8000ffff can be caused by:
Malware Infection
Faulty or Out-Of-Date Drivers
Incorrect Date and Time Settings
Unnecessary Drivers or Processes
Corrupted Windows Store Cache
Problematic Windows Store App
Missing or Corrupted System Files
Limited Access
Corrupted Registry Entries
P.S. If you don’t want to read the full article, you may simply watch a short video showing a quick fix here:
Here are our top 12 tips to fix Windows 10 Update Error 0x8000ffff:
1. Check Your Computer for Malware Infection
First and foremost, let’s find out whether your computer is malware-infected. Removing nefarious intruders will help you fix the 0x8000ffff issue and save your system from further damage.
Here are 3 easy ways to identify and handle malware infection:
Utilize Windows Defender
Windows Defender is a built-in
AntiMalware tool. If it happens to be the only security solution installed on your computer,
Windows Defender does its best to keep your Windows 10 safe. If you have another antivirus installed, Windows Defender is still at work performing occasional system scans.
Windows Defender will scan your PC for malware.
If an occasional scan is not enough, make use of a deep offline scan with Windows Defender:
Start menu -> Settings -> Update & Security
Windows Defender -> Windows Defender Offline -> Scan Offline
Your computer will reboot, and then you will be able to check whether the issue has been resolved.
Run Your Main Antivirus Program
Scan your Windows 10 with your main antivirus solution in order to identify and remove all the malware issues from your computer.
Provide Extra Protection
In order to conquer malicious invaders, you may need additional scanning performed by a special anti-malware tool. For example, Auslogics Anti-Malware can detect and erase the threats your main antivirus may miss.
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2. Tweak Your Drivers
Corrupted or obsolete drivers might be the reason for the error 0x8000FFFF appearing on your screen.
Here are some tips to deal with problematic drivers:
Use Driver Update
Updating your drivers may resolve the problem in question. Thanks to the Driver Update option, Windows 10 can search for updated driver software:
Start -> Settings -> Update & Security -> Check for updates
Choose the driver you need from the list and click Install.
Use Driver Verifier and Device Manager
You can fix driver issues manually by making use of the built-in Windows Driver Verifier:
Start menu -> Type verifier -> Enter
Driver Verifier may detect the device that causes Windows 10 error 0x8000ffff.
Then you should utilize Device Manager in order to resolve this issue:
Win + X -> Device Manager -> Expand the device entries
Search for the problematic driver -> Right-click on it -> Update Driver Software
3. Set Correct Date & Time
Incorrect date and time can cause the 0x8000ffff error and block Windows Store. Set valid date and time to resolve Windows 10 update issues:
Date and time on the taskbar -> Date and time settings -> Turn on ‘Set Time Automatically’
Set correct date and time settings to fix your update issues.
4. Boot in a Safe Mode with Networking
Unnecessary drivers, processes and features can tamper with your updates. Try booting in a Safe Mode with Networking to exclude spoilers and update your system and/or apps successfully:
Start -> Settings -> Update & Security -> Recovery -> Advanced Startup
Restart Now -> Choose an option -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options
Startup Settings -> Restart -> Safe mode with Networking
Now try to perform the necessary updates.
Does the error code 0x8000ffff keep popping up?
No panic, the following tips may help you.
5. Clear Windows Store Cache
The Windows Store cache can become corrupted and therefore rather troublesome: it can bring about various update problems, for example the notorious error 0x8000ffff.
To fix it, try clearing your Windows Store cache:
Windows key + R -> Type WSReset.exe -> Enter
or
Windows key + S -> Type wsreset -> Right-click ‘wsreset’ -> select Run as Administrator -> Yes
Now try to reopen the Windows Store and download the apps you need.
If the 0x8000ffff error has not been removed, do the following:
Windows key + R -> Paste %localappdata%\\Packages\\Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe\\LocalState -> OK
Find the Cache folder -> Right-click on it -> Rename -> Type Cache.old
If there is no such folder on your computer, create a new folder and name it Cache -> close File Explorer
Windows key + I -> Updates & Security -> Troubleshoot -> click Windows Store App -> Run a scan
If the error in question is still present, the Windows Store cache is certainly not the one to blame.
Just proceed to the following tips.
6. Tweak Windows Store
Windows Store can cause update issues. Reconfigure or reinstall it to fix them.
Reconfigure Windows Store
Sometimes Windows Store itself causes the error 0x8000ffff and stops working properly.
To fix this issue, try reconfiguring the temperamental app:
Start menu -> Type PowerShell -> Right-click the result -> Select ‘Run as Administrator’
Type powershell-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage-DisableDevelopmentMode-Register
Env:SystemRoot\WinStore\AppxManifest.xml -> Reboot your computer
No luck?
Do not let this take the wind out of your sails! Keep going.
Reinstall Windows Store
Reinstalling Windows Store may help you fix the 0x8000ffff error.
Keep in mind that Windows Store is an in-built Windows app. To reinstall it, you should follow these instructions:
Windows key + R -> Type PowerShell -> Enter
Right-click the search results -> Select Run as Administrator
Type Get-Appxpackage –Allusers -> Enter
Windows Store entry -> copy the package name (Ctrl + C)
Type Add-AppxPackage -register “C:\\Program Files\\WindowsApps\\” –DisableDevelopmentMode
Insert the Windows Store package name (Ctrl + V) instead of PackageFullName
Change C: with the letter of your root driver
Windows key + R -> Type PowerShell -> Enter -> Right-click the results and select Run as Administrator
Paste Add-AppxPackage -register “C:\\Program Files\\WindowsApps\\” –DisableDevelopmentMode -> Enter
Replace the PackageFullName and C:
Reboot your computer
7. Mend your System Files
Missing or corrupted system files can be the reason for the error code 0x8000ffff.
Here are some tips to resolve this issue:
Run System File Checker:
Start -> Enter Command Prompt -> right-click Command Prompt -> select Run as administrator -> Enter DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth -> Enter sfc /scannow
Wait for the system scan to finish -> Reboot your Computer
Run Check Disk Utility:
Local Disk -> Properties -> Tools -> Error Checking ->Check OR Windows button (right click) -> Command Prompt (Admin) -> Type CHKDSK /f /r -> Enter ->Type Y -> Enter
Wait for the process to finish -> Reboot your computer
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8. Switch to Administrator Account
Your guest account may not have the rights to let you update your system or apps. Change to an admin account in order to tackle your update challenge:
Start Menu -> Click on the user picture -> Sign out -> Administrator account -> Log in again
Try to open Windows store and access the updates you need.
If the 0x8000ffff issue has not vanished, proceed to the following recommendations.
9. Edit Registry Entries
Please note that modifying registry entries is a risky business. If performed improperly, it can cause an irreversible damage to your system. That is why we strongly recommend you to use professional tools for this purpose – free and safe Auslogics Registry Cleaner are among them.
If you still want to edit your registry entries manually, hold your breath and follow the instructions:
Back up your Registry entries or create a system restore point
To avoid negative repercussions, you should either back up your Windows 10 Registry
Start menu -> Type regedit.exe -> Enter
Select the registry keys and/or subkeys you want to back up -> File > Export -> Choose the location and name for the backup file -> Save
or create a System Restore point:
Start menu -> Type restore -> Create a restore point
System Properties -> Create -> Describe briefly the restore point -> Create.
Edit your Registry using Command Prompt:
Start menu -> Search for Command Prompt -> Right-click Command Prompt -> Run as administrator
Type reg /? -> Enter -> Explore the operations types you can use to edit the registry
To remove entries, use the following syntax:
REG DELETE KeyName [{/v ValueName | /ve | /va}] [/f]
The descriptions:
KeyName: the path to the subkey or entry (It can be HKLM, HKCU, HKCR, HKU, or HKCC).
/v ValueName: the name for the registry key you want to delete.
/ve: defines if you’re deleting an entry that has a null value.
/f: deletes registry content.
For example:
REG DELETE HKLM\Software\Subkey /f
Be careful! Double-check all your commands before executing them. Even a tiny mistake can destroy your system!
These are the ways to restore your backups in case something goes wrong:
Restore your backup files:
Start menu -> Type regedit.exe -> Enter -> Registry Editor -> File
Import -> Find your backup location -> Choose the backup file -> Open
Restore your system:
Start menu -> Type Create a restore point -> Select Create a restore point -> Choose System Restore
10. Disable a Proxy Server
Try disabling your proxy in order to fix the 0x8000ffff issue:
Windows + R -> Type inetcpl.cpl -> Enter -> Connections tab -> LAN settings
Uncheck ‘Use proxy server for your LAN’ -> Ok -> Apply -> Ok
Test your Windows Store to check whether it is OK or not.
11. Create a New User
If things have not worked out well yet, consider creating a new user account on your computer:
Windows Key + X -> Command Prompt (Admin) -> type the following commands:
net user /add [username] [password]
net localgroup administrators [username] /add
Note: Choose a new username for [username] and a new password for [password].
Reboot your computer and log in as a new user.
Retrieve your previous user data from c:\users\previous-user-name.
Windows Key + X -> Command Prompt (Admin) -> Type shutdown /l /f -> Enter.
First, you will be logged off. Log in as a new user and proceed to your Windows Store app. It may ask you to use a Microsoft account. Use a new email address to sign in.
12. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
If the Error 0x8000ffff keeps interfering with your updates, utilize Windows Update Troubleshooter. Download the file and run it by clicking on it. Then follow the simple instructions. This Microsoft solution can detect update issues and fix them automatically.
To some up, you can try these 12 tweaks one by one to fix Error 0x8000ffff on Windows 10:
Check Your Computer for Malware Infection
Tweak Your Drivers
Set Correct Date & Time
Boot in a Safe Mode with Networking
Clear Windows Store Cache
Reconfigure / Reinstall Windows Store
Mend your System Files
Switch to Administrator Account
Edit Registry Entries
Disable a Proxy Server
Create a New User
Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
13. Troubleshoot the issue using this tool
Mending faulty or outdated drivers can be quite a complicated issue. To tackle this challenge in a fast and simple way, try utilizing a special driver-updating tool. This tool is safe but effective. It definitely will help you in resolving the problem.