Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070bc2 in Windows 10

Windows updates are important but are known for issues. It would be a rare case that a certain user never faced any problem with Windows updates. One such known error is:

 

Windows Update Error 0x80070bc2

Windows Update Error 0x80070bc2

This error allows the updates to download but they do not install. Despite multiple restarts, the state doesn’t change.



Cause

The cause could be a troublesome update that has been stuck, malware on the system, disk space issues, or the system being overloaded with tasks.

Try the following solutions one by one to resolve the problem:

Solution 1] Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

This is the master step for all Windows update related issues. If any previous update launched a fix for any issue, running the troubleshooter would be helpful in identifying and probably fixing it.

1] Click on the Start button and then the gear-like symbol to open the Settings menu.

2] Go to Updates and security and then to the Troubleshoot tab.

3] Select the Windows update troubleshooter and run it.

Windows Update

4] Restart the system.

Solution 2] Scan your system for virus and malware

One of the reasons behind this issue could be virus and malware on the system. Perform a full anti-virus and anti-malware scan on your system to isolate the issue.

Solution 3] Uninstall recently downloaded freeware and other suspicious programs

Freeware is not always free. They might come along with scripts which might hack your system and track data. While scripting the malicious software, the designers are aware that as soon as Microsoft knows of the same, they will push a security update to overcome it. Thus, the cyber criminals script the malicious software in such a manner that it prevents the update. It might miss a general anti-virus scan especially if the anti virus was unable to update itself.

We would have to check the latest installed programs and uninstall them if necessary.

1] Press Win + R to open the Run window. Type the command control panel and press Enter to open the Control Panel window.

2] Go to Programs and features and it will list all of the programs installed on the system.

3] Arrange the programs in order of their date of installation.Arrange As Per Installation Date

4] Check for suspicious programs. Usually they would be freeware which has been installed recently (since you started facing the issue with Windows update).

Solution 4] Install the Windows update manually

If it is a specific Windows update that is stuck, we could download and install it from Microsoft’s website manually here. Simply download and install the update and restart the system.

If the issue was with a specific update and not the service itself, the problem wouldn’t reoccur once that update is installed manually, but if the issue is with the service itself, it would reoccur when you try to install the next update.

Solution 5] Force-install Windows updates through Powershell

Since the Windows update got stuck at a certain stage, we could force install it using Powershell.

1] Right-click on the Start button and select Windows Powershell (Admin).

2] Type the command cmd and press Enter to open a Command Prompt like window.

3] Type the following command and press Enter:

 

wuauclt.exe /updatenow

Force Windows Update

This will force run Windows update. Check if it helps resolve your issue.



Solution 6] Set a few Windows update services to Start automatically

At times, a few services which are critical for Windows update to work, might not be starting automatically. An easy way to set them in this condition is through Command Prompt.

1] Search for Command Prompt in the Windows search bar and right-click on the icon. Select Run as administrator.

2] Type the following command and hit Enter after each command to execute it:

 

SC config wuauserv start= auto

SC config bits start= auto

SC config cryptsvc start= auto

SC config trustedinstaller start= auto

Set Windows Updates Services To Start Automatically

3] Exit Command Prompt and restart the system. Check if you are able to update Windows now.

Solution 7] Refresh Windows 10

If everything else fails, you might consider refreshing Windows since the updates are crucial.

Hope it helps!