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What the error means
The full BITS message is:
0x80200010 - There are currently no active network connections. Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) will try again when an adapter is connected.
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) transfers files over HTTP or SMB, resumes interrupted downloads, and waits when connectivity disappears. It is used by Windows components and tools such as Windows Update, WSUS, BranchCache, and Configuration Manager. BITS does not create an Internet connection; a job still needs a reachable source server. See Microsoft’s BITS documentation.
Identify which situation you have
| Situation | What 0x80200010 means | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Every adapter is disconnected | Expected: BITS has no path to a source. | Connect to the source network or use offline media. |
| Internal network works, but there is no Internet or default gateway | Potential Windows 10 1903 network-detection defect. | Verify routing and configure a valid gateway if the design permits it. |
| Internet or internal services work, but Windows reports no connection | Likely NCSI, DNS, proxy, firewall, VPN, adapter, or route-selection trouble. | Test the actual BITS source and inspect NCSI and routing. |
Why Windows 10 1903 is unusual
Microsoft documented behavior in Windows 10 version 1903 and later in which BITS can reject a connection when the computer has no default gateway or the configured gateway cannot be reached. The documented condition does not apply when an application is not using BITS, and Microsoft reported that the described behavior did not occur on Windows 10 version 1809 or earlier. The issue is documented at this Microsoft support guidance.
This does not mean every BITS error on later Windows releases has the same cause. VPNs, multiple network cards, filtering, proxy settings, DNS failures, and damaged jobs can produce similar symptoms.
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Confirm the version, job, and network state
Check the Windows release
winver
Or run:
Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object WindowsProductName, WindowsVersion, OsBuildNumber
1903 is the feature-release version; the build number identifies the installed cumulative-update level.
Inspect BITS jobs
In an elevated Command Prompt:
bitsadmin /list /verbose
Look for error 0x80200010 and the “no active network connections” text. bitsadmin is an older diagnostic utility, not a recommendation for new application development. PowerShell provides another view:
Get-BitsTransfer -AllUsers
An elevated PowerShell session may be required to see jobs owned by other accounts.
Inspect addresses and routes
ipconfig /all route print
- Confirm that the intended adapter is enabled and has an address.
- Check whether a default gateway exists where the network design requires one.
- Ensure the route uses the correct interface and that a VPN or virtual adapter has not become the preferred path.
Test the gateway, if one is configured:
ping <default-gateway-address>
Some gateways block ICMP, so a failed ping is not conclusive. Test the actual server used by the BITS job as well.
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Check Windows’ connectivity classification
Get-NetConnectionProfile
NCSI may classify an interface as Internet, LocalNetwork, or another state. Its icon is only an indicator: Microsoft notes that a failed NCSI probe does not prove that every Internet or internal service is unreachable. See the NCSI troubleshooting guidance.
Test the real BITS source
Testing a public website does not prove that WSUS, a Configuration Manager distribution point, proxy, or file server is reachable. Substitute the hostname used by the job:
Test-NetConnection <bits-source-hostname> -Port 80 Test-NetConnection <bits-source-hostname> -Port 443
For SMB content:
Test-NetConnection <server-name> -Port 445
A successful test identifies transport reachability; authentication, permissions, URL paths, and proxy requirements can still prevent the transfer.
Apply the supported 1903 workaround carefully
Microsoft’s documented workaround is to configure the correct default gateway. Do not enter an arbitrary address or automatically use a WSUS server’s address. A WSUS host is suitable as a gateway only if it is an intentionally configured routing device and your network administrator approves that design.
DHCP adapter
- Open Settings > Network & Internet and select the active Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection.
- Confirm that DHCP supplies a valid IP address, subnet mask, DNS servers, and default gateway.
- Renew the lease:
ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew
Static adapter
- Run
ncpa.cpl. - Right-click the active adapter and select Properties.
- Open Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties.
- Enter the address, subnet mask, real next-hop gateway, and DNS servers supplied by the network design.
- Apply the settings and retry the BITS job.
Adding a gateway can restore the 1903 detection path, but it can also break an isolated network or unintentionally provide an exit route. If the gateway is intentionally absent, redesign routing with an approved internal router or use an offline workflow instead of adding a fake gateway.
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Investigate NCSI only when the route is sound
NCSI uses DNS and HTTP probes and can be blocked by a proxy, firewall, or restricted DNS even while corporate services work. Microsoft advises against disabling active probing as a generic fix.
- Open Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > NCSI > Operational.
- Open
http://www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt. On Windows 10 version 1607 and later, the expected response isMicrosoft Connect Test. - Check DNS resolution:
nslookup dns.msftncsi.com
- Review WinHTTP and browser proxy settings.
- Check firewall and gateway rules for the probe host.
- Inspect VPN routes, adapter metrics, and split-tunnel policy.
Community suggestions to rewrite NCSI registry probe values are not a general supported remedy. Such edits can mask the real DNS, proxy, firewall, or routing fault and affect Windows Update and other applications.
Restart BITS after connectivity is corrected
sc query bits net stop bits net start bits
BITS may use demand-based startup; it does not need to run continuously. Restarting it is useful after fixing the network, but it cannot create connectivity.
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Last resort: clear queued jobs
bitsadmin /reset /allusers
This cancels legitimate Windows Update, WSUS, Configuration Manager, or third-party transfers. Record job details and obtain approval before using it; do not use it as the first response to a missing gateway.
Keep separate errors separate
Windows Update error 0x800706D9 with updates stuck at 0% is a different failure mode. Microsoft associates it with a disabled Windows Defender Firewall service; it should not be treated as proof that 0x80200010 has the same cause. See Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooting guidance.
What to do on a deliberately offline computer
If no network is connected, no BITS reset can make a remote transfer succeed. Use an organization-approved alternative:
- Copy an installer or update package by removable media.
- Connect the machine to an isolated network containing an internal HTTP or SMB source.
- Use approved WSUS, Configuration Manager, BranchCache, or offline-servicing procedures.
- Download required packages on an Internet-connected administrative system and transfer them through the approved offline process.
- Use Microsoft Update Catalog or supported installation media after checking applicability and prerequisites.
Windows Update cannot contact its configured source directly while the computer is completely disconnected.
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Windows 10 version 1903 ended servicing on December 8, 2020, according to Microsoft’s Windows 10 servicing history. Move to a supported Windows release rather than building a permanent dependency on a 1903-specific workaround. Until migration is possible, use a valid route, test the actual source endpoint, and preserve the security requirements of any isolated network.
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