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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The Windows Update code 0x80070057 means “The parameter is incorrect.” Microsoft associates it with corrupted update files, permission problems, incorrect system settings, storage or drive trouble, and other configuration failures. Work through the built-in troubleshooter, basic storage and connection checks, an update-cache reset, then DISM and System File Checker repairs in that order. These steps preserve your personal files when performed correctly, but back up important data before advanced repairs.
What error 0x80070057 means
Microsoft’s upgrade-error table gives 0x80070057 the message “The parameter is incorrect.” In Windows Update troubleshooting guidance, Microsoft groups this code with failures caused by corrupted files, permission issues and incorrect system configurations. The same code can appear in different situations, so the exact failed update and the surrounding symptoms matter.
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A failed cumulative update, feature update or upgrade may leave a generic message such as “We couldn’t complete the updates.” That wording is not specific enough to choose a repair by itself. The code, failed KB number, Windows version and whether the update rolls back after a restart provide better clues.
Prepare before resetting Windows Update
Record the failed update
- Open Settings.
- On Windows 11 or Windows 10, select Windows Update, then Update history.
- Write down the failed update’s KB number, date and the exact error code. If several updates failed, record each one.
Keep this information. It helps you identify whether the same update is failing repeatedly and gives Microsoft Support useful diagnostic context if you need to escalate.
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Back up personal files
Copy documents, photos, project files and other irreplaceable data to a separate location before using administrator tools or an in-place repair. A USB flash drive is one practical backup destination, provided it has enough capacity and is safely ejected after the copy finishes. A backup does not fix the update, but it limits the consequences of a wider storage or Windows problem.
Confirm the basic requirements
- Administrator access: Several repair steps require an elevated Command Prompt.
- Free space: Windows needs room to download, unpack and stage updates. Remove only files you recognize, and use Disk Cleanup rather than deleting Windows folders manually.
- A working drive: File-system errors or a failing disk can corrupt update downloads. Check the drive before repeating a large update.
- A stable connection: Keep the device connected to a reliable network while the troubleshooter or repair commands run.
- Power: On a laptop, connect the charger so a repair is not interrupted.
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter first
Windows 11: use Get Help
Open the Get Help app and search for the Windows Update troubleshooter. Follow its prompts, allow it to apply recommended corrections, and restart when it says to do so. After the restart, open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
Windows 11 or Windows 10: use Settings
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update and select Run.
- Apply the suggested action, restart the computer, then return to Windows Update and select Check for updates.
The troubleshooter is a low-risk first step because it diagnoses common service, configuration and cache conditions without reinstalling Windows. If it reports that it could not fix the problem, continue rather than repeatedly running it.
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Free space with Disk Cleanup
Search for Disk Cleanup, choose the Windows system drive, and let the tool calculate removable files. Review the categories before confirming. Temporary files and old update remnants can be selected when Windows identifies them as safe to remove. Do not select personal folders merely to create space, and do not interrupt cleanup while it is working.
Check the drive from Windows
In File Explorer, right-click the system drive, choose Properties, open the Tools tab and use the drive’s error-checking option. Follow any restart instruction Windows gives you. If the check reports hardware problems, repeated update retries can make the situation worse; copy your files and address the drive issue before continuing.
Use an elevated account
Cache resets and image repairs change protected Windows components. Sign in with an administrator account or provide administrator credentials when prompted. If an elevated command reports “Access is denied,” close it, reopen Command Prompt with Run as administrator, and try again. Do not weaken permissions on the Windows folder as a workaround.
Reset the Windows Update cache
Windows stores downloaded update data in the SoftwareDistribution folder. A damaged or incomplete download can make the same update fail repeatedly. Resetting the cache removes that downloaded data; Windows can download a fresh copy afterward. Installed personal files are not stored in this folder, but do not delete other Windows directories by mistake.
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Reset through Services and File Explorer
- Press Win + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - Find Windows Update, right-click it, and select Stop.
- Also stop Background Intelligent Transfer Service if it is running. This service may still hold update-download files open.
- In File Explorer, enter
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionin the address bar. - Delete the contents of that folder, not the
Windowsfolder itself. If a file is in use, confirm that the related services are stopped and retry. - Return to
services.msc, start Background Intelligent Transfer Service, then start Windows Update. - Restart Windows and select Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Reset from an administrator Command Prompt
If Services cannot stop the components cleanly, open Command Prompt by searching for it, right-clicking the result and selecting Run as administrator. Stop the update-related services before changing their folders:
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net stop cryptsvcRename the cache folders so Windows can create clean replacements. Renaming is safer than permanently deleting them because the old folders remain available for review:
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ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.oldStart the services again:
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net start wuauservRestart, check for updates and allow Windows time to rebuild its cache. If a command says a service is not started or a folder does not exist, note the message and continue only when the next command is appropriate for your installation. Microsoft’s advanced Windows Update instructions include additional component-renaming commands; use the command set intended for your installed Windows version rather than mixing scripts from unrelated guides.
Repair the Windows image and system files
Use Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) before System File Checker (SFC). DISM repairs the component store that SFC uses as a source for replacing damaged protected files. Run each command to completion; closing the window early can leave a repair unfinished.
Run DISM
- Open Command Prompt with Run as administrator.
- Enter:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestorehealthProgress can pause for a long time at one percentage while DISM checks and replaces components. Wait for a completion message. If DISM reports that source files cannot be found, do not repeatedly rerun the same command without changing the repair source; use the alternate-source procedure below.
Run System File Checker
After DISM completes, run:
sfc /scannowLet the scan reach 100 percent. SFC may report that it found no integrity violations, repaired files, or could not repair some files. Restart Windows after the scan, then try Windows Update again. If SFC could not repair files, run DISM once more after addressing its source problem and repeat SFC only after DISM completes successfully.
Give DISM an alternate repair source
DISM normally obtains repair files through Microsoft Update. If that source is unavailable, Microsoft says a working Windows installation, a network folder, a USB drive or a Windows DVD can provide the files instead. The source must match the installed Windows edition and build closely; a mismatched source can produce another servicing error.
Prepare the source
- Use installation media for the same Windows release, edition and system architecture where possible.
- Make sure the media is readable and that the account running DISM can access it.
- If the source is on a network share, verify the computer can reach that share while signed in with the administrator account.
- Do not point DISM at a random ISO or copied system folder from another Windows version.
Apply the source
Microsoft’s DISM guidance provides the exact /Source syntax for the type of media you have and explains how to identify the correct image index. Follow that syntax for your edition and build, and use the option that prevents DISM from trying the unavailable online source when the guidance calls for it. After the command finishes, run sfc /scannow, restart, and test Windows Update.
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Retry the update and verify the result
- Restart Windows after cache, DISM or SFC repairs.
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates and allow the download and installation to finish without shutting down.
- Open Update history and confirm that the previously failing KB is listed as successfully installed.
- If a different KB now fails, record its code separately; do not assume every failure has the same cause.
A successful boot after a repair does not prove that Windows Update is fixed. The confirmation is a completed installation and a clean entry in Update history.
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When 0x80070057 keeps returning
Preserve useful evidence
Keep the failed KB number, timestamps, troubleshooter result and the final DISM and SFC messages. Windows servicing diagnostics may also include CBS logs. Preserve those logs rather than deleting them during cleanup if you plan to contact Microsoft Support or an administrator.
Use a supported repair path
If the error returns after the troubleshooter, cache reset, image repair and alternate-source attempt, use Microsoft Support or a supported in-place repair or reinstallation path appropriate for your edition. An in-place repair can replace Windows components while offering an option to keep personal files and applications, but read every screen carefully and maintain a backup before starting. A clean installation is more disruptive and should be considered only after you have secured your data and confirmed that the installation media and license situation are appropriate.
Avoid risky “one-click” fixes
- Do not delete arbitrary registry keys because a generic guide claims they are related to 0x80070057.
- Do not run unverified executable “fixers” downloaded from file-sharing pages.
- Do not disable security software permanently to force an update. If a security product is suspected, use its documented, temporary troubleshooting procedure and restore protection afterward.
- Do not repeatedly interrupt DISM, SFC or an update installation because progress appears slow.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 considerations
The cited DISM procedure applies to modern Windows versions, including Windows 11 and Windows 10. Microsoft states that free Windows 10 Windows Update support ended on October 14, 2025. On a Windows 10 device that can no longer update, fixing 0x80070057 may not restore ongoing servicing; migration to Windows 11 or another supported servicing option may be necessary, subject to the device’s hardware and organizational requirements.
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How the repair options compare
| Approach | Typical target | Personal-data risk | Access needed | Repair source | Relative time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in troubleshooter | Common service, configuration and permission conditions | Low | Standard account may start it; administrator approval can be requested | Windows diagnostics | Short |
| Disk Cleanup and drive check | Insufficient space, temporary files or file-system errors | Low when reviewed carefully | Administrator approval may be required | Local drive | Short to moderate |
| Update-cache reset | Corrupted or incomplete downloaded update data | Low; downloaded update files are rebuilt | Administrator | Microsoft Update after reset | Moderate |
| DISM followed by SFC | Damaged component store or protected system files | Low to moderate; back up first | Administrator | Microsoft Update unless an alternate source is supplied | Moderate to long |
| Alternate-source DISM | DISM cannot obtain valid repair files online | Low to moderate | Administrator and access to matching media | Working Windows installation, network folder, USB or DVD | Moderate to long |
| In-place repair or reinstallation | Persistent servicing damage after other repairs | Higher; backup required | Administrator and suitable installation media | Matching Windows installation media | Long |
No success-rate figures are published for these methods in Microsoft’s guidance, so the table ranks effort, access and risk rather than promising that one approach will work universally.
Common failure messages during repair
“Access is denied”
Reopen Command Prompt with Run as administrator, make sure the relevant service is stopped, and check that your account has not been restricted by organization policy. Do not take ownership of protected folders casually.
A cache file cannot be deleted
Another service or process still has the file open. Stop Windows Update and Background Intelligent Transfer Service, close File Explorer windows showing the folder, and retry. Renaming the folder from an elevated prompt can avoid deleting individual locked files.
DISM cannot find source files
Check the network connection first. If Microsoft Update is unavailable, use matching installation media and the source syntax documented for that media. Confirm the edition and build rather than guessing an image index.
SFC reports unrepaired files
Review the DISM result, restart if requested, and run DISM before running SFC again. Persistent corruption after a valid DISM repair is a reason to preserve the logs and consider supported in-place repair rather than repeatedly deleting system folders.
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