Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Start by confirming the code and Windows version. Restart the computer, record the failed KB number, then reset the Windows Update cache. If that does not work, run DISM followed by SFC and try the matching package from Microsoft Update Catalog. Error 0x80246001 is documented mainly in older Microsoft support cases, so Windows XP, Vista, and 7 require different expectations from supported Windows 10 or 11 systems.
What error 80246001 means
80246001 and 0x80246001 identify a Windows Update download or processing failure, but Microsoft has not published a current, dedicated Windows 10/11 explanation for this exact code. Historical Microsoft cases associate it with Microsoft Security Essentials or Defender definitions, drivers, .NET updates, service packs, and ordinary operating-system updates. The code alone cannot prove that one service, malware, or a hard drive is at fault. See the historical cases at Microsoft Q&A, the definition-update case, and the Dell driver case.
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Before changing anything
- Press Win + R, type
winver, and note the Windows edition, version, and build. - On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and record the exact error, update name, and KB number. Note whether every update fails or only one, and whether failure occurs during download or installation.
- Restart the PC. Verify the date and time, internet connection, available disk space, and administrator access.
- Disconnect a VPN and unnecessary USB devices temporarily. On a managed PC using WSUS, Intune, Configuration Manager, Group Policy, or a corporate proxy, ask IT before resetting services.
- Back up important files before repair operations. Microsoft recommends a backup before troubleshooting update problems: Windows Update troubleshooting.
Check that the code is really 0x80246001, not the closely related 0x80246007 or another code shown in Update History or Event Viewer. Microsoft’s current guidance generally discusses those related codes instead.
Fix 1: Run Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooter
Windows 11
Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run. Current builds may also launch the automated Windows Update troubleshooter from the Get Help app; labels can vary by build.
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Windows 10
Use Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter. Microsoft’s current instructions are at support.microsoft.com and the Windows Update troubleshooter page.
Fix 2: Reset the Windows Update cache
Graphical method
- Press Win + R, enter
services.msc, and press Enter. - Right-click Windows Update and select Stop.
- Open
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionand delete its contents, not the folder itself. - Return to Services, right-click Windows Update, and choose Start.
- Restart Windows and check for updates.
Microsoft documents this approach for related missing-download-file errors such as 0x80246007; historical Microsoft Q&A guidance applies the same idea to 0x80246001. Clearing the folder can remove cached downloads and visible update-history state, but it does not uninstall updates that are already installed.
More complete reset from an elevated Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt with Run as administrator and run each line separately:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserverRestart the computer afterward. If a stop command says the service is not running, continue. If a rename says the folder is in use, restart and repeat after stopping the services. Renaming is preferable to deleting because Windows can recreate the folders while the old copies remain as a recoverable backup. Do not perform this while an update is actively installing, and do not change service startup types permanently without a specific diagnosis. The services are Windows Update (wuauserv), Cryptographic Services (cryptSvc), BITS (bits), and Windows Installer (msiserver).
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In an elevated Command Prompt, run DISM first and wait for it to finish:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthThen run:
sfc /scannowRestart and retry Windows Update. DISM repairs the component store that SFC uses; SFC checks protected system files. Either tool may report success, repaired files, or files it could not repair. Success does not guarantee that a particular KB is applicable or compatible. Microsoft’s instructions are at the System File Checker page.
If DISM cannot download repair files because Windows Update is broken, use a matching installation source only if you have one:
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DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccessReplace that example path with a valid source matching the installed Windows image; do not type it literally without one.
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If only one update fails, search its KB number at the Microsoft Update Catalog. Choose the package matching the Windows build, edition, and architecture (x64, x86, or ARM64), install it, restart if prompted, and run Windows Update again. Manual installation can fail when a package is superseded, requires a servicing prerequisite, or targets another build or architecture. Microsoft explains these conditions in its update troubleshooting guidance and Windows Update issues guide.
Fix 5: Rule out conflicts, storage, and disk errors
Third-party software and clean boot
VPNs, proxy tools, system optimizers, security suites, and startup services can interfere with downloading or installing. A clean boot can isolate a non-Microsoft service. If you temporarily disable third-party security for a controlled test, use a trusted network, keep the test brief, and re-enable protection immediately. Restore normal startup afterward. Do not leave antivirus disabled.
Storage and file-system checks
Low free space can block installation. Microsoft cites 16 GB free for some 32-bit upgrades and 20 GB for some 64-bit upgrades; those figures are not universal requirements for every cumulative update. To check the system drive for file-system errors, run as administrator:
chkdsk /f C:Because C: is in use, Windows may schedule the check for the next restart. Drive failure requires backup and hardware replacement, not repeated cache resets. More guidance is available from Microsoft’s troubleshooting page.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsLegacy Windows and Windows 10 status
Windows XP, Vista, and 7
Exact-code reports are concentrated in these older systems. Current Windows 10/11 menus and repair paths may not exist there, and those operating systems are unsupported for ordinary modern security updates. Back up data and consider a supported operating system or replacement hardware rather than expecting a cache reset to restore obsolete update infrastructure.
Windows 10 in 2026
Normal free Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; Microsoft no longer provides ordinary free software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes through Windows Update. Specific extended-support or organizational arrangements can differ. Confirm your eligibility before treating this as a damaged cache.
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If the error remains
- Save the exact code, KB number, Windows build, and Update History details.
- Complete the troubleshooter, cache reset, DISM, and SFC steps.
- Check supersedence, prerequisites, architecture, disk space, VPN or proxy settings, and security software.
- On Windows 11, use the available recovery option that repairs or reinstalls Windows while preserving personal files, if offered by your build.
- For an in-place repair upgrade or installation media, back up data and verify the edition and architecture first.
- On a business-managed device, send IT the code, KB, build, and relevant logs instead of forcing local policy or registry changes.
Do not use registry cleaners or unverified “one-click” repair tools. Microsoft’s complex-failure guidance is available at learn.microsoft.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will resetting SoftwareDistribution delete my personal files?
No. It removes Windows Update’s cached downloads and may reset visible update-history state; personal documents and successfully installed updates remain.
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Does 0x80246001 mean I have a virus?
No. The code indicates an update download or processing failure pattern and is not proof of malware.
Should I disable antivirus permanently?
No. Any security-software disablement is only a brief diagnostic test; re-enable protection immediately.
Why did DISM and SFC succeed but the update still fail?
Those tools repair Windows components and protected files. They do not make an obsolete, superseded, incompatible, or policy-blocked update installable.
Is 80246001 still relevant?
It remains relevant mainly in legacy support cases. On current Windows 10/11, verify the exact code and follow general Windows Update troubleshooting instead of assuming a dedicated fix exists.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
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