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Windows Update error 0x80070103 usually concerns a device driver, not a general Windows Update failure. Windows may be offering a driver that is already installed, older than the one on your PC, unsuitable for the device, or repeatedly detected because of a version mismatch. If the device works normally, check the installed driver before trying repairs; in many cases, there is no need to force the update.
What error 0x80070103 means
The code commonly appears when Windows Update tries to install a device driver that is already present or does not apply to the device. The offered package might be older than the installed driver, or Windows Update may be comparing versions differently from the driver information reported by Windows. An offer can also refer to a related component, such as an extension or software component, rather than the main device driver. Microsoft community guidance describes cases where version or catalog detection caused a driver to be offered again (Microsoft Q&A: error 0x80070103; Microsoft Q&A: handling the error).
The failed update does not by itself prove that the device is broken. Conversely, a working PC today is not proof that a missing or faulty driver can always be ignored. Check the hardware’s status and installed driver before deciding.
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- Restart the PC.
- Open Settings → Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install any applicable updates and restart if Windows requests it. See Microsoft’s Windows Update installation guidance.
- If the same 0x80070103 error returns, identify the failed driver and compare it with the one installed on the PC.
- If the device works and its installed driver is newer or equivalent, do not repeatedly force the same package. You can leave the error alone or hide that specific offer.
- If the device is malfunctioning, get the compatible driver for your exact computer or device model from its manufacturer.
Identify the failed driver and compare versions
- Go to Settings → Windows Update → Update history.
- Expand Driver updates. Note the manufacturer, device or component name, version, and any KB number shown.
- Open Device Manager. Find the likely matching device, right-click it, then select Properties → Driver.
- Compare the Driver Provider, Driver Date, and Driver Version with the update-history entry. On the device’s General tab, also check whether Windows reports a status problem.
- Look up the exact computer model on its manufacturer’s support site, or consult the component maker’s official support page.
Do not rely on a broad update label such as “Intel Corporation” or “Realtek” alone. The offered package may be for a related component or extension whose name does not match the main device name in Device Manager. Windows Update can also reject a package that is superseded, already installed, or inappropriate for the system; see Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooting guidance.
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Install the right driver if the device has a problem
If the device has a warning icon, a status error, or missing features, prefer the driver published for the exact PC model by its manufacturer—such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, Microsoft Surface, or MSI. A computer maker’s package may include device-specific power settings, firmware coordination, or other customizations. A generic driver from Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, Realtek, Qualcomm, or another component maker can be appropriate, but it is not automatically the best fit for a branded laptop or desktop.
Match the model and Windows version carefully, and download drivers only from the computer or hardware manufacturer’s official site. Avoid third-party driver-updater utilities: they are not needed for this error and can select an unsuitable package or add unwanted software. Install the chosen driver according to the manufacturer’s instructions, restart, and check Windows Update again.
If the hardware became unstable after a driver change, open its Device Manager → Properties → Driver tab and choose Roll Back Driver if that option is available. Do not casually uninstall a graphics, network, storage, or chipset driver. If you do need to remove a device or driver package, first obtain a suitable replacement—especially for a network adapter, since removing its driver can leave the PC without network access. After uninstalling a device, Action → Scan for hardware changes can prompt Windows to detect it again, but it does not guarantee that the correct replacement driver is available.
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Stop a repeated, inapplicable driver offer
If you have confirmed that the device works and the installed driver is suitable, the legacy Microsoft Show or hide updates troubleshooter (often named wushowhide.diagcab) may let you hide the specific driver that keeps returning. Microsoft Q&A has recommended it for this scenario, but its availability and support status have varied; it is not a guaranteed, currently available remedy (Microsoft Q&A discussion).
Use it only if you can obtain it from a Microsoft-controlled download or support location; do not use third-party mirrors. Hide only the exact failed driver offer, not every update from that manufacturer. If the tool provides an option to show hidden updates, use that option to unhide the offer later if needed. Hiding an update suppresses the offer—it does not repair or replace a driver. If the tool is unavailable or does not work, leaving a harmless error alone while monitoring the device is preferable to installing an unverified package.
When to use Windows Update repair tools
Do not reset Windows Update or run system-file repair commands just because one driver returns 0x80070103. Consider broader repairs if several unrelated updates fail, Windows Update is stuck, or you see other signs of Windows servicing or system-file corruption.
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Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
On Windows 11, Microsoft directs users to the automated Get Help troubleshooting experience. Depending on the build, you may also find it under Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Windows Update. On Windows 10, the path is usually Settings → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters → Windows Update. Labels can vary; search Settings for Windows Update troubleshooter if you do not see the path. Follow the prompts, then restart if requested. Microsoft’s current Windows Update troubleshooting page has general guidance.
Repair Windows components with DISM and SFC
Use these commands when multiple update failures, instability, or other evidence points to Windows component-store or protected system-file damage—not to make an unsuitable driver applicable. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestorehealthWait for DISM to finish successfully, then run:
sfc /scannowLet SFC complete its verification, restart Windows, and try the updates again if appropriate. DISM repairs the Windows component store; SFC checks protected system files. DISM may use Windows Update as its repair source, so it can fail if the required files cannot be reached. Follow Microsoft’s System File Checker instructions and its guidance on Windows Update corruption and installation failures.
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Reset Windows Update components only for broader failures
If unrelated updates continue failing and other troubleshooting has not resolved the issue, Microsoft’s general Windows Update repair guidance includes stopping the update services, renaming their cache folders, and starting the services again. This is not a guaranteed fix for 0x80070103 specifically. In Command Prompt as administrator, run:
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net stop bits
net stop cryptSvc
ren %windir%SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren %windir%System32catroot2 catroot2.old
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start wuauservThe ren commands preserve the old folders under new names; Windows can create fresh folders. Stop the named services before renaming the folders, then restart the PC and try Windows Update again. See Microsoft’s general component-reset guidance and update troubleshooting advice.
When can you ignore 0x80070103?
It is generally reasonable to leave the error alone for now if all of these are true:
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- The affected hardware works as expected.
- Device Manager shows no related warning or error.
- The installed driver is newer or equivalent to the offered version, or the manufacturer confirms the installed version is appropriate.
- No crashes, missing features, connectivity problems, or other symptoms point to a driver fault.
Keep an eye on the device. If symptoms appear, revisit the manufacturer’s support page and install an applicable driver rather than assuming the failed Windows Update offer was either essential or harmless.
When to get more help
Contact the PC maker or device manufacturer if the device is unusable, a driver repeatedly rolls back, or you cannot find a clearly applicable package. Ask your organization’s IT team before hiding updates or changing update services on a work- or school-managed PC; Windows Update for Business, WSUS, Intune, endpoint security, or OEM tools may control driver deployment. If Windows cannot boot after a driver update, use Windows recovery options or the computer maker’s support process rather than repeatedly attempting the same installation. Multiple unrelated update failures, storage problems, or component-store errors also warrant broader Windows troubleshooting.
Windows 10 support note
Microsoft ended ordinary free Windows Update support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Existing Windows 10 installations can still show this driver error, but future update availability depends on the edition, device-management context, and any applicable paid support or extended-security arrangement. Do not assume Windows 10 and Windows 11 have the same ongoing update availability. Check Microsoft’s Windows Update and lifecycle information for your situation.
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