How to Fix Error '0x80242016 – Failed to Install' on Windows

Rick Akura on
If you are trying to update your Windows and get the error' 0x80242016, failed to update Windows', read this article for tips, tricks, and instructions to fix it.

If you are trying to update your Windows and get the error' 0x80242016, failed to update Windows', read this article for tips, tricks, and instructions to fix it.

Windows error 0x80242016

Windows is known for its many quirks and errors; one of the most common ones is error 0x80242016. This error usually pops up when you're trying to install a new update, which can be highly frustrating.

If you see the error code 0x80242016 when trying to install updates on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, it means that the update installation has failed.

This error can occur for a number of reasons, including incorrect registry values, corrupted system files, or incompatible hardware. This article will show you how to fix the "0x80242016 – failed to install" error.

If you are trying to install a program on your Windows computer and getting the error code '0x80242016', don't worry. You can fix this issue pretty easily. In this article, we will show you how to do that. Just follow the instructions given below, and you should be good to go.

Table of Contents 

What Is Error Code 0x80242016 in Windows?

If you're seeing this error, the state of your update after the post-reboot operation is unexpected, according to Windows Update error 0x80242016. The error logs may contain the message WU_E_UH_POSTREBOOTUNEXPECTEDSTATE.

Users who receive this error code may miss essential updates such as bug fixes and other enhancements. It is critical to keep your system up to date to avoid potential security concerns and take advantage of new features.

As a result, it's critical to remove this error code and successfully install fresh Windows updates. This post is for you if you are experiencing the same issue code and cannot resolve it.

What Causes 0x80242016 – Failed to Install?

There are a number of potential causes for the 0x80242016 error, including:

  • Incorrect Registry Values: The Windows Registry is a database that stores information about the configuration of your computer. Sometimes, the values in the registry can become corrupted, which can cause problems with installing updates.
  • Corrupted System Files: If any of the system files on your computer are corrupt, it can cause problems with installing updates.
  • Incompatible Hardware: In some cases, the hardware on your computer may be incompatible with the update you're trying to install.
  • Proxy: If you're using a proxy server to connect to the Internet, it can sometimes cause problems with installing updates.
  • Third-party antivirus: In some cases, third-party antivirus software can interfere with the installation of updates.
  • Temporary Files: When installing updates, temporary files are created on your computer. If these files become corrupt, it can cause problems with the update process.

These are only some of the potential causes for the 0x80242016 error. In order to fix this error, you'll need to troubleshoot each of these potential causes to determine which one is causing the problem on your computer.

How to Fix Error 0x80242016 – Failed to Install

If you see the 0x80242016 error, there are a few potential fixes you can try.

Summary: How to fix Windows Update Error 0x80242016

  1. Install the update in clean boot 
  2. Run Windows Update troubleshooter.
  3. Run DISM and SFC scans.
  4. Reset Windows Update components.
  5. Temporarily Disable third-party antivirus.
  6. Disable your Proxy connection.
  7. Restart relevant Windows services.
  8. Download and install updates manually.

Let's discuss these in detail below:

Method 1. Try To Install the Update in Clean Boot Mode

The first thing you can try is to install the update in clean boot mode. This will disable all non-essential programs and services on your computer, which can help to fix the problem.

To enter clean boot mode, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Windows key + R keys on your keyboard to bring up the Run utility in a new window.
  2. Type in "msconfig" without quotation marks and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will launch the System Configuration window.
    msconfig
  3. Switch over to the Services tab. Make sure that you check the Hide all Microsoft services box. This is going to ensure that you only see third-party services.
    Hide all Microsoft services
  4. After hiding all system services, click the Disable all button to disable every third-party service on your device.
    Disable all Microsoft services
  5. Click the Apply button and restart your PC. When you boot next, your system will only initiate essential services.
  6. Restart your computer. You'll be in a clean boot state with only official Microsoft services running. See if you're able to update Windows after making this change.

Method 2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

If you're still seeing the 0x80242016 error, the next thing you can try is to run the Windows Update troubleshooter. This can help to fix problems with installing updates.

To run the troubleshooter, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type Control Panel in the search box. When you see it in the results, click on it to launch the application.
    Windows control panel
  3. Search for Troubleshoot using the input field on the top right, and then click on the Troubleshooting header from the search results.
    Troubleshoot
  4. Click on the View all link in the left-side pane. This is going to take you to a new page with every available troubleshooter displayed.
    Control panel > View all
  5. Scroll down and locate the Windows Update troubleshooter. Click on it once, and then wait for the troubleshooter to launch in a different window.
    Windows update troubleshooter
  6. Click Next to begin the Windows Update problem analysis. If the troubleshooter can diagnose any problem, it will attempt to fix the issue. You can see a full report at the end of the troubleshooting process.
    Windows update troubleshooter

Method 3. Run the System File Checker (SFC Scan)

If you're still seeing the 0x80242016 error, the next thing you can try is to run the System File Checker (SFC scan). This will scan your system for corrupted files and replace them if necessary.

To run the SFC scan, follow these steps:

  1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. Press Windows + S on your keyboard as a shortcut.
  2. Type Command Prompt in the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator. If you're using a local account that doesn't have administrator permissions, click here to learn how to grant admin access.
    Windows command prompt
  3. When the User Account Control prompt (UAC) shows up, click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
  4. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: sfc /scannow
    Command Prompt > sfc /scannow
  5. Wait for the System File Checker to finish scanning your computer. In the case of a discrepancy, the utility will restore system files and fix all errors related to them.

Method 4. Run the DISM Command

If you're still seeing the 0x80242016 error, you can try to run the DISM command. This will fix any problems with your Windows Update component store.

To run the DISM command, follow these steps:

  1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type Command Prompt in the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.
  3. When prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the app to launch with administrative permissions.
  4. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
    DISM.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

After you execute the command, wait for the process to finish. Upon completion, close the Command Prompt window and restart your device to see if the 0x80242016 error code has been fixed.

Method 5. Reset Windows Update Components

Another way to fix this error is to reset the Windows Update components. This will clear the download cache and fix any problems with the update component store.

To reset Windows Update components, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type Command Prompt in the search box. When you see it in the results, right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.
  3. First, you need to stop 4 services that may be running on your device. To do this, input the commands below in the following order, pressing the Enter key on your keyboard after each line:
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop cryptSvc
    • net stop bits
    • net stop msiserver
      Reset Windows update components
  4. After this, you need to rename 2 system folders. Renaming them creates a backup in case something goes wrong during the new folder generation. Similarly to the previous step, press Enter after inputting these commands:
    • ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
    • ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
      Windows software distribution center
  5. The last step is restarting all the services you turned off previously. This can be done from the Command Prompt as well, just press Enter after each command:
    • net start wuauserv
    • net start cryptSvc
    • net start bits
    • net start msiserver
  6. Close the Command Prompt interface and try to run a Windows Update. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to apply.

Method 6. Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus

Some users have reported that they were able to fix the 0x80242016 error by temporarily disabling their antivirus software. Once you've disabled your antivirus, try to install the update again. If it works, you can add an exception for Windows Update in your antivirus settings.

To disable your antivirus, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on an empty space in your taskbar and choose Task Manager from the context menu.
    Task Manager
  2. Switch to the Startup tab using the header menu located at the top of the window. Here, find your antivirus application from the list and select it by clicking on it once.
  3. Click on the Disable button now visible in the bottom-right of the window. This will disable the application from launching when you start your device.
    Disable antivirus
  4. Restart your computer and see if you're able to upgrade Windows.

Method 7. Disable Proxy Connection

If you're using a proxy server to connect to the Internet, it can sometimes cause problems with installing updates. To fix this, you can try to disable your proxy connection and then install the update again.

To disable your proxy connection, follow these steps:

  1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type in Internet Options and click on the first search result. Switch to the Connections tab once the pop-up window shows up, and then click on LAN Settings.
    LAN Settings
  3. Once in the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings window, make sure that the Use a proxy server for your LAN option is NOT turned on. If the option is ticked, your issue may be related to the proxy server, so make sure to turn it off.
    Use proxy server for your LAN
  4. Click OK. Check if the 0x80242016 error reappears after disabling this feature in Windows.

Method 8. Start the Required Windows Services

The 0x80242016 error may be caused by a Windows service that isn't running. To fix this, you can try to start the relevant Windows services.

To start the required Windows services, follow these steps:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows + R keys. This will launch the Run application.
  2. Without quotation marks, type "services.msc" and hit the Enter key on your keyboard. The Services application will be launched as a result of this.
    services.msc
  3. Scroll down until you see the Windows Update service in the alphabetical list. Right-click on it, and then choose Properties from the context menu.
    Windows update
  4. Use the drop-down menu to change the Startup type to Enabled. When done, click Apply, close the pop-up window, and reboot your computer.

Method 9. Download and Install Windows Updates Manually

As a last resort, you can try to download and install updates manually. To do this, you'll need to download the updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

Once you've downloaded the updates, double-click on each one to install them.

TL;DR

  • The Windows Update error 0x80242016 happens when you try to update Windows, but something goes wrong after the reboot.
  • To fix it, you will need to ensure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for installing the update. If it does not, then you will need to upgrade your computer before proceeding.
  • Try resetting the Windows Update components. This process will stop the Windows Update service, delete temporary update files, and re-register the required services.
  • Next, run some general troubleshooting commands like the SFC and DISM scans. These can help fix problems with Windows updates. Make sure to use an elevated command prompt!
  • Use the Windows Update troubleshooter! It can help you get rid of error code 0x80242016.
  • Try disabling unessential third-party services, as well as your proxy server.
  • If Windows Update error 0x80242016 keeps happening, manually download Windows updates from Microsoft and install them yourself. Just run the update files and follow the on-screen instructions.

Conclusion

We hope the above methods helped you fix the Windows Update errors caused by error code 0x80242016. Windows updates, including the newest feature update in the latest version, should work on your Windows PC now!

Updating Windows has never been easier now that Windows Update error 0x80242016 is gone. But do you want to learn more about how to keep your Windows computer (and other devices) up-to-date with the latest technology? If so, we recommend reading our other blog posts on the subject!

One More Thing

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Tags: Troubleshooting