How to fix Windows Update error 0x80070652

What is error 0x80070652

Windows 10 is nowhere next to being flawless, especially talking about the installation of updates. Since its release, users have been facing various updates errors. Windows is a complex operating system, which is less likely to ever get rid of such problems forever. A wide range of features and settings tangled up in the Windows system are more likely to meet some error for unexpected reasons. The 0x80070652 error code appears whilst installing new updates. It stops the installation processes and sometimes forces the system into a BSoD (Blue Screen of Death) crash. It is no revelation that such errors tend to appear due to damaged files, incompatibility, and configuration issues. However, sometimes users are forced to bog down deeper into resolving the issue as there are broader reasons for the appearance. Below, we will show 7 solutions in total panning from easy to more advanced methods. Make sure to follow each step precisely to not miss any important detail.

Windows Update error 0x80070652 (sample 1)

Windows Update error 0x80070652 (sample 2)

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

As a rule, the very first option coming to mind is Update Troubleshooter. In most cases, it has no influence on solving the issue as there are deeper causes for errors. However, it is still worth trying this simple, yet sometimes effective method to get rid of the problem. The in-built utility will scan out your system for potential problems and try to fix them eventually.

1. Open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. On the right pane, locate Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter.
3. Finish the process following the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

2. Check integrity of the system files

As we already mentioned in the beginning, update issues may happen due to corrupted or missing files. These files are essential for Windows services to work correctly. If some of these files are out of their native environment, more likely it will be the reason for update errors. Below, we are going to use both SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), which will detect and restore absent components. This is how:

Using SFC

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Once the console is opened, type the sfc /scannow command and click Enter.
4. When the fixing process is done, restart your computer.

Using DISM

1. Open Command Prompt as we did in the previous step.
2. Copy and paste this command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.
3. Click Enter and wait until Windows ends the scanning and fixing.
4. Once done, restart your PC and install the update again.

After performing both of these scans, attempt to install a problematic update again. If this does not work, get down to the further steps mentioned below.

3. Run a Clean Bootup

0x80070652 error may also be caused by incompatibility issues. Antimalware or any other third-party software may conflict with Windows services causing the error. Clean bootup ensures your PC is started only with in-built apps and services to find out whether some secondary app prompts the issue. To launch in Clean bootup mode, simply follow the steps below:

1. Press Windows key + R combination and paste msconfig.
2. Then in the opened window go to the Services tab located on top.
3. Check the box next to Hide All Microsoft Services and click on the Disable all button.
4. Now choose the General tab and select the Selective startup option. Make sure that the box is checked only next to the Load System Services.
5. Click Apply and OK. Then reboot your PC.

Now you can try to update your system whilst being in Clean Boot mode. No matter whether you failed or succeeded in installing the updates, you should turn Windows back to Normal Startup settings. To do this, simply redo all the steps you implemented above by enabling the disabled services and changing your startup option from Selective to Normal.

4. Reset Windows Update components

Another nice method to try whilst solving update-related issues is resetting Windows Update settings. It has been proven to be effective in many cases. The whole procedure involves restarting BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update services as well as renaming some update folders (SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2). These folders contain temporary files necessary for implementing Windows Updates. Based on this, we will force Windows to delete corrupted elements and create update components from scratch. Below, we will show you two ways of performing this step. The first requires typing and executing each console command in a manual sequence. The other involves a so-called batch script written in Notepad and saved as WUReset.bat. There is no real difference in which one you choose. The entire procedure may seem more advanced, yet will not take too much time and knowledge to do it. Just follow the steps listed below:

Using manual steps

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Copy-paste this list of commands one by one clicking Enter after each. (This action will disable services responsible for Windows Updates)

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

4. Then, we have to rename the above-mentioned folders. Simply paste these commands by clicking Enter after each.

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

5. Finally, all left to do is to turn the disabled services back. So apply these commands likewise we did previously.

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

6. Now we are all done with it. Go to the Windows Update center and try to perform the installation again.

Using the Batch Script

This is an alternative method to the above. A batch script is used to execute a similar set of commands to reset all Windows Update components, Cryptographic services, and folders like SoftwareDistribution. It is not that hard as you could imagine, but rather easier than the previous one. All you need is a Windows Notepad and a bit of copy-paste magic:

1. Open a new Notepad file. For this, right-click on any free area over your desktop, choose New and Text document.
2. Then paste this list of commands into your notepad:

@ECHO OFF
echo Simple Script to Reset / Clear Windows Update
echo.
PAUSE
echo.
attrib -h -r -s %windir%system32catroot2
attrib -h -r -s %windir%system32catroot2*.*
net stop wuauserv
net stop CryptSvc
net stop BITS
ren %windir%system32catroot2 catroot2.old
ren %windir%SoftwareDistribution sold.old
ren "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader" downloader.old
net Start BITS
net start CryptSvc
net start wuauserv
echo.
echo Task completed successfully...
echo.
PAUSE

3. Once pasting that it, click File > Save as and name it WUReset.bat. Make sure to set Encoding to ANSI and save the file to any location you want.
4. Finally, you can right-click on the file, select Run as administrator and enjoy automatic reset of Windows Updates.

The beauty of batch scripts is that they help execute all of the steps at once without typing commands manually. If you ever stumble into similar issues in the future, you can execute the already-created .bat file to reset update components.

5. Download a conflicting update from Microsoft Catalog

If you continue to struggle installing the necessary update, then there is a way to do it by manual. In other words, you will have to download the conflicting update directly from Microsoft Catalog. To do this, simply go through the steps marked out below:

1. Press Windows key + I at the same time.
2. Then navigate to Update & Security.
3. On the right side of the window, choose View update history.
4. After this, find and note the most recent update (on top of the list).
5. Once done, search and download the noted update in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

6. Use Media Creation Tool

One more powerful tool desgined to obtain the latest portion of updates is Media Creation Tool. This utility acts as a great alternative to the default Windows Update Center. It helps users install fresh updates to work around various errors. This procedure will not touch your personal data but simply update the PC. In order to do it, follow the steps listed below:

1. At first, you have to download the utility from the Microsoft website.
2. Then, execute the downloaded file.
3. After agreeing with the Terms of use, there will be two options to choose from. Select Upgrade this PC now.
4. Choose to Keep Personal Files to ensure they will be untouched.
5. Finally, launch the process and wait until it ends.
6. Hopefully, this method helped you combat the 0x80070652 error.

7. Update drivers

Quite often compatibility issues can also be driven by outdated or malfunctioned drivers. As a result, this can be issue preventing Windows from updating successfully. This is why it is advised to scan your devices for drivers and update them if necessary. You can do it manually or using a special utility for a faster solution. Both options are discussed below:

1. Left-click on the Start Menu button and choose Device Manager.
2. Ideally, you should update all devices available. If there is something marked with a yellow triangle, this means you should update in the first order.
3. To do it, right-click on the driver, choose Update, and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Let Windows search for new drivers and download them eventually.

Drivers are key to the proper configuration of your system. They are the ones providing a stable connection between hardware and your operating machine. Updating a number of drivers manually may take a lot of time resulting in a monotonous rehearsal of steps. Here you can download the best driver update utility, which will deal with this task on its own – Driver Booster from IObit:

Driver Booster start screen

Driver Booster scan results

Driver Booster tools section

Summary

Update errors are hard to eradicate forever. They will be popping over time from user to user until there is a pill for the all-time perfection of Windows. If you have any other problems that occur on your PC, scout for them on our website. There are lots of new articles published daily to help people resolve various kinds of issues ranging from errors to virus removals.