How to fix Windows Update error 0x800f081f

What is Windows Update error 0x800f081f

0x800f081f is an update error associated with KB5000842 or KB5001391 patches that were released to fix previous issues with printing. The pending update is meant to upgrade your system to the new Windows 21H1 Build resolving previously existed errors. Unfortunately, despite its importance, many users have not been able to download it correctly as there is an error getting them stuck. Waiting until Windows gets around this issue itself is totally senseless as there might be a problem that requires manual steps. As investigation showed, error 0x800f081f is usually caused by disabled or malfunctioned .NET Framework software that does not implement proper communication with Windows Updates. Normally that is the major reason causing the 0x800f081f code, however, there are also some other reasons that should be discussed in the instructions below.

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

Before coming down to solve the .NET Framework problems, it is important to try an easier step, which is Windows Troubleshooter. This is an in-built utility capable of resolving temporary issues appearing on a PC. Although it is usually not enough to solve the problem completely, you should still give it a try using the steps below.

1. Open Settings via the Start menu or press Windows key + I buttons together. 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. Restart .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8

Sometimes Windows cannot install the necessary update due to badly configured .NET Framework software. The problem has been vividly seen with the 0x800f081f error as Windows struggles to communicate with some components. In order to fix it, follow the steps below.

1. Type Control Panel into the search bar next to Start Menu.
2. Open it up and choose Programs and Features.
3. Then select Turn Windows features on or off.
4. The list of Windows features will appear immediately.
5. You should find both .NET Framework 3.5 and .NET Framework 4.8.
6. Uncheck their boxes and click OK to disable them temporarily.
7. Then click Restart now to reboot your PC.
8. Once you are back to the desktop, open the same window by repeating the previous steps.
9. Now you should check the boxes for two .NET Framework features that were disabled and click “OK”.
10. Windows will therefore ask you to choose between two options. Make sure you select Let Windows Update download the files for you.
11. After the changes have been applied, close the window.

Now, as the next stage of this solution, we should enable .NET Framework using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool).

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, copy-paste this command DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All and click Enter.
4. As soon as Windows writes the operation completed successfully, you can close the console and try to install the problematic update again.

3. Check integrity of the system files

Corrupted or missing system components may be the culprit for errors like 0x800f081f. For this exact reason, it is important to check their integrity before moving to other solution methods. Below, we will employ both SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), which will detect and restore absent and damaged components. Here 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.

4. Specify settings for Optional Content Installation.

Using this method will help us reconfigure group policy settings to make Windows download repair content and optional features directly from Windows Update. This is how you can perform this simple, yet very effective solution:

1. Press Windows key + R combination and type gpedit.msc.
2. Local Group Policy Editor should be prompted. On the left panel, navigate to Administrative Templates > System.
3. On the right panel, scroll down the list until you find Specify settings for Optional Content Installation.
4. Double click on it, make sure to select Enabled and check the Download repair content and optional features directly from Windows Update instead of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) option.
5. After performing these steps, click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Now, you are off to try and install the update once more. If this one did not have any impact on resolving the issue, go to further instructions listed below.

5. Restart Windows components and Update service

This method helps you reset Windows Update settings. It is very helpful and recommended by experts if you want to resolve the issue. 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 special signatures for Windows Updates. Based on this, we will compel Windows to delete corrupted elements and recreate update components from scratch. The way we are going to do it is via Command Prompt, which has been used before. Although this is a multi-step solution, it should not take too much time and knowledge to do it. Just follow the steps below:

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.

6. Try to download a conflicting update from Microsoft Catalog

Cases when Windows struggles to receive cumulative updates from the server happen quite often. Although the previous steps had to annihilate server problems whilst receiving the updates, Windows may struggle to download the update regardless. If this is your case, it is still worth installing the necessary update right from the Microsoft Catalog. Before doing so, we will have to note which update you need to install. For this:

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 that filed to install (on top of the list).
5. Once done, search and download the noted update in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

7. Use Media Creation Tool

As our final recommendation amongst all mentioned solution, we advise you to install updates via the Media Creation Tool. This is an official Microsoft utility available for users who struggle to upgrade their systems. This procedure will not have any influence on your personal data but simply update your PC. In order to do it, follow the steps listed below:

1. 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 0x8009001d error.

Summary

Dealing with 0x800f081f or similar issues on your own may truly fray out your patience due to unsuccessful attempts. It is great that there are people who have tested and wrapped the most efficient solutions into a single guide helping users avoid time and power waste. We hope that you are no longer part of the 0x800f081f problem. If there is something more disrupting your PC, we have a number of articles dedicated to other Windows and Mac issues. Feel free to use them on our page if needed.