How to fix Windows Update error 0x800f0950

What is Windows Update error 0x800f0950

This guide is dedicated to resolving issues related to the 0x800f0950 error. This code has been reported by users to happen while installing .NET 3.5 Framework or booting apps or videogames on both Windows 10 and 11. The error message contains this text “The changes couldn’t be completed. Please reboot your computer and try again. Error code: 0x800F0950” preventing users from proceeding with a successful setup. Reasons for such a malfunction are hard to define blindfolded. The overall error is pretty uncertain and might appear for no obvious reason. Despite such confusion, many experts come up with basic triggers that cause error 0x800f0950 to occur. Some of them are corrupted remnant files after previous .NET 3.5 Framework uninstallation, lack of system updates, disabled .NET Framework, damaged system files, and other causes as well. It may be hard to identify which one of them led to the problem, thus, we encourage you to try each step we listed below until you find the right solution that fixes the error.

1. Install fresh system updates

Pending updates could have the necessary fixes you need to address the 0x800f0950 error. This is the first method we recommend you to try before moving on to tinkering around .NET Framework itself. Here is how you can check your PC for available updates:

1. Press Windows + I combination and choose Update & Security.
2. Then go to Windows Update and click on the Check for updates button. If your Windows found new updates automatically, just click on Install/Download and follow on-screen instructions.
3. After your PC gets rebooted, you can try to install .NET Framework or launch an issue-related application again.

2. Download .NET Framework Repair Tool

This method will help get rid of unnecessary leftovers that got stuck in your system after failing to install some version of .NET Framework the previous time. If you remember experiencing something similar to what we just mentioned, download an official repair tool developed by Microsoft to address the issue and delete remnant files that hinder the process of new .NET Framework installations.

1. Go to this page and download Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool.
2. Once done, open the downloaded file and agree with the User Account Control window.
3. Follow the setup and make sure to choose recommended repair techniques to finish the process.
4. After completed, reboot your system and try installing the .NET Framework again.

3. Install .NET Framework using Installation Media

If you are unable to install .NET Framework using traditional ways, you can try to do it via Installation Disk or flash drive, instead. This is what we are going to try in the instructions below. You can perform this method in both Windows 10 and 11.

1. Insert your DVD disk or USB flash drive with installation media into a PC. Alternatively, you can also create an ISO file and use it instead.
2. Then, open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
3. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
4. Once the console is opened, copy-paste this command Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:Drive Letter:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess. Make sure to change Drive Letter with your drive letter that hosts the inserted installation media.
5. Press Enter and wait until the installation is done.

Once over, reboot your system and check whether the error has faded away.

4. Install .NET Framework 3.5 using Windows Features

In case the conventional installation of .NET Framework 3.5 does not work out, you can try and do it through Windows Features. This is a separate Windows environment where .NET Framework 3.5 can be enabled and therefore installed. Many users capitalized on this method and managed to circumvent the 0x800f0950 error after failing to install the component traditionally. This method is mostly pointless to do on Windows 11 since .NET Framework 3.5 should come pre-installed and enabled by default.

1. Find Control Panel using the search bar next to Start Menu and open it up.
2. Set View by to Small or Big Icons and choose Programs and Features from the list.
3. Once opened, navigate to Turn Windows features on or off on the right pane of the window.
4. If .NET Framework 3.5 (this package includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) does not have a box next to it enabled, tick it and click OK to save changes.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and finish the installation process eventually.

Finally, restart your system and check whether the error remains the same.

5. Install .NET Framework 3.5 using Custom Command Script

If none of the previous alternatives helped you achieve the successful installation of the .NET Framework, here is another to try. The idea is to create a custom-made installation script and execute it to bypass the problem. It may look a bit more complicated, so stay calm and follow each step listed below. You will also need to have compatible installation media (DVD or USB drive). Find instructions on how to create it on the internet.

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
Title .NET Framework 3.5 Offline Installer
for %%I in (D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z) do if exist "%%I:\\sources\install.wim" set setupdrv=%%I
if defined setupdrv (
echo Found drive %setupdrv%
echo Installing .NET Framework 3.5...
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /All /Source:DRIVE LETTER:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess
echo.
echo .NET Framework 3.5 should be installed
echo.
) else (
echo No installation media found!
echo Insert DVD or USB flash drive and run this file once again.
echo.
)
pause

3. Replace DRIVE LETTER with the drive letter that holds your inserted installation media.
4. After having it done, click File > Save as and name it name however you want with the .cmd extension at the end – this is very important!
5. After the script is saved, double-click it to run and initiate the installation procedure.

Wait until it is finished and see if the 0x800f0950 error got finally resolved.

6. Install .NET Framework 4.8 from DotNET

This option suits users working on Windows 11. Although the error says something is wrong with .NET Framework 3.5, the problematic game or application may lack other component versions like .NET Framework 4.8 that support the proper functioning of another. It seems to be the case with Windows 11 itself where each game and application requires a newer iteration of the component to run them. Downloading .NET Framework 4.8 Runtime should potentially fix the issue if you are victimized by the error on Windows 11. Here is how you can do this:

1. Go to this official .NET Framework 4.8 download page.
2. Download .NET Framework 4.8 Runtime and execute the file to start its installation.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions and finish the setup.

Once done, restart your PC and try to access the problematic game or application again.

Summary

We hope you managed to solve the error and got back to using your PC on a regular level. If not and nothing sorts it out eventually, try to perform a repair install. This is a good option to try to make sure your system reinstalls all the essential Windows files that could be in lack causing such errors. We advise you to google more information on how to repair your system properly and without damage. If there is anything more you would like us to help you with, refer to other articles published on our website – maybe you find solutions you need.