Windows Update Failed with 0x80240036? Fix It Now!

It is common to run into Windows update failures and receive errors like 0x80240036. If your Windows update failed with 0x80240036, don’t worry! This post from MiniTool will show you how to solve this issue to keep your system up to date with the latest feature improvements and security patches.

Windows Update Error 0x80240036

Updating your system in time is vital for the security, performance, and stability of your computer. During the update process, you might experience a Windows update failure with either of the messages below:

WU_E_INVALID_OPERATION: 0x80240036. The object’s current state did not allow the operation.
There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help! (0x80240036)

Windows Update error code 0x80240036 might be attributed to incomplete system files, corrupted Windows Update components, malware infection, related service malfunctioning, and more. After figuring out the possible causes, we will guide you through how to fix Windows update error 0x80240036 step by step.

How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80240036 on Windows 10/11?

Fix 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 10/11 comes with a tool called Windows Update Troubleshooter that can automatically identify and fix Windows Update issues. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.

Step 2. In the settings menu, scroll down to find Update & Security and hit it.

Step 3. In the Troubleshoot tab, click on Additional troubleshooters.

Step 4. Find Windows Update and hit Run the troubleshooter.

Fix 2: Scan Your Computer with Windows Defender

Viruses or malware might also prevent your computer from functioning properly, leading to the occurrence of Windows update error 0x80240036. Therefore, you need to conduct a deep scan with Windows Defender to check and remove any threats. To do so:

Warning:

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Step 1. Launch Windows Settings.

Step 2. Go to Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.

Step 3. Tap on Scan options > tick Full scan > hit Scan now to start scanning.

Fix 3: Repair Corrupted System Files

The system files might be corrupted or missing due to some reason, so you need to fix these corrupted files to see if it will make a difference. To do so:

Step 1. Press Win + S to evoke the search bar.

Step 2. Type cmd to locate Command Prompt.

Step 3. Right-click on it to choose Run as administrator.

Step 4. In the command window, type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

Step 5. After the process is complete, execute the following command:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 6. Reboot your computer.

Fix 4: Check Relevant Services

The services related to Windows Update play an important role in the updating process. Once they are not running properly, Windows update might fail to download or install with error code 0x80240036.

Step 1. Right-click on the Start icon and select Run.

Step 2. Type services.msc in the Run box and hit Enter.

Step 3. Locate Windows Update, Cryptographic, Windows Installer, and Background Intelligent Transfer Service and check their status.

Step 4. If they are running, right-click on them one by one to choose Restart. If they are stopped, select Automatic beside Startup type and hit Start.

Step 5. Click on Apply & OK.

Fix 5: Reset Windows Update Components

Resetting Windows updates components is also a good solution to solve Windows update error 0x80240036. Follow these guidelines:

Step 1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. In the command window, type the following commands one by one and don’t forget to hit Enter after each command.

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

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

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

Tips:

If your operating system is not installed on C drive, remember to replace C with the number of your system drive.

Fix 6: Download and Install the Update Manually

When automatic updates failed with error code 0x80240036, you can consider downloading and installing the respective standalone package from Microsoft Update Catalog. Here’s how to do it:

Move 1: Find the Problematic Update

Step 1. Open Windows Settings.

Step 2. Go to Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history to find the update you fail to install and note down its KB number.

Move 2: Download the Update

Step 1. Navigate to Microsoft Update Catalog.

Step 2. Paste the copy number and hit Search.

Step 3. Find the update that is suitable for operating system and hit the Download button beside it.

Step 4. Follow the prompts on the screen to complete the process and reboot your computer.

Final Words

In summary, the measures mentioned in this post will help you to address Windows Update error 0x80240036. If you encounter other similar errors, these solutions might also be useful to you!

About The Author

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Position: Columnist

Aurelie is a passionate soul who always enjoys researching & writing articles and solutions to help others. Her posts mainly cover topics related to games, data backup & recovery, file sync and so on. Apart from writing, her primary interests include reading novels and poems, travelling and listening to country music.