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An Update Keeps Failing and Reinstalling

Intermediate Windows Update Problems Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11

The same update fails, then Windows tries it again on the next check, in a loop.

Before you start: save any open work and note down what you were doing when the problem started — that context helps if you need to search further or ask for help.
  1. Note the error code shown next to the failed update (something like 0x8024402F) — it narrows down the cause quickly if you need to search further.
  2. Free up disk space first. Updates commonly fail simply because there isn't enough room to stage them — aim for at least 10-20GB free.
  3. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter (Windows 11: Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters; Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot).
  4. Try pausing updates for a week (Windows 11: Settings > Windows Update > Pause updates; Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Pause updates) and then resuming — this sometimes lets a corrected version of the update through.
  5. If one specific update keeps failing, you can hide it temporarily using Microsoft's "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter tool while Microsoft fixes the packaging on their end.
Still not fixed? Send us the details and we'll help you dig further, or browse related guides in Windows Update Problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the same update keep reinstalling itself if it already failed?
Windows treats a failed update as still "needed" until it installs successfully, so it keeps retrying automatically on its own schedule. That's normal behavior — the fix is resolving whatever's causing the failure, not stopping the retries.
Is it safe to skip this update if I can't get it to install?
Feature updates can usually be delayed for a while without issue. Security updates are riskier to skip long-term, so if a specific update keeps failing, it's worth working through the fix steps rather than ignoring it indefinitely.

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