Windows Update Database Corruption Error [SOLVED]

Fix Windows Update Database Corruption Error: While updating Windows 10 your update might get stuck or you will not be able to update your Windows because of Windows Update Database Corruption Error. You will only be able to find out this error when running Window Update Troubleshooter, while in some cases troubleshooter is able to fix all the issue related to Windows update but in this particular case it shows the cause as Potential Windows Update Database error detected but when you click Apply fix it won’t be able to fix this issue and returns “Not fixed” after running some time.

Windows Update Database Corruption Error

If you’re not able to download new updates your PC might become vulnerable to security threats and malware, hence it is very important to fix this Windows Update issue as soon as possible. And without wasting any time let’s see how to fix this error.

Windows Update Database Corruption Error [SOLVED]

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

1.Type “troubleshooting” in Windows Search bar and click on Troubleshooting.

troubleshooting control panel

2.Next, from the left window pane select View all.

3.Then from the Troubleshoot computer problems list select Windows Update.

select windows update from troubleshoot computer problems

4.Follow on-screen instruction and let the Windows Update Troubleshoot run.

Windows Update Troubleshooter

5.The Troubleshooter will Fix Windows Update Database Corruption Error.

Fix Windows Update Database Corruption Error

6.Restart your PC and again try to install the updates.

7.In case the above troubleshooter doesn’t work or is corrupted you could manually download the Update Troubleshooter from Microsoft Website.

Method 2: Perform a Clean boot and then try to Update Windows

1.Press the Windows Key + R button, then type ‘msconfig’ and click OK.

msconfig

2.Under General tab under, make sure ‘Selective startup’ is checked.

3.Uncheck ‘Load startup items‘ under selective startup.

Perform Clean boot in Windows. Selective startup in system configuration

4.Select Service tab and check the box ‘Hide all Microsoft services.’

5.Now click ‘Disable all’to disable all the unnecessary services which might cause conflict.

hide all microsoft services in system configuration

6.On Startup tab, click ‘Open Task Manager.’

startup open task manager

7.Now in Startup tab (Inside Task Manager) disable all the startup items which are enabled.

disable startup items

8.Click OK and then Restart. Now again try to Update Windows and this time you will be able to successfully update your Windows.

9.Again press the Windows key + R button and type ‘msconfig’ and click OK.

10.On the General tab, select the Normal Startup option, and then click OK.

system configuration enable normal startup

11.When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart. This would definitely help you Fix Windows Update Database Corruption Error.

Method 3: Run System File Checker (SFC) and Check Disk (CHKDSK)

1.Press Windows Key + X then click on Command Prompt(Admin).

command prompt with admin rights

2.Now type the following in the cmd and hit enter:

Sfc /scannow
sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows

SFC scan now command prompt

3.Wait for the above process to finish and once done restart your PC.

4.Next, run CHKDSK from here Fix File System Errors with Check Disk Utility(CHKDSK).

5.Let the above process complete and again reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 4: Run DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt(Admin).

command prompt admin

2.Enter the following command in cmd and hit enter:

Important: When you DISM you need to have Windows Installation Media ready.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess

Note: Replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows with the location of your repair source

cmd restore health system

2.Press enter to run the above command and wait for the process to complete, usually, it takes 15-20 minutes.

NOTE: If the above command doesn't work then try on the below: 
Dism /Image:C:\offline /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows /LimitAccess

3.After the DISM process if complete, type the following in the cmd and hit Enter: sfc /scannow

4.Let System File Checker run and once it’s complete, restart your PC.

Method 5: Rename SoftwareDistribution Folder

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

2.Now type the following commands to stop Windows Update Services and then hit Enter after each one:

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

Stop Windows update services wuauserv cryptSvc bits msiserver

3.Next, type the following command to rename SoftwareDistribution Folder and then hit Enter:

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

Rename SoftwareDistribution Folder

4.Finally, type the folowing command to start Windows Update Services and hit Enter after each one:

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

Start Windows update services wuauserv cryptSvc bits msiserver

5.Reboot your PC to save changes.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Windows Update Database Corruption Error but if you still have any queries regarding this post feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

5 thoughts on “Windows Update Database Corruption Error [SOLVED]”

  1. Here was my resolution: For some reason or another there was a Registry setting that was preventing the servers from connecting to the update service.

    Steps to resolve:
    – Open Registry Editor on the server
    – Navigate to: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\AuthRoot\AutoUpdate
    – Delete “RootDirURL”

  2. In my case it’s saying the database is corrupted and also the required apps isn’t installed. How to fix this and because of this I can’t launch Start button. Thanks.

  3. I have tried to install several different updates and everything I have tried fails. I have 2 updates pending that neither one will install because of quote missing files. I have went through the whole process of trying to delete the downloads folder I’ve went through other processes trying to figure out how to fix the missing files including the Windows Update troubleshooter which says that it finds things in fixes it but it doesn’t. I’ve also went through so are other processes using the command prompt to try to find and fix errors, using the SFC and DISM. All came back good. I’ve used something called Reset_Reregister_Windows_Update_Components bat file, which says several things are missing or not assess-able. I have even downloaded the updates from the microsoft update catalog web page and both times I tried to install them, it said updates were not installed. Any help here would be amazing because I do not want to have to restore my computer back to factory and lose everything that’s on it.

    2021-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5000802)

    2021-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5001567)

    those are the 2 updates I’m trying to install they keep failing. Is there any way to force install them or to delete them out of my Windows Update so my system won’t keep showing that I have security errors that need to be fixed but I can’t fix them?

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