Problems with Windows updates are extremely common. For example, error 0x80240fff occurs in Windows 10 when your system has problems finding available updates. Possible causes include a corrupted update cache or a failure to connect to Microsoft’s update servers.

Fixing error 0x80240fff with the Windows Update troubleshoot­er

Microsoft is aware that the Windows Update Center is always causing new problems that prevent users from im­ple­ment­ing im­prove­ments by in­stalling new updates. That’s why there’s a tool under Update & Security > Troubleshoot­ing in the Windows 10 settings app that auto­mat­ic­ally fixes most errors in the Windows Update system.

Note

You can open the Windows settings app by choosing the Settings icon in the Start menu or by pressing the Windows key + i.

Run the troubleshoot­er to fix the 0x80240fff error using this approach. In most cases, all you have to do is wait. The troubleshoot­er runs auto­mat­ic­ally and requires no further action on your part. When it finishes, a message appears notifying you whether the problem could be fixed.

Image: Windows Update troubleshooter
The Windows Update troubleshoot­er auto­mat­ic­ally finds and fixes a variety of update problems.

Error code 0x80240fff: fixing the problem by checking your network con­nec­tion for Windows Update

Various ap­plic­a­tions and settings can interfere with the con­nec­tion to Microsoft’s update servers. The internet con­nec­tion itself may also be the cause of the 0x80240fff error. The following possible scenarios are the most common:

  • Your internet con­nec­tion is heavily strained by streaming services or large downloads by other devices in your local network.
  • In areas with poor internet service, available bandwidth can be lower during the evening hours, when multiple neigh­bours are using streaming or other services.
  • Wi-Fi con­nec­tions tend to be much more un­re­li­able than Ethernet con­nec­tions, so you’re more likely to have problems when in­stalling an update over a Wi-Fi network.

In many cases, it helps to simply wait and repeat the update at a later time. If you’ve ruled out your internet con­nec­tion as the source of the problem, you can optimise your software and settings:

  1. Turn off third-party antivirus software and firewalls.
  2. Close third-party VPN software. This software may interfere with updates even if you’re not connected to a VPN.
  3. Also close all other active programs if you receive the 0x80240fff error message.
  4. In the Windows settings app, go to “Update & Security” > “Delivery Op­tim­iz­a­tion” and disable the “Allow downloads from other PCs” option.
Image: Windows 10: settings for delivery optimisation
Delivery op­tim­isa­tion can cause problems with Windows updates.
  1. In the same menu, go to Advanced Options and turn off all four options for limiting bandwidth.
  2. Next, right-click the Windows logo in the taskbar to open the Start menu. Choose Computer Man­age­ment.
  3. In the sidebar on the left, go to “Services and Ap­plic­a­tions,” choose Services, and look for Back­ground In­tel­li­gent Transfer Service in the main window in the centre of the screen. Start this service under “More actions” in the sidebar on the right. If the service is already running, choose “Restart.”
Image: Background Intelligent Transfer Service in Computer Management
If you encounter problems with a Windows update, it can help to restart the Back­ground In­tel­li­gent Transfer Service.

Fixing error 0x80240fff using the Reset Windows Update Tool

Microsoft has collected various tools for troubleshoot­ing update problems in the Windows support database and grouped the most important functions in the Reset Windows Update Agent or Tool. This suite helps if basic troubleshoot­ing for Windows Update fails.

To use the option, download and run the Reset Windows Update Tool in the Script Center hosted by Microsoft. To do this, unzip the down­loaded ZIP file in a folder on your hard drive. The folder contains the Re­set­WUEng.cmd script file. Right-click the file to run it as an ad­min­is­trat­or.

Note

Turn off third-party security software before you do this because these ap­plic­a­tions often block access to highly sensitive system com­pon­ents.

Run the in­di­vidu­al com­pon­ents of the troubleshootin­Google Workspace by entering numbers. To resolve the 0x80240fff error, you should run com­pon­ents 1 through 14 one at a time. In most cases, the error will not reappear during future updates.

Image: Reset Windows Update Tool
The Reset Windows Update Agent fixes numerous update problems in Windows.

Fixing error 0x80240fff using the command line program

Error code 0x80240fff can be caused by a corrupted update cache. To fix this problem, you can clean up the cache as follows:

  1. Right-click the Windows logo in the taskbar to launch the Start menu. Select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Power­Shell (Admin). Depending on your Windows con­fig­ur­a­tion, only one of these options will be displayed.
  2. Stop the automatic update service by entering the command net stop wuauserv.
  3. Use the following command to rename the update cache folder: ren C:\Windows\Soft­ware­Dis­tri­bu­tion Soft­ware­Dis­tri­bu­tion.OLD (if Windows is installed on a different drive on your PC, replace the drive letter ac­cord­ingly).
  4. In the same command line window, run the System File Checker by entering the command sfc /scannow. This command line tool takes a few minutes to scan and repair the system files.
  5. When the check is complete, start the automatic update service again by entering the command net start wuauserv.

Then go to the Windows 10 settings app and open the Update & Security page. In many cases, this page will im­me­di­ately display one or more updates to install. If not, click “Check for updates” followed by Download.

Image: Windows Update: Overview
Once error 0x80240fff is repaired, Windows usually finds updates again auto­mat­ic­ally.
Tip

In many cases, it can help to restart your PC and check for updates again.

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