How to Fix an Update Error 0x800705b4 on Windows image 1

Both Windows 11 and Windows 10 display an update error 0x800705b4 when a system update fails to install. If this error has occurred on your system and you can’t install available updates, apply a few fixes and your issue should be resolved. We’ll show you various ways to get around this problem on your computer.

A few reasons your software update fails to install are that your third-party antivirus or firewall is blocking the update, Windows Update is experiencing issues, your operating system files are corrupted, a third-party app is interfering, and more.

Restart Your PC

One quick way to fix many minor system glitches is by rebooting your PC. These glitches might be why your update isn’t installing, and resolving these issues will fix your update problem.

Make sure to save your unsaved work before turning off your computer.

  1. Open the Start menu using the Windows key or by selecting the menu icon.
  2. Select the Power icon in the menu.
  3. Choose Restart to turn off and back on your computer.
"Restart" highlighted in the Windows Start menu.

Turn Off Third-Party Antivirus and Firewall on Your PC

If you’ve installed a third-party antivirus or firewall on your PC, that program might be interfering with Windows Update, causing the feature not to install available updates. In this case, temporarily turn off the program to fix the issue.

You’ll find the option to disable the antivirus and the firewall on the main panel of the program. Then, try to install the available updates. You can turn the protection back on after installing the latest updates.

Note that you don’t have to turn off your protection if you use Microsoft Defender Antivirus or Microsoft Defender Firewall. Both these items don’t interfere with Windows Update.

Change How the Windows Update Service Starts

The Windows operating system runs a background service called Windows Update to find and install the latest system updates. It’s possible this service isn’t running correctly, causing your issue.

You can get around that by forcing the service to start automatically with a delay on your PC’s boot.

  1. Open the Start menu, find Services, and select the item with that name.
  2. Find Windows Update, right-click the service, and select Properties.
  3. Open the General tab, select the Startup type drop-down menu, and choose Automatic (Delayed Start).
Configuring the startup option for "Windows Update" in Services.
  1. Select Apply, choose OK, and close the Services window.
  2. Restart your PC and try to install the available updates.

Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft has included a Windows Update troubleshooter in both Windows 11 and Windows 10 to allow users to find and fix various update problems. Utilize this tool and let Windows help you resolve any update-related issues.

On Windows 11

  1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
  2. Select System in the left sidebar and Troubleshoot on the right pane.
  3. Choose Other troubleshooters.
  4. Select Run next to Windows Update.
"Run" highlighted for "Windows Update" in Windows 11 Settings.
  1. Allow the tool to find and fix update issues.

On Windows 10

  1. Launch Settings using Windows + I.
  2. Select Update & Security in Settings.
  3. Choose Troubleshoot in the left sidebar and select Additional troubleshooters on the right pane.
  4. Select Windows Update and choose Run the troubleshooter.
"Run the troubleshooter" highlighted for "Windows Update" in Windows 10 Settings.
  1. Wait for the tool to detect and resolve update problems.

Disable Other Updates When Updating Windows

Windows updates other Microsoft products when you install system updates. It’s possible one or more of these products are faulty, causing the main system updates not to install.

In this case, isolate those products’ updates by turning off an option in Windows Update settings.

  1. Open the Start menu, search for Windows Update settings, and select the item with that name.
  2. Select Advanced options.
  3. Turn off Receive updates for other Microsoft products (Windows 11) or Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows (Windows 10).
The option to disable other Microsoft product updates highlighted in Windows 11 Settings.
  1. Try to install the available updates.

Fix Windows’ Corrupted System Files

Windows Update is a system feature and this feature relies on various core operating system files to function. If those core files are corrupted or damaged, the feature can stop working. This might be the case with your PC.

Luckily, you can use a built-in tool called System File Checker (SFC) to find and fix all the corrupted system files on your computer. This tool replaces the broken files with working files.

  1. Open Start, find Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
  2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
  3. Type the following command on the CMD window and press Enter:
    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
The DISM command typed in Command Prompt.
  1. Run the following command to begin finding and fixing the corrupted system files:
    sfc /scannow
  2. Restart your PC and install the available updates.

Clean Boot Windows and Install Updates

If a third-party app is interfering with Windows Update, clean boot your Windows PC to isolate any third-party items from the operating system. You can install the available updates in this mode without any problems.

  1. Open Start, find System Configuration, and launch the tool.
  2. Access the Services tab, activate Hide all Microsoft services, and choose Disable all.
"Services," "Hide all Microsoft services," and "Disable all" highlighted in System Configuration.
  1. Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
  2. Right-click each app that displays Enabled in its Status column and choose Disable.
"Disable" highlighted for a startup app in Task Manager.
  1. Close Task Manager, return to System Configuration, and select Apply followed by OK.
  2. Restart your PC and try to update your system.

Reset Windows Update

If the Windows Update feature itself is experiencing problems, reset the feature’s various components to possibly fix your issue. You can use a reset script to reset the feature.

  1. Launch a web browser on your PC and download the reset script for your Windows 11 or Windows 10 system.
  2. Right-click the downloaded file and select Properties.
  3. Enable the Unblock option and choose Apply followed by OK.
"Unblock," "Apply," and "OK" highlighted for the Windows Update reset script file.
  1. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
  2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions in the reset tool.

Download and Install the Update Manually

If nothing else works, your last resort is to manually download and install the available updates. Microsoft has an online catalog where you can find and download the updates you want for your PC. This method helps you bypass the Windows Update feature’s issues.

  1. Go to Settings > Windows Update on Windows 11 or Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update on Windows 10 and find the update that’s failing to install. The update name should start with KB.
  2. Launch a web browser and head over to the Microsoft Update Catalog site.
  3. Select the search box on the site, type the update name you noted, and press Enter.
  4. Find the update on the list and select Download next to that item.
The search box and "Download" options highlighted on the Microsoft Update Catalog site.
  1. Launch the downloaded file to install the update on your PC.

Resolving a 0x800705b4 Error to Bring Windows Up to Date

Update errors like 0x800705b4 prevent you from getting the latest bug fixes and features for your Windows PC. Fortunately, dealing with most update errors is easy, as all you have to do is make a few tweaks here and there on your PC to resolve the problem.

Once you’ve done that, Windows will find and install all the available system updates without an issue. Enjoy using your up to date Windows machine!