How to Fix “Error: 0x80244018” When Updating Windows?

0x80244018 Windows Update Error occurs when the user wants to install the new updates on windows. The server receives the request of installing updates. But usually, the server gets busy, and update files cannot reach the server. This can be because of corrupt updating files, activation of antivirus software, or some wrong settings of your system.

Here are some reasons why 0x80244018 Windows Update Error occurs on your system;

• Interference of Third-party software: Although such software saves your system from malicious attacks. But they also interfere with your system files. They consider them as a bug and crash these files which cause errors such as 0x80244018 Windows Update Error. You can simply turn off such software and scan the system’s files.
• VPN or Proxy issue: Proxy helps its users in hiding the IP address while VPN helps in securing their network traffic. But they exponentially increase the chances of virus threats, spam and malicious attacks, broken internet, security hacks, and identity theft to your system. They also cause updating issues. To fix this problem you can simply turn off/disable them from settings.
• Corrupt System Files: When the windows server request for installing new updates, these crashed or corrupt files do not reach the server. It stops the updates installation process and a windows update error appears on the screen. You can troubleshoot the updates and scan these files, to fix this issue.
• Disabled BIT service: This service is responsible to provide a new update to the system. If it is turned off, you simply cannot install the new updates. So, check whether this service is enabled or not. If not, enable it to install the latest updates.

1. Automate the Windows Updates Services

When the windows updates do not install automatically in your system, it shows a 0x80244018 Windows Update Error. Automating the Windows update using the command prompt, will fix the issue. So, here are some steps you can follow to proceed;

1. Go to the Start Menu and type CMD on the search bar.
2. Right-click on the command prompt and then press Run as Administrator.
3. Now Type the following commands on the command line and hit the Enter Key.

SC CONFIG WUAUSERV START=AUTO
SC CONFIG BITS START= AUTO
SC CONFIG CRYPTSVC START= AUTO
SC CONFIG TRUSTEDINSTALLER START= AUTO
Exit

4. Now press the Enter key and restart your computer.

   

2. Restart the Update Service and Rename the Software-Distribution Folder

This folder is located in the Windows directory. It is used to store the files that are generally required during Windows update installation. This folder is maintained by WUAgent. So, you can rename this folder and restart the update services. The fresh copies of updating files will download in the folder. So, follow these steps to fix the issue;

1. Click on Start Menu. Right-click on the command prompt and run it as an administrator.
2. Type the following commands and press Enter key.

   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
   EXIT

3. Now press Enter and close the Command Prompt.

3. Run Windows Updates Troubleshooter

When the computer stops installing the new updates, Windows 11 provides a built-in feature of update troubleshooting. This feature will detect the problem and fix the updating issue automatically. So, here are some steps to run updates troubleshooter;

1. Press the Window key + R. The run program will open. Type Control panel and click ok.
2. So, go to the search tab on the top right corner and type troubleshooting.
3. Click on the view all option, present on the left side of the screen.

   

4. Now scroll down to the bottom and click on Windows Updates.

   

5. A dialogue box will appear on the screen. Press the Next.
6. Troubleshooting will start. It will take some time to detect the problem. Once it detects it, it will resolve the issue.
7. So, when the troubleshooting gets finished, restart your system.

4. Run SFC Scan and DISM Scanning Tool

When some important updating files get corrupt or crashed, a window updating error appears on the screen. SFC and DISM scanning tools help in scanning these files and repairing them as well. So, use these tools by following the below steps;

SFC Scanning Tool:

1. Go to the start menu and type CMD on the search bar.
2. Right-click on the command prompt and click on the Run as an administrator option.
3. Now type this command and press Enter Key.

   SFC /scannow

4. It will take some time to scan and repair the issue. Once it gets done close the screen.

   

DISM Scanning Tool

1. Open the command prompt by running it as an Administrator.
2. Type the following commands one by one on the command line and press enter key;

   Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /Check health
   Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth

3. It will take some time to scan a repair the issue. So, wait for a few minutes.

   

4. Then type Exit and press Enter

5. Turn off the Proxy Settings

Microsoft Company releases the updates regularly, to make their product more safe and free from bugs. But still, the users face issues like 0x80244018 Windows Update Error. Proxy is also a major reason for this error. You can simply disable the proxy server and install the windows updates. So, follow these steps;

1. Press Window Key + I to open the Windows Settings.
2. So, click on Network & Internet then click on (You can open it directly by opening the Run program and now type ms-settings: network-proxy and press the Enter key).

   

3. Go to the Manual Proxy Settings and click on setup.
4. Now turn off the use a proxy server option. Close the window and Restart your system.

   

6. Remove the ThresholdOptedIn Registry Entry

Windows Registry contains data and information regarding installed applications in your system. When a few of its files get crashed, it causes an updating issue in your computer. So, here are some steps to clean the crashed file from the Windows registry;

1. Press the window key + R from the keyboard to open the Run program.

   

2. Type Regedit and press ok. Now navigate to the following location;

   Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability.

3. Now check ThresholdOptedIn Registry Entry. If it is present, delete it.