How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x8024001F?

Several Windows users have been reaching us with questions after seeing the 8024001f error code when trying to install a pending Windows Update. While some user reports that this issue only occurs with an update or so, other affected users are saying that this error code is recurring with every WIndows update that they try to install. As it turns out, the issue is not exclusive to Windows 10 as it’s also reported to occur on Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

What’s causing the Error Code 0x8024001f on Windows?

We investigated this particular issue by looking at various user reports and at the repair strategies that are commonly being used by other affected users to fix this problem. As it turns out, several different scenarios might end up producing this error code. Here’s a shortlist of culprits that might spawn this error:

If you’re currently struggling to resolve this error message, this article will provide you with several troubleshooting steps that should end up resolving the issue. Down below, you’ll find a collection of potential fixes that other affected users have successfully used to get the issue resolved. Each of the methods featured below is confirmed to work by at least one affected user.

For the best results, we advise you to follow the methods below in the same order that we arranged them in. Eventually, you should stumble upon a fix that will resolve the issue regardless of the culprit that’s causing the problem.

Let’s begin!

Method 1: Run the Windows update troubleshooter

Before we advance to more complicated strategies, you should start by testing is your Windows installation is not capable of resolving the issue automatically. If the issue you’re facing is common, chances are you will be able to resolve the issue simply by running the Windows Update troubleshooter.

This built-in utility contains a selection of repair strategies that will automatically be applied if the scan reveals a situation that is already covered by an included fix.

Several Windows users that were also encountering this issue have reported that they managed to resolve the issue indefinitely after running the Windows Update troubleshooter. Here’s a quick guide on running the Windows Update Troubleshooter to resolve the 8024001f Windows Update error code:

1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R. After you do this, type “ms-settings-troubleshoot” and press Enter to open up the Troubleshooting tab of the Settings app.

   

2. Once you’re inside the Troubleshooting tab, move over to the right-hand pane of the Settings screen, then move down to the GetupGet up and running section. After you get there, click on Windows Update, then click Run the Troubleshooter from the newly appeared context menu.

   

3. After you manage to start the utility, wait patiently until the initial scan is finished. This will determine whether any of the repair strategies apply to your current situation.

   

4. If a viable fix is identified, you’ll see a new window which that will prompt you to Apply this fix if a recommended strategy is identified. If you see the ‘Apply this fix‘ button, click it and follow the on-screen instructions to enforce the fix if other steps are needed.

   

5. Once the recommended fix is successfully applied, restart your computer and see if the 8024001f Windows Update error is resolved at the next system startup.

If you’re still encountering the same issue, move down to the next method below.

Method 2: Run DISM and SFC scans

According to various user reports, this particular problem can also occur due to some degree of System File corruption. Keep in mind that Windows Update (WU) relies on a lot of dependencies, so there are a lot of system files that might end up triggering this behavior if certain system folders are tainted by corruption.

As it turns out, in situations like this you should be able to resolve the issue by running a couple of utilities capable of fixing logical errors and system corruption DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) and SFC (System File Checker).

Both tools are capable of resolving errors of this kind, but they go about it in different ways – DISM relies on WU to download healthy copies for the files that need to be replaced, while SFC uses a locally cached copy to fetch the required files.

Keep in mind that while DISM is a newer utility, SFC is better at fixing logical errors, so the official recommendation is to run both scans. Here’s a quick guide on running both SFC and DISM scans from an elevated CMD window to resolve the 8024001f Windows Update error:

1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R. Once you’re inside the newly opened window, type “cmd” inside the text box and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open up a Command Prompt with admin access.

   

   Note: If you see the UAC (User Account Control) prompt, click Yes to grant administrative access.

2. Inside the elevated CMD window, enforce the following command and press Enter to initiate a DISM scan:

   Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
   Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

   Note: Keep in mind that DISM needs a reliable internet connection to download healthy copies to replace corrupted files that are causing issues. The first command (scanhealth) will initiate a scan to look for system inconsistencies, while the second command (restorehealth) will replace inconsistencies found with the first scan.

3. Once the DISM scan is complete, restart your computer and continue with the steps below.
   Note: Even if no errors were fixed, you should continue with the SFC scan.
4. At the next startup sequence, follow the first step once again to open up another elevated command prompt. Next, type the following command and press Enter to initiate an SFC scan:

   sfc /scannow

   Note: Don’t interrupt the SFC process after you start the initial scan. Doing so might expose your system to other logical errors that might trigger other similar issues in the future.

5. After the SFC scan is complete, restart your computer once again and see if the issue is resolved at the next system startup.

If you’re still encountering the 8024001f Windows Update error when you try to install a Windows update, move down to the next method below.

Method 3: Disabling / Uninstalling 3rd party AV (if applicable)

If you’re using a 3rd party AV or firewall to protect you for malware infections, chances are you’re encountering the 8024001f error because your security solution is overprotective. There are several 3rd party suites (McAfee, AVAST, Sophos and a few more) that are singled out by affected users for causing this problem.

If this scenario applies to your current situation, you can resolve the issue by either disabling the real-time protection or by uninstalling the overprotective security suite and reverting to the built-in utility (Windows Security, former Windows Defender).

In case you’re currently using a 3rd party suite that you suspect might be responsible for the apparition of the 8024001f error code, you should disable the real-time protection of the security suite and attempt to do the update again.

But keep in mind that the steps of disabling the real-time protection of the AV will be different depending on which security suite you’re using. But in most cases, you should be able to disable the active protection directly from the taskbar menu.

Once the real-time protection is disabled, see if the issue is resolved by trying to install the update that was previously failing once again.

If the same error is still occurring and you’re using an AV client with an included firewall, chances are the security rules have remained in place even after you disabled the real-time protection. In this case, you’ll need to uninstall the program altogether to confirm that it’s not causing the WU interruption.

To uninstall your active security scanner and ensure that you’re not leaving behind any leftover files that might still cause the same behavior, follow this step-by-step article (here).

Once the 3rd party AV is removed, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved at the next system startup.

If the same 8024001f error code is still occurring, move down to the next method below.

Method 4: Perform a repair install

If none of the methods below have allowed you to resolve the issue, chances are you’re dealing with an underlying system corruption issue that cannot be resolved conventionally. If this scenario is applicable, the only viable fix is to reset every component of your Windows OS installation.

Several affected users have reported that they managed to resolve issue indefinitely either by performing a repair install or by doing a clean install.

If you’re looking for a quick route, you should go for a clean install. This is a super straightforward method of refreshing every OS component, but the major downside is that it will make you lose all personal files including apps, games, personal media, and user preferences.

A repair install (in-place repair) should be the preferred approach since it will allow you to keep all your data. Sure, the procedure is a little more tedious, but you’ll be allowed to keep most user preferences, personal media, applications, and games.