Resolve Windows Update Error 0X800B0101 on Windows 10

Some Windows 10 users are encountering the 0x800b0101 when trying to install a pending update via Windows Update Standalone installer or when trying to install a different Windows component via Windows Installer. This issue seems to be restricted to Windows 10.

After investigating this particular issue thoroughly, it turns out that there are several different underlying causes that are known to cause this particular error on Windows 10. Here’s a list of potential culprits:

Now that you are familiar with every potential cause of the code 0x800b0101, here’s a list of potential fixes that other affected users have successfully used to get to the bottom of this issue:

1. Change the Date & Time to correct values

As the message of this error is pointing out, chances are this error is occurring due to a security certificate that fails to be validated by WU because the time or date (or both) is way off from the values expected by the validation server.

There aren’t a lot of conditions that you (as a visitor) need to meet in order to be allowed to download pending Windows Updates, but passing the timestamp check is one of them.

Go ahead and check if your system’s date & time is not off by a manner of days (or months, or years).

If it is, here’s a quick guide on how to ensure that you’re using the correct time and date:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “timedate.cpl” and press Enter to open up the Date and Time panel.

   

2. Once you’re inside the Date and Time window, go over to the Internet Time tab and click on Change settings. When you are prompted by the UAC (User Account Control), click Yes to grant admin access.

   

3. Inside the Internet Time settings, check the box associated with Synchronize with an Internet time server, set the Server to time.windows.com, and click on Update now.

   

4. Move over to the Date and Time tab, click on Change time zone and make sure you’re using the correct one. Next, click on Change date and time and ensure that the date is selected properly.

   

5. Restart your computer and see if the issue has been resolved by repeating the action that was previously triggering the 0x800b0101.

If the same error occurs while attempting to use the Windows Update Standalone installer, move down to the next potential fix below.

2. Run the SFC and DISM scans

Since the issue is most likely related to some kind of corruption affecting either Windows Update or Windows Installer, one of the troubleshooting fixes that you should definitely explore is to scan for any corrupted Windows files.

To do this, you’ll need to run a couple of scans with two built-in utilities – System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management(DISM).

Note: These two tools share some similarities, but they are not meant to replace one another. We recommend that you run both scans in quick succession in order to improve your chance of fixing the corrupted system files.

You should start with a simple SFC scan.

Note: This tool is entirely local, so you won’t be required to be actively connected to the Internet.

Important: Once you initiate this procedure, it’s very important to not close the CMD window even if the utility looks like it froze. Wait until the process is complete because interrupting the operation might cause logical errors on your HDD/SSD.

Once the SFC scan is completed successfully, go ahead and reboot your computer and see if the issue is fixed once the next computer startup is complete by attempting to perform the action that was previously triggering the 0x800b0101 error.

I the same error is still popping up when you do this, deploy a DISM scan and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the operation.

Note: Different from SFC, this tool uses a sub-component of Windows Update to download healthy equivalents to replace corrupted system files. Because of this, you need to make sure that you have reliable Internet before initiating this operation. 

Once the DISM scan has been completed successfully, restart your computer once again and see if the 0x800b0101 error is now fixed.

In case you’re still dealing with the same issue, move down to the next potential fix below.

3. Use the Windows Update Catalog (if applicable)

If you are seeing this error while trying to install a pending update for System Center Configuration Manager, the error 0x800b0101 is most likely occurring due to the missing of a few critical updates that need to be installed in first – Update KB2756872 and KB2749655.

If this scenario is applicable in your particular case, follow the instructions below to utilize the Microsoft Update Catalog to download and install the required updates first (before installing the System Center Configuration Manager update)

If you’re looking for step by step instructions on how to do this, follow the instructions below:

1. Access the official Microsoft Update Catalog page on the affected machine from your favorite browser.
2. Next, use the search function (on the right) to search for the KB2756872 update and press Enter to generate the results.

   

3. Once the results appear, identify the version that’s compatible with your Windows build by looking at the OS architecture and the Windows version.

   

4.  

Note: If you don’t know your OS architecture, right-click on This PC in File Explorer and choose Properties from the context menu. Next, from the list of results, look at the System type and check the bit version of your OS.

1. After you decide on the correct update that you need to install on your computer, click on the Download button and wait for the process to complete.
2. After the download is complete, navigate to the location where the update was downloaded, right-click on the .inf file and choose Install.

   

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation, then repeat steps 2 to 5 with the remaining update (KB2749655)/
4. After every pending update is successfully installed, reboot your machine before finally installing the failing System Center Configuration Manager Windows Update.

If this particular scenario was not applicable to your particular situation, move down to the next potential fix below.

4. Download the latest version of AccountRight (if applicable)

If you are encountering the 0x800b0101 while attempting to update or install AccountRight, it’s almost certain that the problem occurs due to a badly written security certificate that got attached to the application version available for download.

This is due to a mess-up by AccountRight developers that assigned a years old expiration date.

Fortunately, the issue was since fixed, so the problem can be responded to simply by downloading the patched version of AccountRight.

If you find yourself in this particular scenario, follow the instructions below to download & install the correct version of AccountRight:

1. Open your default browser and visit this link here to download the patched version of the AccountRight installer.
2. Once the download is complete, right-click on it and choose Run as administrator. This is essential since the installation needs admin access in order to complete without errors.
3. At the first installation prompt, check the box associated with I accept the license agreement and terms of  use, then click on Install and follow the remaining prompts.

   

4. After the installation is complete, reboot your computer and open the app once the next startup is complete, and complete the installation of the remaining updates.