Latest Windows 10 and 11 Update Problems and How to Fix Them – Make Tech Easier

Windows 10 and Windows 11 have had their share of problems. The operating system had over 1200 security vulnerabilities just in 2022. Microsoft quickly moves in to fix many of these security holes in the system, so it’s essential to stay up to date. Yet, Windows updates can bring their own problems. This guide shows what to do when an update does more harm than good.

Note: if a problem here is marked as “FIXED,” it means Microsoft has rolled out an update that fixes the problem, and the solution is simply to make sure your system is fully updated. If a problem is not yet “FIXED,” then either read that entry for workarounds to that specific problem or scroll down the page for advice on how to roll back updates.

Problems: third-party UI apps not starting up | Start button not working | error codes while downloading and installing

KB5023706 is a significant cumulative update for Windows 11, as it brings many interesting new features that Microsoft was rolling out slowly or running quietly in its Insider/Beta programs. They’re now in a stable release version; however, there are some issues that can be an annoyance.

The cumulative March update integrates other previous updates, such as KB5022913 introducing, for the first time, an AI-powered Bing search box over the taskbar. You get enough space to type your search query, and the results will appear in a search flyout window. If you’re a heavy Bing user (and it scores many points over Google), this makeover is a remarkable thing.

Notepad, the blandest default Windows application, also got a makeover with a feature that allows you to open multiple tabs. It’s not the only thing in Windows 11 that comes with tabs, as File Explorer does as well.

Do you have many photos stored in Apple’s iCloud? Now you can import them directly into Microsoft Photos. It’s a step in the right direction, as Windows 11 plans to introduce iOS connectivity through its Phone Link app.

Last but not least, the Snipping Tool finally received a screen recording feature that is already a hit with all Microsoft users.

Despite so many blockbuster features, some users have reported minor problems, such as the Start menu not working and error codes that prevent the download and installation of the latest Windows versions, 0x80070103, 0x8000ffff, 0x80073701, 0x8007007e, and 0x800f-81f.

While you can find many articles on this site that deal with these error codes, it’s best to uninstall the KB5023706 update if you’re facing this issue. (Learn more later in this guide.)

Summary: the KB5023706 update should install without any problems for most users, especially if you fixed any provisioning package issues. (Refer to KB5022303, dated January 10, 2023.) It may also help if you downloaded and installed this update after March 22, as some of the biggest error issues will have been resolved.

Problems: nothing major except a few snags with WPF apps.

The cumulative update for mid-February showed no significant issues, thankfully. The process should go over very smoothly, and if you were struggling with any past updates, it’s time to bypass those and jump straight into this cumulative version. You can reinstall Windows 11 using the Media Creation Tool.

This WPF bug keeps returning in different Windows versions for some reason but is not going to cause many difficulties.

1. To avoid any issues due to this update, launch the Windows Update Troubleshooter from “System -> Troubleshoot -> Other troubleshooters.”

2. Once the troubleshooter runs, it will check for and fix any issues that were preventing installation. Those problems are mostly down to the security settings, missing or corrupt files, and problems with Service Registration. Other issues are connected to Windows Network Diagnostics, IsPostback_RC_PendingUpdates, WaaSMedicService, and BITS service.

3. The best way to get past Windows 11 installation failures is to download the Windows 11 installation assistant. Once you run the .EXE file, the new update will easily run on your screen.

Tip: nostalgic about Internet Explorer? Learn how to bring it back to Windows 11.

[Fixed] January 26, 2023, Windows 11, Version 22H2 KB5022404 and KB5022360

Problems: download errors | errors carried over from KB5022303

The cumulative update at the end of January, namely KB5022404, mostly concerns the .NET frameworks of 3.5 and 4.8.1. There are no major problems with it except for the possibility of download errors, such as 0x8024a206. Just pause the update for one week or so, and the bug will be fixed.

[Fixed] January 10, 2023, Windows 11, Version 22H2 KB5022303

Problems: provisioning package issues | delay in copying large gigabyte files | damaged registry keys in Start menu, Windows search, and UWP apps

The first major update for January 2023 was launched as OS build 22621.1105, KB5022303. It addresses a few local session manager problems and a major SQL error issue affecting the Microsoft Open Database Connectivity Server Driver (sqlsrv32.dll).

There are a few issues due to provisioning packages that come in the form of .PPKG files only getting partially installed, with unpredictable restarts. If you provisioned your Windows 11 operating system before upgrading to version 22H2, you won’t face this problem. To mitigate this issue, Microsoft recommends that you uninstall any integrations, such as ClickShare.

Tip: experiencing persistent audio issues in Windows? Try resetting all of your audio settings.

Error Code 0x800f0831

Problem: update fails to install.

This is one of the more common errors that may occur when you try to update Windows 10 or 11.

Essentially, the above error code means your update has failed, but there are several things you can do to troubleshoot this problem:

• If there’s a conflict with your VPN or proxy server, make sure it’s completely disabled when trying to update Windows. You may even need to uninstall and reinstall the software.
• Scan for corrupt system files.
• For this and other update errors, you can try finding the update you’re trying to install in the Microsoft Update Catalog and install it manually.

Problems: nothing major except Microsoft Edge Legacy issues

The March month-end update for Windows 10 addresses a conflict affecting USB printers. However, when you use custom offline media or ISO images to install Windows 10, you may remove Microsoft Edge legacy but not necessarily replace it with the new Edge browser. This issue can be resolved by installing the Edge browser using another browser, such as Google Chrome.

Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the latest Microsoft Edge browser to receive SSU updates directly in the new browser.

[Fixed] February 14, 2023 – Issues in Windows 10 Version 22H2 KB5022834 and KB5019275

Problems: Microsoft Edge legacy issues

The cumulative update for mid-February, KB5022834, includes OS builds 19042.2604, 19044.2604, and 19045.2604. This is the second major Windows 10 update after KB5019275 that will remove the Internet Explorer browser permanently. The only problem with this update is that the legacy Microsoft Edge browser is also removed.

[Fixed] December 2022 – Issues in Windows 10 Version 22H2 – KB5021233

Problems: sign-in failures | OneDrive problems | taskbar disappears | blue screen issues

Windows 10 version 22H2 is a minor optional update released on September 20, 2022, and available via the online Update Assistant. There have been a few issues with this update, such as sign-in failures related to Kerberos authentication, the OneDrive app closing suddenly, and most worryingly, the desktop and taskbar disappearing from the screen for a few seconds.

Microsoft has addressed these issues in its builds from October 25 – December 13, 2022, such as KB5018482, KB5019959, and KB5020953. The following solutions are in order:

• Clean restart your Windows 10 device.
• Opt for Microsoft out-of-band (OOB) updates from November 18, 2022, onward, available from “Check Your Updates.”
• If you see a blue screen with error 0xc000021a, run the Advanced Startup from “System -> Update & Security -> Recovery,” and in its Command Prompt under “C:Windows,” type C:windowssystem32hidparse.sys. After the system repair is done, type exit and restart your Windows 10 device.

Good to know: getting a Blue Screen of Death with error code 0xc000000f in Windows? Follow this guide to get rid of it.

Problem: updates fail to install properly.

The 0x80070422 bug is one of the oldest update errors in Windows, and it can still affect some Windows 10 devices while installing updates. It’s often accompanied by other types of messages, such as “Windows update is disabled.” The current approach to solving this problem is to disable IPv6 from Wi-Fi Properties.

1. Check whether your Windows update service is disabled (explained below.)
2. “Retry” to ensure the update issues aren’t there any longer.

3. If you notice persistent failure due to the error code, go to “Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center.” Double-click the available Internet connection, which will open a Wi-Fi Status pop-up window.

4. Click “Properties.”

5. Navigate to “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” and disable it.

6. If you’re still having issues due to the error code, enter the Command Prompt in Admin mode and the following commands one after another.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

7. Restart your device, then check your Wi-Fi connection again. The issues due to 0x80070422 should be fixed.

Tip: Windows 11 comes with DirectStorage. If you don’t know what that is, this dedicated article explains the technology.

If the problem you’ve encountered with a new Windows update is that the install stops at a certain percentage, or more generally, that it’s failing to install altogether, try installing the update from PowerShell.

1. Open PowerShell as administrator by typing it into the Start menu search.
2. In PowerShell, type:

Install
-
Module PSWindowsUpdate

3. It may ask you to install and import the NuGet provider. Press “Y” for Yes and let it install the package.

4. You may get a warning that you are installing the modules from an untrusted repository. Type “A” to allow all the changes.

5. Check for the latest Windows updates by typing the following into PowerShell:

Get
-
WindowsUpdate

6. Once you’ve confirmed that there are updates to install, type the following command. You may further be asked if you want to perform this action, to which you must type “A” to finalize.

Install
-
WindowsUpdate

7. Wait for the broken Windows updates to heal themselves. They will automatically execute in the PowerShell window.

These updates are still pretty stable, though, and may be worth a shot if a recent update has broken something in Windows.

You can uninstall smaller Windows updates (to roll back builds, see the next section) by doing the following:

1. In Windows 10, go to “Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features -> Installed updates.”

2. Scroll down in the main pane to the “Microsoft Windows” heading, and you’ll see all of the KB and security updates for Windows 10 along with the dates they were installed. Right-click the one you want to uninstall and reboot your PC.
3. Windows 11 also has the option to uninstall recent updates. Visit “Settings -> Windows Update -> Uninstall updates” and click the “Uninstall” button next to the update you want to eliminate. The following screen shows the uninstall option for Windows 11’s latest update, KB5023706.

Good to know: you can reinstate your Windows PC environment to an earlier point in time with System Restore.

How to Roll Back Windows Builds

After every major update, Windows gives you a 10-day window to roll back to a previous version. It’s a useful feature and should give you enough time to judge whether you have a problematic update. Of course, this won’t recover your files if Windows deletes them, but at least you’ll be on a more stable version of the OS.

1. Go to “Settings -> Update & security -> Recovery” in Windows 10 or “Settings -> System -> Recovery” in Windows 11.
2. Below “Reset this PC,” you should see the option to “Go back” to the previous version of Windows.

3. Click “Get started,” then follow the steps to roll back Windows. Again, this option is only available for 10 days after a Windows build update.

Tip: learn how to check which Windows version you’re running on your PC.

Check Your Windows Build

Before looking into rolling back and fixing broken Windows updates, you need to check which build of Windows you’re currently using to confirm which issues are affecting you.

1. Go to “Settings -> Windows Update -> Update history” (in Windows 11) or “Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update -> View Update history” (in Windows 10).

2. In the new window, click the arrow next to “Feature Updates” to see the version of Windows you’re currently using, and click “Quality Updates” to see all of the smaller KB updates you have installed.

3. You will also find “Definition Updates,” which are security intelligence updates related to Microsoft Defender.

4. At the bottom of the list, you may find “Other Updates” concerning programs such as the Windows Malicious Software Removal tool, Intelligence updates, and security patches.

Another thing you can do to avoid getting the above update problems and more is to take over control when Windows updates. This way, you can hold off getting updates the moment Microsoft rolls them out, monitor the news for a bit to see if any major errors crop up, then manually do the update yourself.

In Windows 11, go to the “Windows Update” screen from Settings. Under “More options,” select “Pause updates” and choose the number of weeks you wish to defer updates in the future (from the default of one week to up to five weeks).

In Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, or S, you can postpone updates by checking the same option available under “Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update.” In some Windows 10 versions, it may be referred to as “Defer” instead of “Pause” and available under a different heading.

Tip: learn how to make your Windows 11 PC look more like Windows 10.

If you want to block Windows updates completely for an indefinite time, disable the main Windows Update service through Registry Editor.

1. Click Start, type regedit, and open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following path and right-click on “Start” to modify it.

Computer\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WaaSMedicSvc

3. Edit and change its “Value data” to “4.”

4. Reboot your PC, then go to the “Services” window via Win + R and type services.msc.
5. You can disable the Windows Update service in the same window. Right-click “Windows Update -> Properties,” then in “Startup type,” select “Disabled.” Windows Update should remain disabled until you re-enable it.

Few things on PC are more frustrating than an update – ostensibly to improve performance – borking your system, but unfortunately, Microsoft still has work to do in this respect. Other teething issues with Windows 10 and Windows 11 include the Start menu search not working, Microsoft Store not working, and a malfunctioning microphone. We can help you with these, too!

Image credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.

Sayak Boral

Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.

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