The error code 0x800703e6 usually occurs when either update services are not running properly or the accumulated cache has exceeded its pre-defined limit. If you are facing this issue while installing cumulative (security/non-security) updates on your device, read and apply the solutions discussed in the article.
When this issue occurs, you might get an error message as well that reads the following –
There were problems downloading some updates, but we'll try again later. If you keep seeing this, try searching the web or contacting support for help. This error code might help: (0x800703e6)
What causes Error 0x800703e6 in Windows 11/10?
Though there are numerous reasons on which an update issue occurs in Windows, Error 0x800703e6 mostly occurs when the following reason(s) meet on your computer –
- Disabled Update Services: For Windows Update to happen automatically, all update-related services must be enabled and running.
- Corruption within the Windows Cache Folders: All update-related info is stored inside the two cache folders in Windows. They are SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. When any one or both of these folders become corrupt, they may result in an update error code.
- Missing or corrupted DLL files: You must keep all the DLL files up to date to avoid Windows Update getting into an unnecessary error code.
- After installing a buggy update: If this update error 0x800703e6 occurs after you install a faulty update, you better uninstall that update from your system.
Fix – Windows Download and Install Error 0x800703e6
If you are getting an error code 0x800703e6 while installing Windows 11/10 updates, try applying these workarounds one by one. Hopefully, this error resolves after you apply these fixes on your computer.
1. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
The update troubleshooter is an in-built utility program in Windows developed to find and resolve any issues that may prevent Windows updates from occurring smoothly. Here’s how to use this tool –
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Select “System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters” in Windows 11.
- On the succeeding page, click the Run button beside Windows update.
- When the troubleshooter window pops in, hit Next and follow the on-screen instructions.
Note: If you are on Windows 10, press Win + I, and follow this route instead –
Settings (Win + I) > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters
- On the next screen, click to expand Windows update and hit the option – Run the troubleshooter.
This program will run to find any issues that exist inside your computer and resolve them. In case it is not able to fix the issues that it finds, it will elaborate on how to resolve them properly.
2. Reset Update Components
The update components becoming corrupt or damaged is one of the main reasons behind failing Windows updates. In order to correct or recover them, use these steps –
- Open Command Prompt as administrator on your device.
- On the elevated console, run these codes sequentially to stop all update-related services.
net stop wuauserv net stop bits net stop cryptsvc net stop trustedinstaller net stop appidsvc
- Though running a code will display a message that “the service has stopped successfully”. In case it doesn’t, re-run that command.
- Assuming you have stopped all update-related services, now it’s time to purge the Windows cache folders. To do so, execute these commands –
ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.old ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old
Note: Running the above two commands will add an extension “.old” to the folders – SoftwareDistribution and Catroot. You may confirm this by visiting the below paths in the File Explorer –
- C:\Windows –> SoftwareDistribution
- C:\Windows\System32 –> Catroot2
Now that you have renamed these two folders, restart all the services that you stopped earlier. To do so, run these commands one after another –
net start wuauserv net start bits net start cryptsvc net start trustedinstaller net start appidsvc
You may now restart your PC so that the two folders that you have renamed, come into existence automatically. When Windows 11/10 restarts, go to Windows Update and see if you can now install updates.
3. Re-register DLL files
If the error 0x800703e6 doesn’t resolve by purging the cache folders as stated above, your PC might lack some DLL files or at least a few of them have become damaged. To fix it, you should manually re-register all the DLL files. Here’s how you may perform this task –
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type “CMD”, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys to open Command Prompt having admin rights.
- On the elevated prompt, run these codes one after another. Make sure to press the Enter key after each command.
net stop bits net stop wuauserv net stop cryptsvc Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat” cd /d %windir%\system32 regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll regsvr32.exe softpub.dll regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll regsvr32.exe ole32.dll regsvr32.exe browseui.dll regsvr32.exe jscript.dll regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll regsvr32.exe msxml.dll regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll regsvr32.exe shell32.dll regsvr32.exe initpki.dll regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll regsvr32.exe wups.dll regsvr32.exe atl.dll regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll regsvr32.exe wups2.dll regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll regsvr32.exe muweb.dll regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll netsh winsock reset net start cryptsvc net start bits net start wuauserv
- Now that you have re-registered all DLL files, type exit and press Enter to come out of Windows Console.
- Restart your PC next and see if it resolves the issue that you were struggling with.
4. Manually install Cumulative updates
If none of the solutions above fix the issue that you are dealing with, manually downloading and installing cumulative updates will resolve this bug for sure. This solution works in almost all update-related errors. Here’s how you may install Windows updates manually on your computer –
- First of all, you need to know the Windows version running on your computer. To do so, open Run (Win + R), type “
winver“, and hit OK. - You will next see “About Windows“. Note down the version running on your computer. This could be anything starting from 22h2, 22h1, 21H2, 21H1, 2009, 2004, 1909, 1903, or a previous version.
- Now that you know the exact Windows version, visit the Windows update history page.
- Click on your Windows version on the left pane and select the topmost link displaying the “date of publish”, KB number, and Build OS.
Note: Microsoft has already ended several of its products from receiving any further updates. If you are on an update that is no longer receiving cumulative updates, you should perform a clean installation of the latest operating system on your PC.
- Copy the KB number here, and visit the Microsoft update catalog site.
- Copy/paste the KB number in the search field, and hit Enter.
- A list of matching results will appear next. Pick the one that matches your system architecture i.e. x86, x64, or ARM64, and hit the Download button.
- Click the top link on the subsequent window. Doing this will start downloading the standalone package (.msu file format).
- Wait for this download to complete. Once over, double-click over the “Setup File” to begin its installation.
I hope this resolves the error code 0x800703e6 on your PC.
Imp: For now, this method is only applicable to Windows 10 users. If you are on Windows 11 and are getting this error code, it’s better to perform a clean installation.
