How to Fix Update and Store Error 0x80240438 on Windows 11/10

The Error 0x80240438 is a recently occurring bug that appears when users try to update their Windows 10 OS or install apps via Microsoft Store. As there is an interlinkage between the store app and the update section, the error remains the same for both. There are primarily three different reasons that lead to this error on Windows 10. They are – Enabled Firewall, Use of IPV6 for the net connectivity, and manually connecting to a Proxy. 

Temporarily turning off the Firewall, disabling IPV6, and the use of a manual proxy should resolve the error code 0x80240438. If not, run the update troubleshooter, modify the windows update group policy, or tweak the registry DOWRD key. In this post, we discuss 10 different approaches to correct this issue that are applicable to all Windows 10 Build versions. Let’s explore the solutions in detail –

Ways to Fix Windows Update and Store Error 0x80240438

To solve the Error code 0x80240438 in Windows 10, try the following suggestions –

Fixes List

• Disable Third-party Antivirus Program
• Disable Windows Firewall/ Windows Security
• Manually install the Standalone Package
• Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
• Disable IPV6
• Disable Proxy
• Modify Windows Update features Group Policy
• Reset Windows Update Folders
• Clear Microsoft Store Cache
• Tweak Registry Editor 

1] Remove Third-party Antivirus Program

Using a third-party anti-malware program may cause the update or Store error 0x80240438 on Windows 10 PC. This is because there exist two different applications that perform similar tasks i.e. Windows Security. Since you can’t remove the latter one as being the in-built app, you should uninstall the 3rd party antivirus program. Anyways, Windows Defender works quite effectively, unlike its predecessors. 

• Hit the Win icon and scroll down to locate the antivirus in the Apps list.
• Make a right-click on the matching result and hit the Uninstall button.
• If the UAC window prompts, tap Yes to confirm this uninstallation.

Note: If you don’t want to uninstall the software, disable it by visiting the Settings page. 

• Make sure to reboot your PC as there are leftover files that don’t delete even after the program deletion. 

2] Disable Windows Firewall/ Windows Security

Windows Firewall aims to provide maximum security by blocking any files that it finds suspicious. This is very helpful in keeping malicious invaders away. However, this may sometimes block the monthly patch resulting in an error message like 0x80240438. You must check whether this indeed is the case before applying any other fixes. To do so, temporarily disable Windows Firewall using the below steps –

• Press Win + S to start the Search bar, type Windows Firewall and click the top result.
• On the next user interface, click “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off“.
• Choose to “Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended)” under both networks i.e. Private and Public.

• Hit OK to confirm this action. Now, check if the error 0x80240438 resolves or not while opening the Store app/updating Windows 10 OS.

3] Manually install the Standalone Package

Microsoft releases security as well as non-security cumulative updates very often on the patch Tuesday. Since you are already encountering an update error, you may download and install the standalone package that comes with each CU. Here’s how to proceed – 

• If you are a Windows 11 user, switch to this article on how to manually download and install the latest cumulative updates on your computer. 

Get the name of a Recent CU

• Jointly Press Win+I to launch the Settings app. 
• Select Update & Security thereafter Windows Update on the succeeding screen.
• On the right pane, scroll down and click View Update History.
• Here, you can get a list of all cumulative updates – successful or failed ones.
• Note the failed patch number and move to the next section.

Download the Standalone Package

• Open any of your web browsers and visit Microsoft Update Catalog.
• At the search bar, paste the failed knowledge base number (noted down above) and press Enter.
• A list containing all the matching CUs will appear afterward.
• Click the Download button next to the most suited and latest update as per your system architecture.
• When a new window appears, click the first link to download the .msu file. Wait for a while as this is a relatively big file.
• Once over, go to the Download folder and double-click the set-up file to start installing the standalone package.

4] Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes an in-built utility that can troubleshoot any update-related issues. If the error 0x80240438 is still appearing, run the troubleshooter to find and repair the underlying cause. Here are the essential steps to work upon – 

Windows 11:

• Go to Settings and click System on the left pane.
• Head over to the right side, scroll down, and click Troubleshoot.
• When this expands, click Other troubleshooters.
• Locate Windows update under “Most frequent”, and hit the Run button.
• Now, wait while this tool diagnoses and resolves the issue automatically. 

Windows 10: 

• Jointly press WinKey + I to start the Settings app.
• Select Update & Security thereafter Troubleshoot on the succeeding window.
• Jump to the right side and click to expand the Windows Update section.
• Hit Run the troubleshooter to start looking for any update errors.

• Follow the instructions as they appear in the remaining process.

Once over, Restart the PC so that changes performed may become effective. 

5] Disable IPV6

Several users have confirmed that disabling IPV6 under the Network settings resolves error 0x80240438 on their PCs. That’s why we have included this in the list of solutions and the procedure is as follows – 

• Launch the control panel and reach out to the following location –

Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections

• Make a click on the internet connection (currently in use to access net connectivity) and hit Properties.

• Next, uncheck the box left to “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TPC/IPV6)” and tap OK.

• Make sure to Reboot your PC so as to apply the recent changes.

From the next login, you must be able to update Windows 10 OS or launch Microsoft Store. 

6] Disable Proxy

Connecting the PC to a proxy often causes bugs and issues. So, if you are still experiencing the error 0x80240438 while opening the Store app, try once to disable the Proxy. Here are the steps to work upon –

• Press Win+Q hotkey altogether to start the Search box and type “Proxy”.
• Click the top result to launch the Proxy Settings window.
• Move to the right panel and scroll down to “Manual Proxy Setup“.
• Turn off the toggle switch next to “Use a Proxy server” and click the Save button.

Note: If you use a script address, make sure to disable this as well. 

• Restart your PC and check whether this error resolves after the next login or not.

7] Modify Windows Update features Group Policy

If the error 0x80240438 still persists, you should modify the Windows Update features group policy. On different Windows 10 forums, this solution is widely accepted. That’s why we are including this method as well –

• Right-click on the Win icon and select Run.
• Type gpedit.msc at the empty text box and press Enter.
• When the Group Policy window comes into view, browse to the below address –

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update

• Move to the adjacent right side and scroll down to locate “Remove Access To Use All Windows Update Features“.
• Once found, double-click on it to open its respective window. Mark the checkbox next to “Not configured” and hit OK.
• Restart your computer so as to implement the changes from the next login. 

8] Reset Windows Update Folders

The existing contents inside the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders may also cause the error 0x80240438 on Windows 11 or 10 PC. To get rid of this nagging issue, you must clean these two update folders accomplishing the below steps –

• Press Win & R to invoke the Run dialog.
• Type cmd at the void, hold Ctrl+Shift and press Enter to launch the Command Prompt as Admin. 
• When the UAC window prompts, tap Yes to authorize the access. 
• Now, execute the following codes one after another. Make sure to press the Enter key after each command.

net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc

• The above codes will stop the essential update services, now run the below codes to rename certain services –

rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q
rmdir %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 /S /Q

• Subsequently, configure your network connectivity using the following commands –

netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset proxy

• After successfully executing the above codes, restart the services that you have previously stopped.

net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc

• Finally, Restart your system and check whether the update error code 0x80240438 gets solved or not.

9] Clear Microsoft Store Cache

Note: This workaround is primarily for Microsoft Store-related error 0x80240438. If you are receiving the error message while performing Windows 10 update, you may skip this solution. 

As time passes by, a huge amount of cache piles up in Windows Store. If you don’t clear these unnecessary data, you may end up receiving the error 0x80240438. So, go through the below steps to clear the Store cache –

1. Launch the Run dialog, type wsreset at the void, and press the Enter key.
2. The Windows console appears immediately afterward clearing off the stored cache.
3. When the command prompt finishes the task, Microsoft Store will start without any error code.

10] Tweak Registry Editor 

If you are still getting the error 0x80240438 on your computer, modifying the “DisableWindowsUpdateAccess” entry inside the registry may resolve this bug. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Press Winkey + R altogether to start the Run dialog. Type regedit at the void and press Enter to invoke the Registry Editor.
• Using the key ladder on the left pane, reach out to the below path –

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate

• Head over to the right side and locate “DisableWindowsUpdateAccess“.
• Click on this DWORD entry twice and put “0” at its value data.

• Click OK and Restart Windows 10 to implement the above changes.

That’s it, I hope the above fixes do help to resolve the Update and Store Error 0x80240438 on your Windows 11/10 device. If you have any queries or suggestions related to this article, do tell us in the comment section.