How to Fix Update Error Code 0x80240061 in Windows 10

Nowadays, getting error codes during a Windows 10 update has become a trend. Whenever you face such an issue, your PC simply stops displaying new Build OS updates or patches. Today, in this tutorial, we will discuss one such error code 0x80240061, the reasons behind its origin, and ways to fix it on your device. 

What causes this error and how to fix it in Windows OS?

There are many reasons like corrupted system files, pending cumulative updates, non-functioning services, and accumulated cache that may trigger error 0x80240061 on Windows 10. In quite a few scenarios, the above problem may also occur due to outdated device drivers or obsolete BIOS.

Run Update Troubleshooter, SFC, or DISM should clear corruption due to either system files or Windows 10 Image. If the problem persists even after this, try purging stored caches. You may solve the driver or BIOS issues by downloading and applying the Optional Updates on your device.

Update Error Code 0x80240061 Solutions

To solve the Update Error 0x80240061 in Windows 10, try out these workarounds sequentially –

1] Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows Update Troubleshooter is an in-built utility program by Microsoft developed to find and repair different update-related issues on the computer. In case of getting any error code, running this tool should be your first priority. 

• Open the Settings app using Win & I shortcut.
• Click Update & Security then Troubleshoot.
• Jump to the right side, and click Additional troubleshooters.
• Click to expand Windows Update and hit Run the troubleshooter.

• Wait till this tool finds and repairs the underlying causes behind this. 
• Once completed, restart your PC. 

2] Ensure Windows Update Service is Running

Windows Update services play a vital role in upgrading Windows 10 operating system. There are times when the essential services get stopped somehow and result in an error code 0x80240061. So, better check if all the necessary services are running or not. Use the below guideline to perform this task –

• Press Win & R to launch Run.
• Inside the text box, type services.msc and hit OK.
• Scroll down to Windows Update, make a right-click over it, and hit Start.

• If already running, hit the Restart button.
• After enabling this service, come out of the Services window, and check if you are now able to update Windows 10 or not. 

3] Install Recent SSU

Microsoft regularly releases Servicing Stack Update to solve such update-related issues on Windows 10. If haven’t yet upgraded your device to version 21H1, you should definitely try out this method. To do so, use these steps –

• Hold Win + I to launch Settings.
• Click System and then About from the left pane.
• Move to the adjacent right and check the currently installed OS Build info.
• Visit the Windows 10 history page and select your Windows 10 version on the left pane. Next, click over the top link and check if the two numbers match on your device.
• If you do find, Build number not matching on your computer, you should download/install the recent SSU and then only proceed to apply Windows 10 updates.
• Copy the latest KB number from the Update History page and paste it on the Microsoft Update catalog search bar.
• From the appeared list, click on the Download button that best matches your PC architecture i.e. x64, ARM64, or x84.
• Subsequently, click the top link to start downloading the standalone package (.msi file).
• When the download completes, double-click over the setup file to begin its installation. 

4] Purge Windows Update Cache

Another solution to fix the Windows Update Error 0x80240061 is to clear the temporary cache that gets accumulated as time passes by. Here’s how to purge such cache on Windows 10 –

• Press Win & R to launch Run.
• In the text area, copy/paste the following code and hit Enter key.

%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore

• A folder will appear next containing temporary Windows update data. Use Ctrl + A to select all files/folders and then hit Shift + Del to permanently remove them from your device.

• Restart your PC and check if you are now able to update your operating system or not. 

5] Run SFC Scan

If you are still failing to update Windows because of the error code 0x80240061, some of the system files must have become corrupted or have gone missing. In such a scenario, you may run the SFC scan to scan and repair the problematic files. Here are the essential steps to work upon –

• Open Command Prompt as Admin.
• Copy/paste the below code and hit Enter.

sfc/ scannow

• The above code execution usually takes 15-20 minutes, so wait accordingly.
• After the scanning/repairing process completes, reboot your PC.

6] Run DISM Scan

The DISM is another command-line tool that you may use to scan/repair corrupted “Windows Image”. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Open the Search window by pressing Win + S.
• Type CMD in the text area, right-click over the top result and hit Run as Administrator.
• When the UAC window prompts, hit Yes to authorize access.
• On the elevated console, paste the below code and press Enter –

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• The system will scan the entire PC for possible corruption inside. If this finds any issue with the Windows 10 Image, the same gets corrected automatically.
• Reboot your PC next and see if the error resolves from the next logon.

7] Update Intel Management Engine Interface 

Sometimes, the error 0x80240061 occurs simply because you are on an outdated Intel Management Engine Interface (IMEI). If that’s the case, you must update all the drivers related to IMEI. Here’s how to check and update the connectivity issue on Windows 10 –

• Press Win and X shortcut and select Device Manager from the list.
• Click to expand System Devices, right-click on Intel(R) Management Engine Interface, and hit the option – “Update Driver”.
• Next, hit the option – “Search automatically for drivers“.
• Wait till Windows finds and updates IMEI to its latest version.
• Once this is over, Restart your PC. 
• From the next logon, check if you are now able to update Windows 10 or not without getting into error code 0x80240061.

8] Update BIOS to Fix Error Code 0x80240061

An outdated BIOS may also prevent Windows 10 updates from occurring smoothly. So, you must check if there is any pending update available for your device or not. There’s no need to search for BIOS update online. With Windows 10 version 2004 or the recent ones, you may locate such updates directly under “Optional Updates”. Here’s how the process goes –

• Press Win + I to invoke the Settings app.
• Select Update & Security thereafter hit the Check for updates button.
• When the search completes, you may find a link titled “Optional Updates”.
• Click over this link and on the next screen, mark the checkboxes against BIOS, Drivers, etc. 
• Lastly, hit Download and Install and wait until the whole update process completes. 

9] Clean Reinstall Windows to Fix Error Code 0x80240061

If none of the above workarounds help you to get rid of the Update Error 0x80240061, the last option is to perform a fresh install of Windows 10. Here is the complete guideline –

• Insert the Windows Media Creation Tool at its respective port and Restart your PC.
• When the BIOS is loading, press any of the function keys like F2, F12, F10, or Del/Esc to get the Boot Device screen. 
• Select the “Bootable Media” and let your device run the operating system.
• On the subsequent screen, click Install now.
• When the Windows Setup page comes into the display, enter your product key. You may choose to skip this for now as well. 
• You may format and delete all partitions on your computer. Or, simply format the drive where you want to complete Windows 10 installation. 
• Select your region, keyboard layout, preferred language followed by Next.
• Moving ahead, apply the on-screen instructions to complete the remaining steps. 

Since you have clean installed Windows 10, there’s no way you are going to encounter the error code 0x80240061 anytime soon on your PC.