You can certainly call Windows 11/10 the best Operating System from Microsoft but still, there are several errors that may occur while performing various tasks. One such error users encountered is Windows 10 Update Error 0x80070652 (ERROR_INSTALL_ALREADY_RUNNING) which interferes with installing the latest update. It occurs when an update gets stuck which results in the failure of the previous Windows installation.
In this article, we have listed all the possible ways to fix this error code and get your Windows update successfully.
Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070652
To fix Windows Update Error 0x80070652, use the steps –
- Reset the Software Distribution Folder
- Run Windows Update troubleshooter
- Run SFC utility
- Uninstall the latest updates
- Manually reinstall the updated files
1] Reset the Software Distribution Folder
Resetting your Software Distribution folder might help in fixing this Error 0x80070652. The tutorial for doing so is given below:
Note: Before you start, make sure you have disconnected your system from a wired connection or WiFi.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Type the following command in the elevated Command Prompt and hit Enter after each command.
net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver
- This will stop running the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Service. Now, you need to rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder. To do this, type the below commands and hit Enter after each command.
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
- Next type the following command in the Command Prompt window and press enter after each command to run it.
net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
- This will again restart the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Window Update Services.
- Finally, type Exit to close the Command Prompt window.
Restart your PC and check if the error is solved.
2] Run Windows Update troubleshooter
Running a troubleshooter helps in solving many Windows Update error codes. It might help in fixing this Error code 0x80070652 on Windows PC. Given below are the detailed steps for running a troubleshooter:
For Windows 11
- Press the Windows+I keys to open the Settings window.
- Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Go to the Windows Update and click on Run.
For Windows 10
- Open Settings by pressing the Windows logo key + I.
- Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
- Now click on Windows Update and hit Run the troubleshooter.
- Wait for a while until it completes the process.
- Now follow the on-screen instructions to apply the recommended fixes.
Restart your computer and see if the error is solved.
3] Run SFC utility
In case the problem still persists, try the SFC scan to scan the corrupted system files. The steps for running SFC are given below:
- Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
- Type CMD in the text field and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt with admin access.
- Type the following command in the elevated command prompt window. Hit Enter.
sfc /scannow
- Wait for the process to complete.
Restart your computer and see if the problem is solved.
4] Uninstall the latest updates
Sometimes wrong updates do more harm than benefit. It might result in Error 0x80070652. In this case, you should uninstall the latest update and try it to install again. Follow the instructions given below to uninstall the latest updates:
For Windows 11
- Open Settings using the Windows + I keys.
- From the left pane, click on Windows Updates.
- Then click “Update history” on the right side of the screen.
For Windows 10
- Click Start and tap on the gear icon to open Settings.
- Go to Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history.
- Now click on Uninstall updates.
- Select the latest update that is most probably the cause for Error 0x80070652 and then uninstall it.
- Now try to update your Windows 10 again.
Check if the error is solved.
5] Manually reinstall the updated files
If none of the above methods work, then try installing the update-related files manually. Below are the detailed steps to manually reinstall the pending updates –
- Right-click on the Start button.
- For Windows 11, go to Settings Settings > Windows Updates.
- For Windows 10, navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Updates.
- Now go to the right side, click View update history, and then select Uninstall updates.
- Look for the updates that have failed to install and note down their KB number.
- Now visit the Microsoft Update catalog site.
- Enter the number KB in the search bar and search for it.
- Download and install the file.
- Restart your PC and check if the error is solved.
I hope the above methods help you fix Error code 0x80070652.
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