Wondering how to fix Windows 10 error 0xA0000400 on your PC?
While updating your operating system might not be very exciting, it is crucial for it to work at its best. Unfortunately, installing the latest updates is not always as smooth as it should be.
Recently, several users reported that their screen displays error code 0xA0000400 when they attempt to install the pending updates using Windows Update Assistant. We had a look into this issue and discovered that it can be caused by a number of reasons, including corrupt Windows Update components and system file corruption.
If you are facing a similar issue, do not worry because in this guide, we will walk you through the relevant troubleshooting steps in detail.
Let’s get started!
1. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter.
There are several built-in troubleshooting utilities in Windows that are designed specifically to resolve issues like the one we are experiencing. These utilities scan the operating system for problem areas, identify them, and fix them without much user involvement.
Among the handy programs available is the Windows Update Troubleshooter, which identifies the causes of update failures and fixes them automatically.
Here is how you can run the Windows Update Troubleshooter to fix the error code 0xA0000400 on your PC:
- Press Windows + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard to open a Run dialogue box.
- Inside the text field of the dialogue box, type ‘control.exe‘ and hit Enter.
- Doing so will take you to the control panel window. Inside the window, type Troubleshooting and the search bar and hit Enter.
- Click on Troubleshooting, and inside the new window, click on System and Security.
- Now select Windows update and then click on Windows update troubleshooter.
- Checkmark the box against Apply repairs automatically, and then click on Next.
- Now, wait for the troubleshooter to complete the scanning. If the troubleshooter detects any issues, it will suggest fixes. Click on Apply the fixes to complete the process.
If a corruption error or a bug within the system was causing the issue, troubleshooting will resolve it. We also have listed another easy method of removing corruption errors from your system in Method 5.
2. Install the Update Manually.
In some cases, Windows Update components become ineffective due to system inconsistencies. This prevents the users from installing the latest updates and hence, the error.
An easy way to fix this issue is to install the required update manually using the Microsoft Update Catalog.
This method will take some time, but several users managed to escape the error at hand by installing the updates manually, which is why we suggest giving it a shot.
Here is what you need to do:
- Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website and search for the update that you want to install.
- To install the update, click on the Download button against your required update and wait for the process to complete.
- Once the file is successfully downloaded, open it and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
You should be able to install the pending updates without any issues.
3. Update Using Media Creation Tool.
Microsoft’s Windows Media Creation Tool is an executable file that assists users in installing the latest apps and software updates for their PCs. Furthermore, users use this program to repair corrupt installation files on their PCs.
We hope that you will also be able to fix the issue by using the Media Creation Tool as most users were able to.
Here is how you can use the Windows Media Creation Tool to fix the error at hand:
- Download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and once the download is complete, run the MediaCreationTool.exe file.
- Select Upgrade this PC now in the first window that pops up on your screen and hit Next.
- Now, wait for the download to complete and check if the Windows update installs without the error under consideration.
Hopefully, Media Creation Tool will allow you to install the required update without any hassle.
4. Reset Windows Update Components.
At times, the Windows Update components of Microsoft’s system can become corrupt, preventing the system from installing the latest updates.
The windows update components can usually be repaired by resetting them since doing so will restore the system to its original state, free of errors. Hopefully, it will fix the error code 0xA0000400 in Windows 10.
Here is what you need to do:
- Type cmd in the search bar and click on Run as administrator to launch Command Prompt with administrative rights.
- Now type the commands mentioned below and hit Enter after each to execute them. These commands will stop all the Windows Update Services.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
- Once done, type the commands mentioned below one by one to restart the service.
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
- Finally, restart your PC and check if resetting the update components resolved the error.
If corrupt update components were causing the problem, following the steps mentioned above will fix the issue in no time.
5. Try Using CleanMyPC.
When is the last time you thoroughly cleaned your computer? Having corrupted files for some time now could be detrimental to your system, so now is the time to remove them. Additionally, junk files on your PC are most likely to be to blame for the problem.
You can get rid of these files and the problems they cause by using a good PC cleaner.
You can scan your computer for errors with cleaners available online, and they will automatically fix them as they locate them. We tested some of the best online cleaners and found CleanMyPC to be the best.
You can get rid of all kinds of junk files from your computer and boost its performance with CleanMyPC. It is also quite simple to use CleanMyPC. When CleanMyPC runs its scan, it detects the problem within minutes and fixes it without requiring much of your input.
Give your PC a performance boost by installing CleanMyPC!
6. Repair Install.
If none of the above methods work, you can perform a repair install. The repair installation process involves installing a new image of Windows over your existing installation.
It is safe to perform a repair install because it will replace broken system files while preserving your personal files.
Here is how you can perform a repair install on your PC:
- Download the Windows 10 ISO file and save it on your Desktop.
- Access the file.
- Find setup.exe and double-click it to start the repair.
- Once the process completes, open the elevated Command Prompt and try executing commands to see if this method solved your problem.
This should resolve the issue once and for all.
This brings us to the end of our guide on fixing the Windows 10 error 0xA0000400. We hope that one of the methods mentioned in this guide did the trick for you and the issue is resolved by now. If you have any questions about the troubleshooting steps, please let us know in the comment section below.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
