How to Fix Windows 10 Update Error 0x800703ee

Is your screen displaying Windows 10 Update error 0x800703ee upon your attempt to install the latest update?

How to Fix Windows 10 Update Error 0x800703ee

If you have been using Windows for quite some time now, you might already know how frustrating the Windows Update Service can be when it’s forced upon the users. What’s more frustrating is that in many cases, the updates fail to install due to bugs and corruption errors, leaving the users perplexed. 

One such error that we came across recently was the Windows 10 Update error 0x800703ee, which prevents the users from updating their operating systems. Upon investigating, we found out that corrupt update files cause this error. Moreover, in some cases, a corruption error within the system can also cause this issue. 

If you have been facing a similar issue, then you’re in the right place. 

This guide will walk you through the process of resolving the Windows Update error 0x800703ee in a few easy yet effective methods. 

Let’s dive right in!

1. Update Windows in Safe Mode.

If you have several third-party apps installed on your PC, they might interfere in the update installation and cause the error. In this case, it is best to install the latest updates in Safe Mode. 

Safe Mode restarts Windows using a minimum set of drivers, which means that this mode will disable all the third-party apps enabled on your PC temporarily. It also is a safe way to identify the faulty programs behind the issue. 

Here is all that you need to do:

  1. Click on the Start menu, and while holding the Shift key, select Restart.
  2. Inside Choose the options window, click on Troubleshoot
How to Fix Windows 10 Update Error 0x800703ee
  1. Now choose Advanced options and select Startup Settings from the list of options available.
  2. Next, click Restart and wait for your PC to restart successfully. 
  3. Upon restart, press either F4 or the 4 key.
  4. Doing so will boot your system in Safe Mode. Once done, try reinstalling the update. 

If a third-party app was causing the issue, installing the update in Safe Mode will resolve it. However, if you were unable to do so, this implies that a Windows program or component is most likely causing the issue. In this scenario, see the next method below. 

2. Switch to Another USB Port.

This method is only for the users who are using a USB flash to install the updates. If you are installing the update via Windows Settings, then you can jump to the next method. 

There are times when the USB ports of our devices stop working. This malfunction can be due to several reasons, such as a broken USB, missing drivers, or a physically damaged USB port. Whatever the reason might be, the simplest solution to solve the issue is to switch to another USB port. 

We recommend using a USB 2.0 port as doing so has helped several users resolve the issue. 

3. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter. 

Windows comes with several built-in utilities that you can use to identify and resolve issues within the system. One such utility is the Windows Update Troubleshooter, which comes in handy when your screen displays an error during Windows update processes. 

The troubleshooter both identifies the issues within the Windows update database and attempts to resolve them. Moreover, it also ensures the proper functioning of the Windows Installer, which makes it a small yet efficient tool that both experienced and inexperienced users can use. 

Here is how you can use the Windows Update Troubleshooter to resolve the 0x800703ee error code on your PC:

  1. Go to Settings and select Update & Security.
  2. Select Troubleshoot from the left panel.
  3. Locate Windows Update and click on it. 
Run WIndows Update Troubleshooter
  1. Finally, click on Run the troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. If the troubleshooter finds any issues, it will notify you and attempt to fix them automatically. 

Hopefully, doing so will fix the Windows 10 Update error 0x800703ee on your PC. 

4. Install Updates Manually.

It is also possible that the update file you are trying to install is corrupt or damaged, and there can be a dozen reasons behind this. Some of the most common reasons behind corrupt Windows files are viruses and system crashes but don’t worry; installing the updates manually can fix the issue. 

Here is what you need to do:

  1. Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website and search for the update that you want to install. 
  2. To install the update, click on the Download button against your required update and wait for the process to complete. 
  3. Once the file is successfully downloaded, open it and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. 

Hopefully, you will now be able to install the update without any issues. 

5. Run DISM and SFC Scans.

As we discussed earlier, Windows comes with several built-in troubleshooting utilities that help the users resolve issues within the system. If running the troubleshooter did not do the trick for you, try running DISM and SFC scans on your PC. 

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a command-line tool that checks the system’s health and repairs the issues if needed. On the other hand, System File Checker (SFC) scans the protected system files, detects issues, and attempts to fix them. 

Both these tools are easy to use and can work with little to no user input. 

We recommend running an SFC scan first. If it does not resolve the issue, you can then try running a DISM scan

5. Try Using CleanMyPC. 

Errors such as the Windows Update error code 0x800703ee can frequently occur if your system is infected by viruses or malware. In such cases, the issue gets resolved temporarily by following the troubleshooting steps but comes back sooner or later. 

To get rid of such issues, we recommend deep cleaning your PC. While this can be done both manually and by using tools, we recommend cleaning your PC using an efficient PC cleaner. We personally tested several PC cleaners, and if you are looking for a recommendation, we would highly recommend using CleanMyPC based on our experience. 

Install CleanMyPC on your PC

It comes with a wide variety of system maintenance tools that can not just eliminate the errors but also improve your PC’s overall working condition. Moreover, using this cleaner is not complicated, so even if this is your first time using a PC cleaner, you will do just fine.

Install CleanMyPC now and get your PC up and running like new. 


Try CleanMyPC Now!


6. Reset the Update Components.

If none of the methods mentioned above has worked for you, then we encourage you to reset the Windows Update components on your PC. 

As we mentioned earlier, Windows update errors can also be caused by corrupt Windows Update components. The best way to repair these components is by resetting them, as doing so will revert them to their initial, error-free state. 

Here is what you need to do:

  1. Type cmd in the search bar and click on Run as administrator to launch Command Prompt with administrative rights. 
  2. 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
  1. Once done, type the commands mentioned below one by one. 
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
  1. Finally, restart your PC and check if resetting the update components resolved the error. 

If corrupt Windows Update components were causing the issue, resetting them will resolve it in no time. 

This wraps up our guide on fixing Windows 10 Update error 0x800703ee on your PC. We hope that our troubleshooting methods helped you fix the issue on your PC. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comment section below. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • Zainab Falak

    Zainab Falak is a staff writer for Saint and an expert in Microsoft Windows, having authored more than 200 posts. She has a Bachelors in Actuarial Sciences and her passion for computers extends to exploring various aspects, from UI customization to the Windows registry and exploring error codes. Twitter LinkedIn

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