What to do when Error 0x8000ffff occurs?

“0x8000ffff” is a quite commonly questioned code usually detected by Windows users while updating their OS or Windows features or their apps in the store. If you are stuck with a similar situation and want to learn the methods to get it fixed, then you are at the correct place. Here, in this article, you will get the complete information regarding the error code 0x8000fff along with the solving methods. So, check it out till to the end.

What Causes Error 0x8000ffff in Windows?

Before you jump to the solution part, it is always better to understand the reasons, which are responsible for the error. Here, in this particular section you will get to know the possible reasons which are responsible for the error 0x8000ffff:

  • Missing or Corrupted System Files
  • Mismatch Date and Time Settings
  • The Outdated or Faulty Drivers
  • Virus or Malware Infection
  • Corrupted Register Entries

No matter whatever is the reason, after a thorough study of this article you can get the knowledge of different methods with which you can solve the matter which is responsible for 0x8000ffff. So, without getting worried, proceed further to lean the complete steps of such methods.

Results and Indications of the Windows Update Error 0x8000ffff

Nowadays, there are many kinds of threats hovering all over the world surrounding the computers, smartphones and the internet. roaming around on the internet. To avoid such threats, Windows update works to an extent. So, keeping the Windows up to date will be a great job, not only to get the additional features but to enhance the security of the computer files as well. However, during the Windows update process, if you get the pop-up window with the code as 0x8000ffff, then it indicates that there is something bigger to happen, if you will not going to fix it in time. You may face these below-said symptoms as well after getting the error 0x8000ffff, on your Windows OS:

  • System gets freeze, and is not responding to an input signal.
  • Applications or programs suddenly get closes without a pre-notification.
  • Computer gets to restart several times.

Sometimes, the error message will appear with this below quoted message.

“The restore point could not be created for the following reason

Catastrophic failure (0x8000ffff)

Please try again”

Methods to Solve 0x8000ffff Windows 10 Update Error

The error 0x8000ffff is already fixed by many of the users. From those we have collected a list of methods which we enlisted below to help you to fix the matter as well. So, let’s check:

Method 1: Check the Date and Time Settings

At first, ensure that your system date and time settings are matched with your current location. If not, then this will be the fact for which you get the error 0x8000ffff while proceed to install Windows updates. If you find any mismatch, then follow up these steps below to correct your system date and time settings.

Windows 10 users are blessed to fix the date and time automatically by applying a few steps, which are as below.

At first, right-click on the date and time section, that you get at the bottom right-hand corner on the taskbar panel.

Then, from the menu window click on the “Adjust date/time” option.

After that, under the “Date & time” settings window, locate the switch for Set time automatically.

Now, disable the Set time automatically option and after waiting a few seconds turn it back again.

After doing this process, you will see that the date and time gets updated.

In case, if you want to update date and time manually, you can also do it from this the same window.

Once you update date and time on your computer, now, proceed to perform the update again, to check if the problem gets resolved.

Method 2: Run a Complete Scan for Malware Infection

Malware is the infectious file, if get into your device, it can harm the system files and can even corrupt them. If this is the reason behind, for which you are getting the error 0x8000ffff, then before proceeding with any of the solutions as below, it is better to run a malware scan earlier. If the problem is minor, then just scanning will resolves the matter.

Windows Defender is the built-in tool in Windows, with which you can run the malware scan. And the steps to follow to perform the scan are as follows:

Firstly, take the mouse pointer on to the Windows logo, which is at bottom left-hand corner. Then, right-click on it. Now, from the pop-up window select the “Settings” option.

After that, among the Settings window options, select “Update & Security”. Next, from the left-hand side panel click on “Windows Defender”. And then select Windows Defender Offline> Scan Offline. It will hardly takes 15 minutes to complete scan your system offline, if it detects any presence of malware, it will eliminate it.

You can even take the help of any third-party security tool, to scan your device regarding malware issue.

Once the scanning is over, restart your computer and check if now you can perform the Windows update with getting an error, which indicates that you have resolved the 0x8000ffff issue.

Method 3: Run the System File Checker and DISM tool

If after following these above two methods, still the code 0x8000ffff appears, then, try this method. The steps to do this method is very simple and are as stated below.

System File Check is a built-in tool in Windows. It functions to repair the corrupt files through a scanning process. Likewise, DISM or Deployment Image Servicing and Management is a command-line tool which helps to mount and service Windows images before deployment. All these tools can help you in solving the 0x8000ffff matter:

Open Administrator: Command Prompt

First of all, press the Windows button, to activate the search bar. After that, on the search bar type cmd. On doing this, you will get the top-most search result as Command Prompt or cmd, right-click on it. Next, from the menu window select the “Run as administrator” option. Further, if you get a confirmation pop-up window, click on the “Yes” button to continue.

Run SFC or System File Checker to fix 0x8000ffff

Now, on this black background window (Administrator: Command Prompt), type “sfc /scannow”, without quotations. Also, you need to maintain a space between sfc and /scannow, as given here. Then, press the Enter key to execute the command. You will see the scanning progress as in percentage with a displayed bar on the Administrator: Command Prompt titled window. Once the scanning is over, hopefully, you will get a positive result. After that, try to Update the Windows, to check if the System File Checker scan resolves the matter. But, if still the problem exists, then proceed to scan using the DISM tool.

Run DISM tool

This time, again you need to open the Administrator: Command Prompt window. Next on it, enter the command as below. Then, press the Enter key to execute.

  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth/

DISM tool may take several minutes to complete the scanning task. Once it’s done, restart your computer and check if it resolves the issue, and you are able to update the Windows successfully.

Method 4: Clear Cache from the Windows Store

A problem with the Windows Store cache can be major culprit for the error code 0x8000ffff, which appears while proceed to download Windows updates. If this is the case, then with the help of this below-said steps you may be able to fix the glitch. So, check it out:

There are two different ways by which you can clear the Windows Store cache, and are as follows.

Way 1: Firstly, press both the Windows logo button and the letter R at a time, to open the Run bar. After that, on the Run bar enter WSReset.exe. And then, click on “OK” or hit the Enter button. This is the overall process by which you may get the error solved.

Way 2: At first, press both the Windows button and the letter S at a time. Then on the appeared bar, type wsreset. After that, right-click on “wsreset” and select the “Run as administrator” option, this will pop-up a confirmation window. Select the “Yes” button on the confirmation window to do the task successfully. After which hopefully, you will not get any further problem in the Windows update process.

In case, if still the error appears, then continue these steps below.

Reopen the Windows Store to Download the Required Apps

To begin with, reopen the Run bar. And to do so, press both the Windows logo and the letter R key at a time. Then on the Run bar enter the command as below. After that, click on OK. This will open up a window, where you will get a bunch of folders.

Note: It is better to copy (Ctrl+C) command from here, and then paste (Ctrl+V) it over the Run bar.

  • %localappdata%\\Packages\\Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe\\LocalState

From the available folders, search for the Cache folder and right-click on it. Then, select the Rename option, and set the name as Cache.old. In case, if you do not find any folder named as Cache, then here you need to create a new folder. And the name should be set for this new folder as “Cache”. After that, close this File Explorer window.

Further, press both the Windows and the letter I key at a time, to get the Settings window open. From Settings window click on “Update & Security”. After that, select the “Troubleshoot” option. Now, under the Troubleshoot window, go to the Windows Store app section and select the “Troubleshoot” button, this will scan your device and provide you an answer. If the error is solved by the Troubleshoot app then fine, or else it will appear a result, and you need to proceed with the solution for that.

Method 5: Modify Registry Entries to Solve 0x8000ffff

Modify Registry Entries will be a method of full of risk. A little wrong in the execution of any step of this method can lead to further damage. So, be careful and set your mind steady, that you want to try this method or not. And if then follow these below instructions.

Precautions:

Before you proceed with modifying the registry entry steps, it is better, either to keep a backup of Windows 10 registry or else, to create a system restore point. The steps to follow for these processes are as below.

Back up Windows 10 Registry: Firstly, press both the Windows and the letter R key to get the Run bar window. Then, over the Run bar enter “regedit.exe” and click on OK. This will get you the Registry Editor window open. Now, choose the keys or subkeys under the Registry Editor window of which you want to create a backup. After that, click on the File tab and select the Export option. Next, choose a location for those keys or subkeys and set a name for the backup file. And then click on Save, to complete this process.

Create a System Restore Point: At first, you need to press down the Windows button to get the search bar active. Then, on the search bar type restore and click on the “Create a restore point” option. After that, navigate to System Properties and click on Create. Next, name the restore point and “Create” it.

Modify Registry via Command Prompt with Administrative Privileges

To begin with, at first, open the search bar by pressing down the Windows button. Then, on the search bar type “cmd”, without quotations. On doing this, you will get the top-most search result as cmd or Command Prompt, right-click on it. After that from the menu, select the “Run as administrator” option. Now, on the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type “reg/?”. And press the Enter button to execute the command. Further, follow the operation types by which you can edit the registry.

To remove entries, follow this below format and enter the command on Administrator: Command Prompt.

“REG DELETE KeyName [{/v ValueName | /ve | /va}] [/f]”

KeyName: Here, you need to enter the path of the subkey. For example, HKLM, HKCR, HKCC, HKCU or HKU.

/v: In place of “/v:”, you need to enter the ValueName for the registry key which you want to delete.

/ve: It indicates the symbol which has a null value.

/f: This is to delete the registry content.

In case, if you made any mistakes in following the above steps, then, you can utilize the above precaution, to solve it. And the steps to follow to do this are as follows.

Restore the Backup of the Files

As you have learned two different precaution steps in this above part of this method. To utilize those, in case if you have done any wrong, check out these steps below. Here, we have discussed both the two ways:

Way 1: Open the Run bar, by tapping both the Windows and the letter R key. Then enter regedit.exe on it. After that, click on OK to get the Registry Editor screen. Further, click on the File tab and select the “Import” option, this will opens a window. Utilising this window, navigate to the location where you have kept the backup file save. Then, open the backup file, to done the job.

Way 2: Press down the Windows button, to get the search bar active. After that, type restore on the search bar. And from the search result, click on the “Create a restore point” option. Then, from this window, select Create a restore point. Next, select the System Restore option, to complete this process.

Method 6: Update the Problematic Drivers

A problem with the system drivers can lead to the error 0x8000ffff. If this is the case, then you can fix this glitch by updating the problematic drivers. And the steps to proceed with, to do this method are as below:

Press both the Windows and the letter X key to get the menu window open. Then, from the menu window, click on the “Device Manager” option. After that, expand all the available devices option under it, to identify the Problematic driver. A driver with the yellow highlight, will be a Problematic one. If you get one, then, you need to repair it, and for this, you need to update the driver. To update driver, right-click on it and select the “Update driver” option. This will open up a window, where you will get two different procedures for updates. Select your choice, and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the update. Once, the drivers issue gets fixed, restart your computer and check if the problem gets solved. Hopefully, your answer will be Yes.

Method 7: Boot in Safe Mode with Networking

If all these above methods does not resolves the 0x8000ffff matter, then boot Windows in safe mode, which effects for many users in solving the matter. Safe mode disables all non-essential programs run in the system, which may effect in solving the matter. So, it is better not to panic and try this further method:

At first, take the mouse pointer on to the Windows logo, and right-click on it. Then, from the available options select the Settings option, to get the Settings window on the screen.

After that, click on “Update & Security”, which you will get as the last option under the Settings window.

Then, select the “Recovery” option and click on Advanced Startup. Further, go for the “Restart now” option. Next, as the window turns on, you will see the “Choose an option” section open on the screen.

Later on, from the “Choose an option” options, select Troubleshoot> Advanced Options. Next, under the Advanced Options window click on Startup Settings> Restart. This will open up a window, with different options, choose “Safe mode with Networking”. Now, when your computer turns on, hopefully, you will be able to install Windows updates without getting anymore problems.

All these are the workarounds for solving the error 0x8000ffff. After you have studied  this article in a complete sense. Hopefully, you will not get stuck to perform any of these above said methods and thus you will be able to solve the error efficiently.

Maria Colombo
Maria Colombo
Articles: 1205