Solved: Troubleshooting Error Code 0x80040260 in Windows Update

Error Code 0x80040260 Summary

Error 0x80040260 typically indicates an issue with Windows Update or related services. This error can occur in various scenarios, primarily involving attempts to install updates through the Microsoft Update service, which is a part of Windows Update. The error is often encountered during the process of downloading and installing updates on a computer running Windows 10 or Windows Server operating systems. It signifies that there’s a problem with communication between the system and the update server or an issue within the local update settings.

Where Does Error Code 0x80040260 Appear?

The error code 0x80040260 can occur in several contexts, primarily during software updates on Microsoft Windows-based computers. This error is associated with issues in downloading updates from the Microsoft Update service. It usually appears when a user tries to install or check for available updates through the Windows Update settings. The problem often stems from network connectivity issues, firewall configurations that block access to update servers, outdated antivirus software interfering with the update process, corrupted system files, and sometimes due to problems within the Windows Update components themselves. This error can also be triggered when attempting to manually download an update from a Microsoft website if the installation file is not compatible with the current version of Windows installed on your computer. Additionally, 0x80040260 might appear during system repair operations or when trying to roll back updates through the control panel interface.

Howto solve error code 0x80040260

To resolve the error code 0x80040260, follow these steps:

1. Restart the Windows Update service: Press Windows+R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Locate the “Windows Update” service in the list of services, right-click it, select ‘Restart’, and wait for a few minutes.
2. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter: Search for and run the ‘Troubleshoot problems with Windows Updates’ feature from Settings > Update & Security. Follow on-screen instructions to fix common issues automatically.
3. Check for corrupted system files: Open Command Prompt as Administrator by searching for cmd, right-clicking it, and selecting ‘Run as administrator’. Execute the command sfc /scannow. Wait until the process completes (this may take some time), then restart your computer.
4. Disable Antivirus temporarily: Some antivirus software can interfere with updates. Temporarily disable or exclude Windows Update from real-time protection to see if this resolves the issue.
5. Reset Windows Update components: Open Command Prompt as Administrator again and run these commands one by one, restarting between each:
   • wusa /uninstallupdates /kb:123456789
   • net stop wuauserv
   • net stop bits
   • net stop cryptsvc
   • ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SDold
   • ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 CRold

   Then, restart the services by running: net start wuauserv, net start bits, and net start cryptsvc.

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