Unable to update on Windows 11 issues... Error code: 0x800f0983

Question

Unable to update on Windows 11 issues... Error code: 0x800f0983

Tak 15

I received a Windows update, but when I tried to update it, the following image appeared and I couldn't update...

About:

OS: Window 11 Home
Device: Lenovo IdeaPad
Windows Update: KB5066835
Errors: 0x800f0983 - Installation Failure and error

What I've tried:

Running the sfc /scannow command with administrator privileges → No effect
Running the repair command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and the integrity check command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth → No effect
Running all of the following commands:

net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader*.*"
rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q
rmdir %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 /S /Q
regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll
regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll
netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset proxy
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc

then reboot → No effect unable resolved issues.

How can I fix this...?

nima kh 0 Reputation points

2025-10-19T07:01:11.07+00:00

Windows Update issue summary

I have completed every step listed in the Microsoft Q&A thread, including SFC and DISM scans, resetting Windows Update components with the provided command sequence, and removing SoftwareDistribution and catroot2, but the update still fails with error 0x800f0983 for KB5066835; I also tested installing from the Microsoft Update Catalog and tried Windows Recovery repair options without any effect.
Dinesh Kalawatia 20 Reputation points

2025-10-22T14:54:19.1566667+00:00

"Reinstall now" Windows option in System->Recovery in settings is the one and only one solution. Files and apps are not affected.
chandra sekhar kanuri 0 Reputation points

2025-10-23T13:35:17.02+00:00

same issue how to resolve
Claire H 0 Reputation points

2025-10-29T03:18:35.2233333+00:00

I had the exact same error and I tried installing via the ISO file but it failed as I had a secure boot issue error. Eventually Windows rolled back. So I am stuck now. UPDATE: I did the Windows Update Recovery Install and this worked - KB5070773 installed coorectly along with the new Preview Update!!
great one 15 Reputation points

2025-10-29T21:17:24.99+00:00

im getting errors with the preview kb5067036 which according to the release notes is suppose to fix the error with 5070773 error

2 fixes for the october update none will install

9 answers

Your answer

nima kh 0 Reputation points

2025-10-19T07:01:11.07+00:00

Windows Update issue summary

I have completed every step listed in the Microsoft Q&A thread, including SFC and DISM scans, resetting Windows Update components with the provided command sequence, and removing SoftwareDistribution and catroot2, but the update still fails with error 0x800f0983 for KB5066835; I also tested installing from the Microsoft Update Catalog and tried Windows Recovery repair options without any effect.
Dinesh Kalawatia 20 Reputation points

2025-10-22T14:54:19.1566667+00:00

"Reinstall now" Windows option in System->Recovery in settings is the one and only one solution. Files and apps are not affected.
chandra sekhar kanuri 0 Reputation points

2025-10-23T13:35:17.02+00:00

same issue how to resolve
Claire H 0 Reputation points

2025-10-29T03:18:35.2233333+00:00

I had the exact same error and I tried installing via the ISO file but it failed as I had a secure boot issue error. Eventually Windows rolled back. So I am stuck now. UPDATE: I did the Windows Update Recovery Install and this worked - KB5070773 installed coorectly along with the new Preview Update!!
great one 15 Reputation points

2025-10-29T21:17:24.99+00:00

im getting errors with the preview kb5067036 which according to the release notes is suppose to fix the error with 5070773 error

2 fixes for the october update none will install

Answer 1

Anonymous

Hi Tak,

Thanks for sharing the details! Error 0x800f0983 usually occurs when Windows Update components or system files are corrupted. Since you’ve already tried SFC, DISM, and resetting update components, here are the next steps:

First, disable any third-party antivirus or VPN as these can interfere with updates. Second, run the Windows Update Troubleshooter under Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and restart the Windows Update and Background Intelligent Transfer Service from services.msc. Last, if the issue persists, try manually installing KB5066835 from the Microsoft Update Catalog: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx or perform a repair install by going to Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update > Reinstall now. This keeps your files and apps intact while refreshing system components.

If this helps, please mark the answer as accepted so others can find it easily.

Best,
Carl

Tak 15 Reputation points

2025-10-17T13:49:20.1333333+00:00

Hi Carl,

I tried the 2 steps but it didn't work...

Are there any other steps?

Error message:

A repair version of Windows cannot be found. Please try again later.

Best, Tak
nima kh 0 Reputation points

2025-10-19T07:32:33.89+00:00

Hi Carl,

Thanks again for your detailed guidance. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve gone through every step you suggested — disabling antivirus and VPN, running the Windows Update troubleshooter, restarting services via services.msc, manually installing KB5066835 from the Update Catalog, and even running DISM with a local install.wim source.

Unfortunately, even the Repair Install itself failed. When I tried reinstalling Windows through Settings > System > Recovery > Reinstall Now, the process didn’t complete successfully and threw an error during setup.

If you have any other ideas, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks again for your support 🙏 Best regards, Nima

Let me know if you'd like a more technical or formal version for posting in a Microsoft forum or support ticket.
Tak 15 Reputation points

2025-11-05T15:49:10.28+00:00

Thanks to your and everyone else's help I was able to solve the problem. Thank you :) !

Answer 2

nima kh 0

Hi Carl,

Thanks again for your detailed guidance. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve gone through every step you suggested — disabling antivirus and VPN, running the Windows Update troubleshooter, restarting services via services.msc, manually installing KB5066835 from the Update Catalog, and even running DISM with a local install.wim source.

Unfortunately, even the Repair Install itself failed. When I tried reinstalling Windows through Settings > System > Recovery > Reinstall Now, the process didn’t complete successfully and threw an error during setup.

If you have any other ideas, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks again for your support 🙏 Best regards, Nima

Let me know if you'd like a more technical or formal version for posting in a Microsoft forum or support ticket.

Dinesh Kalawatia 20 Reputation points

2025-10-22T18:47:47.7333333+00:00

First run the chkdsk command to see if there is any error in disk then sfc /scanow .

If "Reinstall now" Windows option in System->Recovery in settings doesn't work. Then

Download latest windows ISO 25H2 from https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows11?msockid=0cf43ee39b4b64a42c04286e9a4d656e

There go for Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices . read the instruction for your PC x64/arm64 and download it.

Then Mount the downloaded ISO file by right clicking the ISO file. Double click mounted ISO and run setup.exe from inside ISO and "Reinstall" it without affecting files and apps.
great one 15 Reputation points

2025-10-22T21:10:33.1166667+00:00

i ran every check all clean

chkdsk

sfc

dism

even did chkdsk startup repair ( might have name off )

reisntall with windows update no change

day 3 for me on the problem

Answer 3

Максим Копытко 10

та же история но с KB5070773

Jeff Reddenbury 45 Reputation points

2025-10-21T19:39:48.7566667+00:00

I had a hard time updating Windows 11 Version 25H2 but after following the advice of Independent Advisors I was able to update to the latest version of Windows 11. I have no criticisms of Independent Advisors as they have been very helpful and these people have the toughest jobs. However I do have some criticisms of Microsoft.

I just wish that Microsoft would NOT keep on insisting that the problem is with our computers and corrupted files. While that may be true, what caused the corrupted files in the first place? I’ll tell you. A buggy update! That’s what has caused it!

Microsoft, stop blaming your valuable and precious customers for your own shortcomings. When there is a problem look into it and fix it instead of playing this childish blame game and blaming your customers that are helping you to solve the problem. Microsoft, for once start treating your customers with a measure of respect. When there is a problem stop blaming us. For once I want to hear Microsoft admit that there is a problem with one of their updates. Can Microsoft ever admit that their updates are buggy? Very seldom is the honest answer.

Microsoft laid off a significant number of employees in 2014 and 2015. Reports from former employees indicate this included nearly the entire Windows test team. The departed employees were part of a team that manually and automatically tested Windows updates. After the layoffs, Microsoft shifted to testing largely through virtual machines, which proved less effective at catching bugs that occurred on real-world hardware.

Maybe Microsoft shouldn’t have laid off so much of their workforce? Maybe you shouldn’t have reduced so many people in your quality assurance or QA department in recent years? Maybe people have some value after all?

Answer 4

great one 15

i am having the same exact issue since yesterday

discovered it with the kb5070773 update ( still having it as i type)

my only conclusion is a bug is the oct update, not had this issue ever before

and like you everything shows good and run everything no problems

yet the problem exists

Максим Копытко 10 Reputation points

2025-10-21T23:28:01.0466667+00:00

Насколько я вижу прекращение загрузки происходит на 76 процентах каждый раз.
Лог CBS подтверждает, что все ключевые родительские пакеты, необходимые для установки KB5070773, находятся в состоянии Resolved

Попытал ии, он пишет, что по предоставленным данным после нескольких попыток установки и аудита, что:

Ошибка установки — это ошибка применимости (0x800f0983) → означает, что обновление просто не подходит вашей конфигурации, и Windows пропускает его

и

Ошибка не вызвана повреждением или конфликтом, а тем, что система считает KB5070773 избыточным или уже покрытым другими обновлениями.
Максим Копытко 10 Reputation points

2025-10-21T23:30:41.1866667+00:00

Короче говоря, остается ждать обязательных обновлений и смотреть как они будут себя вести.
Я в центр отзывов отписал, может ответят.
John Fredrickson 5 Reputation points

2025-10-22T14:14:55.9333333+00:00

I have the exact same problem on my HP laptop PC 15-dy2000, Win 11 Home 64bit 25H2. Tried all the recommended solutions, nothing fixed the problem. The update download and install both run to 100% then I get the error. Microsoft screwed up again. Haste makes waste.
John Fredrickson 5 Reputation points

2025-10-22T14:20:36.3566667+00:00

I translated Maksim Kopytko's comments to English. I believe he is correct.

Here is his comment in English:

As far as I can see, the download stops at 76 percent every time. The CBS log confirms that all key parent packages required for installing KB5070773 are in a Resolved state. I tried AI, and it says that based on the provided data, after several installation attempts and audits: The installation error is an applicability error (0x800f0983) → which means that the update simply does not apply to your configuration, and Windows skips it. and The error is not caused by corruption or a conflict, but by the system considering KB5070773 redundant or already covered by other updates.

Maksim Kopytko • Follow 0 Reputation points Oct 21, 2025, 7:30 PM In short, we just have to wait for mandatory updates and see how they behave. I reported this to the Feedback Hub; maybe they'll reply.
Dinesh Kalawatia 20 Reputation points

2025-10-22T14:53:54.9566667+00:00

willcommentlater
John Fredrickson 5 Reputation points

2025-10-22T17:29:08.19+00:00

I believe that the installation is actually successful but is not applicable to my laptop as it does not have a USB-based keyboard or USB-based mouse. It would have been betterif Microsoft had simply allowed the install to be marked completed and to not display an error message at all.
Dinesh Kalawatia 20 Reputation points

2025-10-22T18:12:18.9533333+00:00

willanswerlater

Answer 5

Dinesh Kalawatia 20

"Reinstall now" Windows option in System->Recovery in settings is the one and only one solution. Files and apps are not affected.

Syber Generation 0 Reputation points

2025-10-23T08:25:42.2066667+00:00

I've tried the same and it worked!
M C Shanks 0 Reputation points

2025-10-27T01:17:42.09+00:00

Reinstall = Nope that did not do it either