How to Fix Windows 10/11 Update Error Code 0x80073701

Solution 1: Restart Your System and Try Again

1. Restart your computer to refresh the system environment.
2. Attempt to install the updates again.

Solution 2: Run an SFC Scan

SFC (System File Checker) is a command-line tool designed to repair corrupted system files.

1. 1. Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Terminal (Admin).

1. Type SFC /SCANNOW and press Enter.
2. Wait for the scan to complete. If corrupted files are found but cannot be fixed, additional steps may be required.

Solution 3: Perform a DISM Scan

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) repairs the Windows system image.

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Enter the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
   • Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
   • Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Solution 4: Reset Windows Update Components

To recreate the Software Distribution folder and clear cached update files:

1. Navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.
2. Delete all files in the DataStore and Download folders.

Final Solution: Reset or Reinstall Windows

If all else fails, resetting or reinstalling Windows may resolve the issue.

1. Back up all important files to prevent data loss.
2. Follow the steps to reset or reinstall Windows 10 or 11 from the Recovery settings.