How to fix the 0x800f081f Windows update error

The 0x800f081f error is a common problem in the Windows OS. You may face this issue while updating your system or its .NET framework. Since Microsoft releases updates for both, it can be difficult to distinguish which installation process caused the error. 

Other error codes that also point to the same underlying issue are 0x800F0907 and 0x800F0922. If you see one of these two on your screen, keep reading the article because the same solutions also apply to these.

Once the 0x800f081f error pops up in your system, it will prevent you from receiving further Windows updates. Thankfully, several methods can resolve the 0x800f081f error, most of which are easy to perform.

0x800f081f error message during Windows update

What does the 0x800f081f error code mean?

Many factors can cause the 0x800f081f error. To identify them, we must understand what the .NET framework is and how important it is for Windows. .NET is a programming language created by Microsoft, through which several native Windows applications were built. 

Almost every application on your system needs the .NET framework to run, including some of the latest must-haves. Microsoft releases updates for it alongside new OS versions.

The .NET framework cannot skip an update because of its centrality in the operating system. If an error like the 0x800f081f occurs during a system update, the entire process may fail. While it is not mandatory to maintain the latest .NET framework, keeping the software updated on your device can be beneficial since it will fix many problems and bugs during updates. 

When you specify an alternative installation source and one of the conditions listed below is met, you will see the 0x800f081f error during a .NET install or Windows update.

  • The specified location contains no files needed for installation.
  • The user lacks READ access to the directory. You must contact your system administrator to either grant permission or install the software.
  • The installation files are either corrupted or invalid for the Windows Operating System in your computer.

How to fix the 0x800f081f .NET framework and Windows update error

1. Run the Windows Troubleshooter

When you encounter any system error on Windows, it’s a good practice to run the native troubleshooters as the first attempt to solve the problem. All modern Windows OS versions come with a wide range of built-in troubleshooters, and they have improved a lot in recent years in terms of their effectiveness.

Follow the steps below to run the troubleshooter required to fix the 0x800f081f error.

  1. Open the Settings application from the search bar or the Start Menu in your Windows system.
  2. Type “Troubleshooter” into the search bar located at the top of the window.
search for troubleshooter
  1. Locate the Windows Update troubleshooter in this window.
additional troubleshooters
  1. Click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to start the Windows update troubleshooter. This process will scan the entire system and try to fix any issues, including the 0x800f081f error.
  2. Once complete, you’ll receive a report of all the errors in your system, marking the fixed ones.
  3. Try to update your system again.

Though robust, the troubleshooters are not always capable of resolving the problem. If the troubleshooter fails, it will provide you with links to online resources to guide you towards a solution.

2. Change the Group Policy settings

Sometimes, a group policy can interfere with Windows updates. The steps listed below will help resolve issues of this kind.

  1. Type “run” in the Windows search bar.
  2. Type “gpedit.msc” in the Run command box and hit Enter.
  3. Navigate to the Computer Configuration dropdown in the left menu.
  4. Open the Administrative Templates folder.
  5. Click on System, and a list of items will become visible in the main window on the right. 
  6. Scroll down until you find the entry named “Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair”.
Group Policy Editor steps to follow
  1. Double click on this entry to open its properties.
  2. Now, select the Enabled radio button in the top left and click ok.

Note: This method is only available for Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise, and Education. Though there is a way to install the Group Policy Editor on other Windows 10 versions, it requires a 3rd party application, which many professionals do not recommend.

3. Enable the .NET Framework

Sometimes a disabled .NET framework may cause the 0x800f081f error. Follow the steps below to check and ensure that .NET is turned on in your system.

  1. Locate and open Windows Settings.
  2. Click on Apps.
  3. Locate the “Apps & features” tab on the left and click it.
  4. Scroll down and find the Related settings section. 
  5. Click on Programs and Features.
  6. In the new window that opens, click on Turn Windows features on or off.
  7. Locate the .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) line.
Make sure that the .NET framework is enabled
  1. If the box next to it is empty, enable the .NET framework, then click on OK to save the changes.

The installation process will take a few minutes. It may take longer if you have a slow connection.

4. Repair your system files using the Command Prompt

Given the volume of essential files stored within the Windows OS, many are liable to corruption. These files are not generally accessible, but a critical system failure may occur if there was an accidental interference with some of the information. To resolve such issues, Windows is equipped with a system scanner. The System File Checker (SFC) is one of the best tools available to repair corrupted files. 

The System File Checker will scan for any corrupted or missing files before attempting to restore them. The process will clear any issues from the systems side. 

Follow the below steps to run an SFC scan.

  1. Type “command prompt” or “cmd” in the Windows search bar.
search for command prompt
  1. Open the Command Prompt with administrator access, which is required to scan the essential system files that are otherwise unavailable for a regular user.
command prompt
  1. Type “sfc /scannnow” and press Enter to start the SFC scan.
sfc scannnow
  1. The scan will produce the results in just a few minutes.

Note: If you run into an SFC /Scannow error when starting the scan, don’t worry. We have written dedicated articles on what to do if SFC scannow is not working, including:

Another built-in Windows tool that can help you repair system files is DISM. Here is how to run the required command.

  1. Open the Command Prompt with administrator privileges as before.
  2. Type in the following command:
    DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  3. Press Enter to run the process.

If the 0x800f081f error remains, your system is likely affected by malware. Try the last solution below to remediate this issue.

5. Run an anti-malware scan

Malware scanners detect viruses that can infect your system. Microsoft has its own anti-malware software known as Windows Defender.

Follow the below steps to run a full scan using Windows Defender.

  1. Type “security” in your Windows search bar.
search for windows security
  1. Open the Windows Security app.
windows security
  1. In this window, click on Virus & threat protection.
virus & threat protection
  1. Now, click on Scan options.
  1. Select the Full Scan radio button and click on Scan now.

You should have a safe system containing no malware-related issues by the end of this process. Next, try updating Windows again and check whether you have fixed the 0x800f081f error.

Conclusion

We hope that by following the above steps, you have fixed the 0x800f081f error related to either Windows update or the .NET framework. Let us know which solution worked by using the comment feature below.

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