Latest Windows 10 and 11 Update Problems and How to Fix Them

Windows 10 and Windows 11 have had their share of problems. The operating system has had over 1200 security vulnerabilities just in 2022. Microsoft quickly moves in to fix many of these security holes in the system, so it’s essential to stay up to date. Yet, Windows updates can bring their own problems as well. This tutorial shows what to do when an update does more harm than good.

Note: if a problem here is marked as “FIXED,” it means Microsoft has rolled out an update that fixes the problem, and the solution is simply to make sure your system is fully updated. If a problem is not yet “FIXED,” then either read that entry for workarounds to that specific problem or scroll down the page for advice on how to roll back updates.

January 10, 2023, Windows 11, Version 22H2 KB5022303

Problems: Provisioning package issues | Long time to copy large gigabyte files | Damaged registry keys in Start menu, Windows search, and UWP apps

The first major update for January 2023 is available as OS build 22621.1105. KB5022303 should run smoothly in most cases, but a few teething problems have emerged that may make you pause this update until the issues have been fixed.

To start with, the provisioning packages that come in the form of .PPKG files are affected. Microsoft has yet to resolve this.

Some IT admins may experience problems when copying large files (in terms of several gigabytes). To deal with this, Microsoft recommends using a command-line tool: robocopy \\someserver\someshare c:\somefolder somefile.img /J. However, the bulk of this issue remains unresolved.

Tip: these tools allow you to open large files without lag in Windows.

The KB5022303 update mainly affected the Start menu, Windows Search, and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. Some of them may not work properly due to damaged registry data. This is affecting Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Outlook Calendar. To mitigate this issue, Microsoft recommends that you uninstall any integrations, such as ClickShare.

[Fixed] December 2022 Windows 11, Version 22H2 KB5020880

Problem: Update fails to download or install.

The 2022-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 11, version 22H2 (KB5020880), was launched on December 13, 2022. Many users have experienced issues due to installation failures, which means problems downloading and installing the updates successfully. If you’re unable to see a “Pending Restart” screen, the update is not working for you.

1. To solve the problem, launch the Windows Update Troubleshooter from “System -> Troubleshoot -> Other troubleshooters.”

2. Once the Troubleshooter runs, it will check for and fix any issues that were preventing installation. Those problems are mostly down to the security settings, missing or corrupt files, and problems with Service Registration. Other issues are connected to Windows Network Diagnostics, IsPostback_RC_PendingUpdates, WaaSMedicService, and BITS service.

3. The best way to get past Windows 11 installation failures is to download the Windows 11 installation assistant. Once you run the .EXE file, the new update will easily run on your screen.

[Fixed] December 2022 Windows 11, Version 21H2; KB5019980 and KB5021234

Problems: Task Manager appearance | Audio issues in Xbox | Sign-in failures | Intel drivers compatibility

It’s been reported that Windows 11’s earliest version 21H2 has a few minor problems in the accumulated build KB5021234.

For example, the Taskbar may not display in the expected colors. This may not seem important if you’re using Windows 10, but the best thing about Windows 11 is how beautifully the Taskbar blends with your wallpaper.

Other issues may include sign-in failures for KB5019980 that can be fixed using a minor patch update in “Check for Updates.” Some users have reported audio issues in the Xbox app and a secure boot failure when migrating from Windows 10.

Most of these issues have been resolved in KB5020044, so if you’re upgrading to a higher version, you’re good to go. Otherwise, you will need to roll back your Windows 11 version to a previous build (check the option at the bottom of the list) or use the Windows 11 installation assistant online.

Tip: improve your gaming sessions by connecting your Xbox Series S/X controller to your Windows PC.

Error Code 0x800f0831

Problem: update fails to install.

This is one of the more common errors that may occur when you try to update Windows 10 or 11.

Essentially, the above error code means your update has failed, but there are several things you can do to troubleshoot this problem:

• If there’s a conflict with your VPN or proxy server and you’re using a VPN or proxy, make sure it’s completely disabled when trying to update Windows. You may even need to uninstall and reinstall the software.
• Scan for corrupt system files.
• For this and other update errors, you can try finding the update you’re trying to install in the Microsoft Update Catalog and install it manually from there.

[Fixed] January 19, 2023 – Issues in Windows 10 Version 22 H2 – KB5019275

Problems: Microsoft Edge legacy removed by the KB5019275 update.

The current edition of Windows 10 has the latest update for OS builds 19042.2486, 19044.2486, and 19045.2486. This is the first major Windows 10 update that will remove Internet Explorer browser permanently. Accordingly, the only problem with this update is that the legacy Microsoft Edge browser is also removed. It is used to procure standalone servicing stack updates (SSU) that affect your cumulative updates.

However, Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the latest Microsoft Edge browser to receive SSU updates directly in the new browser. There are other workarounds, but there is no benefit in keeping the old Microsoft Edge browser.

[Fixed] December 2022 – Issues in Windows 10 Version 22H2 – KB5021233

Problems: Sign-in failures | OneDrive problems | Taskbar disappears | Blue screen issues.

The Windows 10 version 22H2 is a minor optional update released on September 20, 2022, available via the online Update Assistant. There have been a few issues with this update, such as sign-in failures related to Kerberos authentication, the OneDrive app closing suddenly, and most worryingly, the desktop and Taskbar disappearing from the screen for a few seconds.

Microsoft has addressed these issues in its builds from October 25 – December 13, 2022, such as KB5018482, KB5019959, and KB5020953. The following solutions are in order:

• Clean restart your Windows 10 device.
• Opt for Microsoft out-of-band (OOB) updates from November 18, 2022 onward, available from “Check Your Updates.”
• If you see a blue screen with error 0xc000021a, run the Advanced Startup from “System -> Update & Security -> Recovery,” and in its Command Prompt under “C:\Windows,” type C:windowssystem32hidparse.sys. After the system repair is done, type exit and restart your Windows 10 device.

Good to know: here’s how to set up OneDrive’s Personal Vault in Windows and keep your sensitive files safe.

[Fixed] Error 0x80070422

Problem: Updates fail to install properly.

The 0x80070422 bug is one of the oldest update errors in Windows, and it can still affect some Windows 10 devices while installing updates. It’s often accompanied by other types of messages, such as “Windows update is disabled.” The current approach to solving this problem is to disable IPv6 from Wi-Fi Properties.

1. Check whether your Windows update service is disabled (explained below).
2. “Retry” to ensure the update issues aren’t there any longer.

3. If you notice persistent failure due to the error code, go to “Control Panel Home -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center.” Double-click the available Internet connection, which will open a Wi-Fi Status pop-up window.

4. Click “Properties.”

5. Navigate to “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” and disable it.

6. If you’re still having issues due to the error code, enter the Command Prompt in Admin mode and the following commands one after another.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

7. Restart your device, then check your Wi-Fi connection again. The issues due to 0x80070422 should be fixed.

Tip: learn how to use SetupDiag to fix Windows update problems.

How to Fix and Avoid Broken Windows Updates

If the problem you’ve encountered with a new Windows update is that the install stops at a certain percentage, or more generally, that it’s failing to install the update, try installing the update from PowerShell.

1. Open PowerShell as administrator by typing it into the Start menu search.
2. In PowerShell, type:

Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate

3. It may ask you to install and import the NuGet provider. Press “Y” for Yes and let it install the package.

4. You may get a warning that you are installing the modules from an untrusted repository. Type “A” to allow all the changes.

5. Check for the latest Windows updates by typing the following into PowerShell:

6. Once you’ve confirmed that there are updates to install, type the following command. You may be further asked if you want to perform this action, to which you must type “A” to finalize.

7. Wait for the broken Windows updates to heal themselves. They will automatically execute in the PowerShell window.

Install Optional Updates

If you access the Windows update screen by going to “Settings -> Windows Update -> Advanced Options -> Additional Options,” you will find the “Optional Updates” menu. These updates are designed specifically to address feature, quality, and driver issues for recent Windows updates. They become “proper” updates a few weeks later once they’ve been thoroughly tested.

These updates are still pretty stable, though, and may be worth a shot if a recent update has broken something in Windows.

Uninstall Windows Updates

You can uninstall smaller Windows updates (to roll back builds, see the next section) by doing the following:

1. In Windows 10, go to “Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features -> Installed updates.”

2. Scroll down in the main pane to the “Microsoft Windows” heading, and you’ll see all the KB and security updates for Windows 10 along with the dates they were installed. Right-click the one you want to uninstall and reboot your PC.
3. Windows 11 also has the option to uninstall recent updates. Visit “Settings -> Windows Update -> Uninstall updates” and click the “Uninstall” button next to the update you want to eliminate.

Good to know: you can try Windows 11 without completely wiping out Windows 10 by following this guide.

How to Roll Back Windows Builds

After every major update, Windows gives you a 10-day window to roll back to a previous version. It’s a useful feature and should give you enough time to judge whether you have a problematic update. Of course, this won’t recover your files if Windows deletes them, but at least you’ll be on a more stable version of the OS.

1. Go to “Settings -> Update & security -> Recovery” in Windows 10 or “Settings -> System -> Recovery” in Windows 11.
2. Below “Reset this PC,” you should see the option to “Go back to the previous version of Windows.”
3. Click “Get started,” then follow the steps to roll back Windows. Again, this option is only available for 10 days after a Windows build update.

Tip: learn how to check which Windows version you’re running on your PC.

Check Your Windows Build

Before looking into rolling back and fixing broken Windows updates, you need to check which build of Windows you’re currently using to confirm which issues are affecting you.

1. Go to “Settings -> Windows Update -> Update history” (in Windows 11) or “Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update -> View Update history” (in Windows 10).

2. In the new window, click the arrow next to “Feature Updates” to see the version of Windows you’re currently using, and click “Quality Updates” to see all the smaller “KB” updates you have installed.
3. You will also find “Definition Updates,” which are security intelligence updates related to Microsoft Defender.

4. At the bottom of the list, you may find “other updates” concerning programs such as the Windows Malicious Software Removal tool, Intelligence updates, and security patches.

Pause Windows Updates

The first thing you can do to avoid getting the above update problems and more is to take over control when Windows updates. This way, you can hold off getting updates the moment Microsoft rolls them out, monitor the news for a bit to see if any major errors crop up, then manually do the update yourself.

In Windows 11, go to the “Windows Update” screen from Settings. Under “More options,” select “Pause updates” and choose the number of weeks you wish to defer updates in the future (from the default of one week to up to five weeks).

In Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, or S, you can postpone updates by checking the same option available under “Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update.” In some Windows 10 versions, it may be referred to as “defer” instead of “pause” and available under a different heading.

Tip: here’s how you can make your Windows 11 PC look more like Windows 10.

Completely Block Windows Updates

If you want to block Windows updates completely for an indefinite time, disable the main Windows Update service through Registry Editor.

1. Click Start, type regedit, and open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following path and right-click “Start” to Modify it.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WaaSMedicSvc

3. Edit and change the Start “Value data” to “4.”

4. Reboot your PC, then go to the “Services” window via Win + R and type services.msc.
5. You can disable the Windows Update service in the same window. Right-click “Windows Update -> Properties,” then in “Startup type,” select “Disabled.” Windows Update should remain disabled until you re-enable it.

Few things on PC are more frustrating than an update – ostensibly to improve performance – borking your system, but unfortunately, Microsoft has form in this respect. Other teething issues with Windows 10 and Windows 11 include the Start menu search not working, Microsoft Store not working, and a malfunctioning microphone. We can help you with these, too!

Image credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by S’ayak Boral.

Sayak Boral

Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.