We’re here to help. Let’s look at what Windows Update error 0x80240fff means and how to fix this issue.

What Is Error 0x80240fff?

Error 0x80240fff in Windows 10 is related to Windows Update. You’ll see it in the Windows Update menu (located at Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) when you check for updates manually or after Windows fails an automatic check for updates.

The error message usually looks something like this:

Here’s what to do when Windows Update won’t work because of this error.

1. Restart Your PC

Like all troubleshooting, it’s important to start simple. Before moving into advanced procedures, simply reboot your PC to clear up any temporary glitches that might cause this error.

Once you’ve restarted, it’s also worth making sure that your computer is properly online. Visit a few different websites to make sure that your computer isn’t having a wider network issue, which will prevent it from downloading Windows updates. If it is, see our guide to network troubleshooting for help.

2. Defer Windows Updates

Strangely enough, the most common fix for the 0x80240fff Windows Update error is to defer updates for a few days. If you’re not aware, this feature allows you to temporarily pause Windows Update—useful when you don’t want your computer to automatically restart or make any changes during mission-critical tasks.

In prior versions, this feature was only available for Windows 10 Pro users, but now those on Windows 10 Home can use it too. Head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, then click Advanced options.

At the bottom of this page, you’ll see a Pause updates header. Use the dropdown box to select a date, and Windows won’t install any updates until that time. Once it hits, Windows will install all pending updates before you can pause again.

Many have reported that deferring updates fixes error 0x80240fff. This may be because it changes the server that you receive updates from, so if one is having trouble, you can try installing the update from another server later.

You don’t want to defer security updates for too long, though. Try deferring for 3-5 days, then see if Windows Update works again afterward.

3. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes several built-in troubleshooting tools that can help you clear up common issues in a variety of areas. While they don’t always have an effect, they’re worth trying when you have an issue, just in case.

To use the Windows Update troubleshooting tool, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. On this page, click the Additional troubleshooters link at the bottom. Then on the resulting screen, click Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter in the Get up and running section to check for issues with the service.

If this finds anything, it will try to fix the issues automatically. Try checking for updates again once the troubleshooter completes.

4. Disable Any VPN Connections and Antivirus Apps

Since having a VPN enabled on your computer affects all of its connections, there’s a chance that your VPN is interfering with checking for Windows Updates. If nothing has fixed your issue yet and you use a VPN, turn it off before checking for updates again.

If this doesn’t work, try disabling your antivirus app temporarily. There’s a chance that this is preventing Windows Update from doing its job.

5. Restart Windows Update Services

Windows Update relies on a lot of background services, so it will fail if one of those services has a problem. If you’ve gotten this far and still see error 0x80240fff, you should next try restarting some services that may have failed.

Type services into the Start menu to search for the utility, then open the Services menu from the results. This will open an extensive list of services.

For each of the ones listed below, if you see that it’s already Running, right-click on it and choose Restart. In case it’s not running, right-click it and choose Start.

Application Identity Background Intelligent Transfer Service Cryptographic Services Windows Update

Afterward, try running Windows Update again.

6. Run the System File Checker

When you have issues with any core Windows component, the SFC (system file checker) tool is an important troubleshooting step. This checks for corrupted Windows system files and tries to fix them.

To run SFC, right-click on the Start button (or hit Windows Key + X) and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list. Once there, type the following:

This will run a scan and display the results when it’s done. Note that this could take some time.

7. Install the Newest Windows Version Manually

In case you’re seeing the 0x80240fff error when you try to download the latest feature update for Windows 10, you can try installing the latest Windows 10 version through other means.

Instead of relying on Windows Update, you should try to download Windows 10 from Microsoft’s official page. This will download an installer that will attempt to put the latest version on your system with an in-place upgrade.

If this doesn’t work, you can use the Media Creation Tool to create Windows 10 install media from a USB flash drive. This requires you to boot into the flash drive and install the latest revision manually.

Either of these should work well if your issue is a temporary hiccup with Windows Update itself, and you just want the latest feature update.

Fixing Up Error 0x80240fff in Windows 10

Now you know the ways to fix up Windows Update error 0x80240fff when it pops up. Because this is related to Windows Update, the source of the problem is likely either your network connection or some Windows component. With any luck, you’ll have an easy fix and can keep your PC updated properly.

If these steps didn’t solve your problem, there’s more you can do to resolve general Windows Update issues.

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