[Solved] Fix Error Code 80246005 in Windows 10/8.1/7 – 5 Solutions

Last Updated: May 17, 2026

To fix Windows Update error code 80246005, you need to apply small fixes.

You need to provide permission to an important system folder. Then you need to check and restart a few services.

Windows 10 has the inherent advantage of quick updates. But when it’s stalled, your PC or laptop is at risk.

In such cases, you need to fight the root cause of error code 80246005 to make Windows updates work again.

I had two KB Windows updates showing the above problem. It was asking to “try again.” I did it several times, but the error remained.

Before you apply the below fixes, ensure your computer is free from firewall, antispyware software, web accelerator, antivirus program, and proxy server-kind of errors.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender or Microsoft Security Essentials to run a scan of your system.

Cause of Error Code 80246005

This error can occur in Windows 7, 8.1, or 10. You might read that it is because of a virus or malware. But it is not. This number is a Windows Update error code. So you need to restart services related to the Windows Update process.

The Catroot2 folder might not have write permission, which is one of the causes. Then there are two other services that are not running. These are—1. Cryptographic Services 2. Windows Installer.

These are two main culprits for error code 80246005.

You can send Windows diagnostic information to the Microsoft Support team for analysis. But the process will take time, and you need to be an expert to identify the key details.

Microsoft has released a document related to Windows Update errors. Some of the commonly seen error codes are 0x0xc1900223223, 0x80240034, 0x8007000E, 0x80242006​, 0x80244018​, 0x80D02002​, 0x80246017​, 0x80240438​, 0x80070070​, 0x8007000D​, 0x80246008​, 0x80096004, and 0x80070020.

In this post we are going to see 5 solutions to fix error code 80246005 to make Windows Update work again.

Fix #1:  Restart Windows Installer service

This solution is the best fix among all the solutions below for fixing the Windows Update error.

1. Press Win + R, and the Run dialog opens.
2. Type services.msc.
3. Click the tab “Standard.”
4. Then sort the services based on name.
5. Go to the “Windows Installer” service.
6. Generally, it is set to “Manual” and stopped.
7. You can try to start it. If it is running, stop it and restart it.
8. Then you can also set the Startup Type as “Automatic.”

This worked for me in Windows 7.

Fix #2: Provide write permission to the Catroot2 folder.

If the Windows Update process fails to write files to the Catroot2 folder, this error may also occur.

So, you need to remove the read permission for that folder. Alternatively, grant Windows Update permission to write to this folder.

This procedure can be done in this way.

1. Press the Win key and type “cmd.”
2. Right-click the Command Prompt app and select Run as administrator.

3. 

   In older versions of Windows 10, you can also right-click the Start button and find it.
4. The command prompt window opens.
5. Type the following commands.

attrib -h -s -r c:\windows\system32\catroot2
attrib -h -s -r c:\windows\system32\catroot2\*.*

6. C: is the Windows drive, or where Windows 10 is installed.
7. Press Enter after each command.

This will give write access to the Catroot2 folder for the Windows Update program.

Fix #3: Start, Stop, Restart Cryptographic Service

The Cryptographic Service is another service that causes the error code 80246005.

1. Open “Services” as mentioned earlier.
2. Find the “Cryptographic Services.”
3. Stop and restart it if it is running.
4. Otherwise, just start it.

Fix #4: Start BITS, Windows Update and other services.

In Windows 10, you can locate some other services related to Windows Update. These are the following.

1. Background Intelligent Transfer Service
2. Windows Update
3. Windows Defender Firewall

Also make sure your system time is correct. Check whether your CMOS battery is working on your laptop or PC. Otherwise, update to the latest time using Internet services.

These are the two main services connected to updating Windows 10 or 8.1 to the latest version. If they are not working, error code 80246005 can also occur.

You can start them. Otherwise, restart them.

Fix #5: Windows Update Troubleshooter

This process can be done in different ways in Windows 7 or 10. I will mention the new method in Windows 10.

1. Press the Windows key and the I key together to open Settings.
2. Click on “Update & Security.”
3. Scroll through to click on “Troubleshoot.”
4. On the right-hand side, you should see “Windows Update.”
5. Click it. The “Run the troubleshooter” button should be available.
6. This will run the Windows Update troubleshooter program in Windows 10.

Many a time, it will fix error code 80246005 problems.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned 5 methods should work to cure error code 80246005 in Windows 10 or 7. The interface might look different in Windows 7, 8.1, or 10. But the steps are similar.

You just have to provide write access to the Catroot2 folder and restart a few other services.

This should make Windows Update healthy and up and running again.