net stop wuauserv sc config wuauserv start= auto sc config wuauserv binpath= "C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p" sc start wuauserv If sc start fails, note the error text (often 1058 or 577) – that points to deeper system file corruption. A corrupted download cache can also trigger this error because the update agent may hang before the service check completes.
This error has resurfaced more frequently on Windows 10 versions 1909 through 22H2 after specific cumulative updates (notably KB5026361). Microsoft has since released out-of-band fixes, so running DISM to pull the latest component store is especially effective if you’ve deferred updates for months. 0x8024a22a windows update error
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth SFC /SCANNOW Reboot after both complete, then attempt to start wuauserv again. On rare occasions, 0x8024a22a appears during a single, transient network hiccup while Windows is trying to transition the Automatic Updates service from "Stopping" to "Running." If you see it once, reboot, and the next update check succeeds, you can safely ignore it. The Bottom Line Unlike permission errors or missing file errors, 0x8024a22a is refreshingly specific: Windows Update is essentially telling you, “I can’t even start the engine.” In over 90% of cases, resetting the wuauserv service and clearing the SoftwareDistribution folder resolves the issue. If those steps fail, an in-place upgrade (installing Windows over itself using an ISO) will rewrite all service configurations without deleting your files. net stop wuauserv sc config wuauserv start= auto