[SOLVED] Windows Update Error 0x8007001f Windows 11 & 10

You hit “Check for updates,” wait a moment, and then watch the progress bar fail with an 0x8007001f error? Although it is very frustrating, you’re definitely not the only person to experience this problem. 

This Windows Update error 0x8007001f, or ERROR_GEN_FAILURE (A device attached to the system is not functioning), is usually caused by a glitchy audio driver interfering with the update process, corrupted temporary update files, or minor system file corruption. This post will show you how to fix it step by step.

Try these fixes

Here’s a list of fixes that have resolved this problem for other Windows users. You don’t have to try them all. Just work your way through the list until you find the one that does the trick for you.

1. Update your audio drivers
2. Reset the Windows Update Service
3. Repair Windows with DISM
4. Run System File Checker
5. Perform a clean boot
6. Install the failed Windows updates manually

Fix 1: Update your audio drivers

Error 0x8007001F indicates that a device attached to the system isn’t functioning properly. Audio drivers have been specifically linked to this error in some Windows update cases, including cases involving IDT High Definition Audio and AMD HDMI Audio.

If you’re seeing 0x8007001F and your audio driver is outdated, incompatible, or showing an error in Device Manager, updating or reinstalling it is a good first step.

Update your drivers manually – You can go to your PC manufacturer’s website, search for your computer model, and download the latest audio driver. our PC. Be sure to choose the driver that’s compatible with your PC model and your version of Windows. If you’re not sure about the steps, follow our detailed guide.

Update your drivers automatically – If you don’t have the time, patience, or computer skills to update your drivers manually, you can, instead, do it automatically with Driver Easy. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing. Driver Easy handles it all.

All the drivers in Driver Easy come straight from the manufacturer. They’re all certified and secure.

1. Download and install Driver Easy.
2. Run Driver Easy and click Scan Now. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
   
3. Click Activate & Update next to your audio device to update its driver. Then restart your PC and try Windows Update again.
   If the error persists, other outdated or problematic device drivers may also be interfering with the update. Open Driver Easy, run a scan, and click Update All to download and install the latest compatible drivers for your devices.
   

You’ll be prompted to upgrade to Driver Easy Pro to unlock the full set of premium features. It includes automatic driver updates, easy driver backup and rollback, plus full technical support. You’ll also access the Game Boost mode and System Clean tool to help optimize your PC.

Not sure if Pro is right for you? Simply start a 7-day free trial and see how Driver Easy fits your needs. You can cancel anytime during the trial period.

Fix 2: Reset the Windows Update Service

Windows stores downloaded update files and temporary update data in the SoftwareDistribution folder. If some of this data is corrupted or incomplete, Windows Update may fail to install an update.

You can reset the update cache by stopping the Windows Update service, deleting the contents of its cache folders, and starting the service again.

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows Logo key and R at the same time to open the Run dialog, then type services.msc and press Enter to open the Services window.
   
   
2. Right-click Windows Update and select Stop if its current status is “Running”. If the Windows Update service is not running, please skip this step.
   
   
3. On your keyboard, press the Windows Logo Key and E at the same time to open File Explorer. Copy the path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore and paste it into the address bar, then press Enter on your keyboard to go to the DataStore folder.
   
4. Delete all the files in the folder.
   
5. On your keyboard, press the Windows Logo Key and E at the same time to open File Explorer. Copy the path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download and paste it in the address bar, then press Enter on your keyboard to open the Download folder.
6. Delete all the files in the folder.
7. On your keyboard, press the Windows Logo key and R at the same time to open the Run dialog, then type services.msc and press Enter to open the Services window.
   
8. Right-click Windows Update and select Start.
   

Restart your PC, then go to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. If Windows still returns error 0x8007001F, continue with the next fix.

Fix 3: Repair Windows with DISM

Windows Update relies on the Windows component store. If the component store is corrupted, Windows may fail to install updates correctly.

The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool can check the component store and attempt to repair detected corruption.

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows Logo Key and R at the same time to open the Run dialog. Type cmd and then press Ctrl, Shift, and Enter on your keyboard at the same time to run the Command Prompt as administrator. You will be prompted for permission. Click Yes to run the Command Prompt.
   
   
2. On your keyboard, type the following commands one at a time. Press Enter after each command and wait for it to finish before running the next one:
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
3. This attempts to repair the Windows component store. The operation may take several minutes, and the progress percentage may appear to pause temporarily.
   
   

When the repair is complete, close Command Prompt and restart your PC. Perform the Windows update again and see if the error returns. If it remains, move on to the next fix.

Fix 4: Run System File Checker

Corrupted or damaged Windows system files can also interfere with Windows Update. System File Checker (SFC) scans protected system files and replaces corrupted files when possible.

If you ran DISM in the previous fix, it’s a good idea to run SFC afterward.

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows Logo Key and R at the same time to open the Run dialog. Type cmd and press Ctrl, Shift and Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator. You’ll be prompted for permission. Click Yes to open Command Prompt.
   
   
2. In Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
   

Wait until the scan reaches 100%. Do not close Command Prompt while the scan is running. When the scan finishes, restart your PC and run Windows Update again.

If SFC reports that it found corrupted files but could not repair some of them, run the DISM repair from Fix 3 again and then run:

Fix 5: Perform a clean boot

A third-party application or background service may interfere with Windows Update. A clean boot starts Windows with only essential Microsoft services and allows you to check whether third-party software is causing the problem.

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key + R at the same time to open the Run command box.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
   
3. Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable all.
   
4. Go to the Startup tab. Click Open Task Manager.
   
5. Right-click any non-essential startup apps and click Disable.
   
6. Close Task Manager, go back to the system configuration tool, and click OK.
   
7. Click Restart.
   

Restart your PC and perform Windows Update again to see if you can install the updates. If Windows Update works after a clean boot, a third-party service or startup application is likely interfering with Windows Update. To identify the problematic program, re-enable the services and startup items gradually and test Windows Update after each change.

When you’re finished troubleshooting, open System Configuration again and return Windows to normal startup.

If Windows Update still returns error 0x8007001F, try the final fix.

Fix 6: Install the failed Windows update manually

If a specific Windows update repeatedly fails with error 0x8007001F, you can download that update directly from the official Microsoft Update Catalog and install it manually.

This is particularly useful when the rest of Windows Update is working but one specific KB update repeatedly fails.

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows Logo Key and I to open Settings. Then select Windows Update from the left pane.
2. Click Update history to check the updates you failed to install. For example, if you fail to install update KB3006137, you can download the update and install it manually.
3. Press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run command. Type msinfo32 and press Enter.
   
4. Check System Type. You may find:
   x64-based PC — an x64-based system
   x86-based PC — a 32-bit x86 system
   ARM64-based PC — an ARM64-based system
5. Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog.
6. Type the update number that you want to download. In this example, type KB3006137 and then click Search.
   
   
7. In the list of search results, select the right update for your operating system and click Download.
   
   If your Windows OS is 64-bit, you should download the update whose name contains “x64-based”.

   

8. In the pop-up window, click the link to start downloading the updates.

   

9. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the update.

Restart your PC after the installation and open Settings > Windows Update to verify whether the failed update is now installed.

Hopefully, one of the fixes above helps you resolve Windows Update error 0x8007001F on Windows 11 or Windows 10. Please leave your comment below if you have any questions or suggestions!

• Error Message
• Windows 10
• Windows 11
• Windows Update