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How to remove a failed update from Windows Update

William Blair 0 Reputation points
2026-03-12T14:29:00.5766667+00:00

I have been experiencing a problem with Windows Update as of yesterday. As I do every second Tuesday of the month, I went to Windows to download and install the latest update(s). I experienced the problem with   2026-03 Security Update (KB507943) (26200.8037). After I downloaded and installed the update I revisited Windows Update Setting which now shows Update Failed Retry. When I Retry it downloads again, goes to installing but then again I get  the update failed Retry message install error 0x80070300..

In my Update History  under the above I see another entry that says 2026-03 successfully installed.

I spent almost an hour speaking with Mr, M. P. Chiranjeevi. He was very patient and certainly tried to be helpful, but due to my severe hearing loss this conversation was frustrating.

I hope you can give me instructions on how to remove the failed update Retry from Wisdom Update on my computer. (My guess is that the failure occurs because it is trying to install the update that has already been installed correctly.) I am quite inexperienced with technology, so it would be helpful if the instructions are simple to follow.

Thank you for your help.

Windows for home | Other | Windows update
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  1. William Blair 0 Reputation points
    2026-03-12T17:30:49.85+00:00

    I believe I followed the instructions, but when I stopped the paused updates it was still there and failed as before.

  2. DaveM121 851.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-12T15:01:39.2566667+00:00

    1

    Open the Settings App.

    Go to the Updates section and pause your updates.

    2

    Open File Explorer, then navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

    Delete the contents of that folder, not the folder itself and restart (not shut down) your PC.

    Then check if that has removed the update from trying to install.

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