How to fix Windows update error 0x800f0806?

Error 0x800f0806 means Windows has unfinished servicing work, usually an update or a feature change that waits for a restart, so it refuses a new one. You see it in Windows Update or in DISM. Restart the PC with Restart, not Shut down, let pending updates finish, and try again.

Facts checked on 15 October 2026. Steps written for Windows 11 (25H2 and 26H2) and Windows 10 22H2.

What error 0x800f0806 means in Windows Update and DISM

0x800f0806 is a code of Component Based Servicing (CBS), the part of Windows that installs and removes updates, drivers and Windows features. Its name in the logs is CBS_E_PENDING. It means one thing: an earlier servicing operation has not been finished, and Windows will not start a new one on top of it.

Most often the earlier operation waits for a restart. CBS writes it plainly in its log. On a PC with this error, the log lines posted on Microsoft's own forums show Reboot required: yes [HRESULT = 0x800f0806 - CBS_E_PENDING] right after the failed attempt.

Why error code 0x800f0806 appears

The causes are ordered from the most likely to the least likely. The first two follow from what the code means and from the logs. The others come from user reports.

Users first reported the code widely in 2022, when the Windows 11 security update KB5017321 failed with 0x800f0806 on some PCs. Later reports name other monthly updates. The cause is the pending state of the PC, not one specific KB.

How to fix error 0x800f0806

Fix 1 and Fix 2 clear the pending work and solve the error for most readers. Fix 3 is for DISM cleanup commands. Fix 4 and Fix 5 are for one update that keeps failing, and Fix 6 and Fix 7 are the general repairs when nothing else helps.

Fix 1. Restart the PC fully, then run the update or the DISM command again

5 to 15 minutesNo riskEveryone, first. Especially when Windows Update shows a restart button, or you installed an update, a driver or a Windows feature since the last restart.

CBS_E_PENDING means work is waiting for a restart. CBS finishes that work while Windows restarts, and then the queue is empty for your next request.

1. Save your work and close open apps.
2. Open Settings > Windows Update. If you see Restart now, select it.
3. If there is no such button, open Start, select the Power button and then Restart. Do not use Shut down or Sleep.
4. Wait while Windows shows Working on updates or a percentage. Do not turn the PC off during this screen.
5. Sign in and open Settings > Windows Update again. If it still asks for a restart, restart once more.
6. Run the update again, or open Terminal (Admin) and run the same DISM command that failed.

Fix 2. Let Windows Update finish everything it is installing

10 to 60 minutesNo riskWindows Update shows downloads or installs in progress, or the PC was updated in the last hour.

While Windows Update installs one package, CBS is busy. Any other request, from a second update or from DISM, gets 0x800f0806 until that work and its restart are done.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
2. Let every update that is offered download and install. Keep a laptop plugged in.
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and open Processes.
4. Wait until Windows Modules Installer Worker no longer uses CPU. This is the process that installs updates.
5. Restart with Start > Power > Restart when Windows asks.
6. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and check that the updates show Successfully installed.

Fix 3. Clean up the WinSxS folder without DISM ResetBase

10 to 30 minutesLow riskYou ran DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup or /ResetBase to save disk space and it stopped with 0x800f0806, even after Fix 1.

Cleanup of the component store is refused while any update waits to be finalized. Microsoft's forum moderators point to the built-in StartComponentCleanup task and to Disk Cleanup, which do the same work when Windows is ready and do not stop with an error.

1. Restart the PC once more with Start > Power > Restart.
2. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin). Select Yes when Windows asks for permission.
3. Start Windows' own cleanup task:

   schtasks.exe /Run /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Servicing\StartComponentCleanup"

4. Let it run for 20 to 30 minutes. The task shows no window.
5. Then run Disk Cleanup in system file mode and tick Windows Update Cleanup, as below. Restart the PC when it is done.

1. Clean up system files with Disk Cleanup. Type disk cleanup in the search box on the taskbar and open Disk Cleanup. Choose drive C: and select OK, then select Clean up system files and choose C: again.
2. Delete the files. Check the types of files you want to remove (select a name to see what it is), select OK, then Delete files.

These steps were written for Windows 11 (screenshots: 26H2). The full page with the other versions and what each result means: Free up disk space and delete temporary files

Fix 4. Install the failing update by hand from the Microsoft Update Catalog

15 to 30 minutesLow riskOne specific KB fails with 0x800f0806 in Windows Update after two full restarts, and other updates install.

A fresh copy of the update from the catalog starts a new installation instead of retrying the stuck one from the update cache. It also shows a clearer message if the update is already installed or needs another one first.

Note the KB number of the failed update in Update history first. The procedure below finds the right file for your Windows version and installs it.

1. Check your Windows version. Press Windows key + R, type winver and press Enter. Note the version (for example 25H2) and the OS build.
2. Find the KB number. Open Settings > Windows Update. A failed or pending update is listed with its KB number; earlier ones are under Update history.
3. Check the processor type. Open Settings > System > About and look at System type: an x64-based PC needs the x64 file, an ARM-based PC (for example Snapdragon) needs the arm64 file.
4. Search the catalog. Open the Microsoft Update Catalog at catalog.update.microsoft.com in your browser, type the KB number (for example KB5124010) in the search box and press Enter.
5. Pick the right row. Find the row whose title names your Windows version and your processor type (x64-based or arm64-based) and select Download on that row.
6. Download every file listed. A window lists one or more .msu links. Download all of them into one empty folder, for example C:\packages. On Windows 11 24H2 and later the list can include earlier checkpoint updates that the new one needs.
7. Install a single file. If there is only one file, double-click it and confirm the installation in the Windows Update Standalone Installer.
8. Install several files with DISM. If there are several files, open an elevated Terminal or Command Prompt and run DISM with the newest file. DISM finds the other files in the same folder and installs them in the right order.

   DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\packages\<newest-file>.msu

9. Restart. Restart the PC when the installation finishes, then run winver again: the OS build should have changed.

These steps were written for Windows 11 24H2 and later; Windows 10 22H2. The full page with the other versions and what each result means: Install an update from the Microsoft Update Catalog

Fix 5. Reset the Windows Update components

10 minutesLow riskWindows Update keeps failing with 0x800f0806 or loops on the same update, and Fix 1 to Fix 4 did not help.

A damaged download in the SoftwareDistribution folder is used again at every retry, so the same pending install fails again. Renaming the cache folders makes Windows download the update from the start.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator. Type cmd in the search box, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Select Yes when Windows asks for permission.
2. Stop the update services. Type the commands below and press Enter after each one. If Windows says that other services depend on Cryptographic Services, it stops them too. A message that a service is not started is fine.

   net stop wuauserv
   net stop bits
   net stop cryptsvc

3. Delete the download queue files. This clears the list of downloads that the Background Intelligent Transfer Service keeps. If Windows says it cannot find the files, continue.

   del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat"

4. Rename the update cache folders. Renaming keeps a copy in case you need it; Windows creates new, empty folders when the services start again. If you get Access is denied, a service is still running: repeat the previous step.

   ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
   ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

5. Start the services again. Type the commands below and press Enter after each one. The requested service has already been started is fine: Windows started it on its own.

   net start cryptsvc
   net start bits
   net start wuauserv

6. Restart and check for updates. Restart the PC. Then select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. The first check can take longer than usual because everything is downloaded again.

These steps were written for Windows 11 and Windows 10 (the steps are the same). The full page with the other versions and what each result means: Reset Windows Update components

Fix 6. Repair system files with DISM and SFC

15 to 40 minutesNo riskThe error survives restarts and the cache reset, or DISM /RestoreHealth itself failed with 0x800f0806 before your restarts.

If the component store is damaged, the pending operation can never complete and CBS keeps it in the queue. DISM with RestoreHealth replaces damaged components, and SFC then repairs system files. Run it right after a fresh restart so nothing else is pending.

1. Open an elevated command window. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin), or type cmd in the search box, right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Select Yes when Windows asks for permission.

   

2. Run DISM first. Type the command below and press Enter. DISM downloads clean copies of damaged components from Windows Update, so it can take several minutes. Wait until it says The operation completed successfully.

   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   

3. Run System File Checker. In the same window, type the command below and press Enter. Do not close the window until the verification reaches 100%.

   sfc /scannow

   

4. Read the result and restart. Compare the last message with the table below this guide, then restart the PC so that repaired files are loaded.

   

These steps were written for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. The full page with the other versions and what each result means: Run DISM and SFC to repair Windows system files

Fix 7. Reinstall Windows over itself and keep your apps and files

1 to 2 hoursLow risk0x800f0806 returns for weeks after every restart, and Fix 1 to Fix 6 did not help.

A repair reinstall replaces the servicing stack, the component store and the update state with a clean copy of the same Windows version. A pending operation that can never finish is gone with it, while apps, files and settings stay.

1. Open Recovery in Settings. Open Settings > System > Recovery. Next to Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now. This keeps your apps, files and settings.

   

2. Start the reinstall. Choose whether the PC may restart on its own 15 minutes after the installation, then select OK.
3. Wait and restart. Windows Update downloads and installs a repair copy of your current Windows version. Keep the PC plugged in and online, and restart it when asked.

These steps were written for Windows 11 22H2 and later. The full page with the other versions and what each result means: Reinstall Windows without losing files

If Fix problems using Windows Update is missing, download the Windows 11 installation files from Microsoft, run setup.exe and keep the choice Keep personal files and apps.

If error 0x800f0806 is still there

Read the logs before you try anything else. They show which operation is pending and which command it blocked.

1. Press Win + R, type %windir%\Logs\DISM and press Enter. Copy dism.log to the Desktop and open the copy in Notepad.
2. Press Ctrl + F and search for 0x800f0806. The lines near it name the command that failed, for example StartComponentCleanupEx.
3. Open %windir%\Logs\CBS, copy CBS.log to the Desktop and search the copy for CBS_E_PENDING.
4. Look for Reboot required: yes near the hit, and read the lines above it for a KB number or a package name.

How to keep error 0x800f0806 from coming back

Frequently asked questions

What does error code 0x800f0806 mean?

It means Windows could not start a servicing operation because an earlier one is still pending. Its name in the Windows logs is CBS_E_PENDING, and DISM shows it as The operation could not be completed due to pending operations. The earlier operation is usually an update, a driver or a Windows feature that waits for a restart. A full restart with Restart, not Shut down, clears it in most cases. Then the update or command you wanted can run.

How do I fix DISM error 0x800f0806 The operation could not be completed due to pending operations?

Restart the PC with Start > Power > Restart, check Settings > Windows Update for another restart request, and run the DISM command again. If it is a cleanup with /StartComponentCleanup or /ResetBase, use the StartComponentCleanup task or Disk Cleanup with Windows Update Cleanup instead, as in Fix 3. If /RestoreHealth fails, run sfc /scannow first, restart, and try DISM again. The details are in dism.log in C:\Windows\Logs\DISM.

Why do I get error 0x800f0806 on Windows 11?

On Windows 11 the cause is the same as on Windows 10: an update or another change has not been finished. Windows 11 installs monthly updates in the background and often waits for a restart that the user postpones. Sleep and Shut down with Fast Startup do not finish that work. Restart the PC fully, let Windows Update install everything it offers, and then try again. The fixes on this page are written for Windows 11 and also work on Windows 10 22H2.

Is 0x800f0806 a Windows Update error or a DISM error?

Both. The code comes from the servicing stack, which Windows Update and DISM share. Windows Update shows it when an update fails, and DISM shows it as Error: 0x800f0806 after a command. The meaning is the same in both: other servicing work is pending. That is why a failed update and a failed DISM command often appear together, and why one restart fixes both.

How many times should I restart to clear 0x800f0806?

Usually once, sometimes twice. After the first restart, open Settings > Windows Update and see whether it asks for another restart. Some updates finish in two stages. If the error is still there after two full restarts with nothing pending in Settings, the operation is stuck, and Fix 4 to Fix 6 apply. Restarting many more times does not help then.

Can I delete WinSxS files when DISM cleanup fails with 0x800f0806?

No. WinSxS holds the components that Windows and every future update build on, and deleting files there by hand can stop updates from installing. Use the built-in StartComponentCleanup task or Disk Cleanup with Windows Update Cleanup, as in Fix 3. Run DISM /StartComponentCleanup again only after a full restart, when no update waits. Microsoft's forum moderators give the same advice to users with this error.

Will a repair reinstall delete my files?

No, not the repair reinstall in Fix 7. Fix problems using Windows Update, and Windows 11 Setup with Keep personal files and apps, reinstall the same Windows version and keep apps, files and settings. Reset this PC with Keep my files is different: it keeps your files but removes installed apps. Back up the files you cannot lose before any reinstall.

Is 0x800f0806 the same as 0x800f0826 or 800f0806?

800f0806 is the same code written without 0x, and the fixes on this page apply. 0x800f0826 is a different code from the same servicing family, and we could not confirm its meaning from a Microsoft source. Do not use this page for it without checking the text that comes with it. If both codes appear, start with a full restart, because pending work blocks most servicing operations.

Should I turn off my antivirus to fix 0x800f0806?

No. The error comes from pending servicing work, and no source ties it to security software. Turning protection off leaves the PC exposed without touching the cause. Restart the PC, let updates finish and repair the component store if needed. If you suspect another program interferes with updates in general, test with a clean boot instead: How to perform a clean boot in Windows.

Does this page help if my Windows is not in English?

Yes. The code 0x800f0806 is the same in every language of Windows, and only the words around it are translated. Questions such as me sale eso or the Thai questions asking what causes it and how to fix it have the same answer: restart fully, let updates finish and try again. The menu names in the steps are the English ones, so follow the position of the items in Settings.