How to fix Windows update error 0xc1900403?

Error 0xc1900403 means the update files Windows Update downloaded are damaged, so Windows refuses to install them. Microsoft lists it as MOSETUP_E_UA_CORRUPT_PAYLOAD_FILES, "Payload files were corrupt." Clear the Windows Update download cache first so the update downloads again from a clean start.

Facts checked on 15 October 2026. Steps written for Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2 feature and monthly updates, Windows 10 22H2.

What error 0xc1900403 means

Microsoft's list of modern setup error codes gives 0xc1900403 one short line: MOSETUP_E_UA_CORRUPT_PAYLOAD_FILES, "Payload files were corrupt." The payload is the set of update files Windows Update downloads before it installs anything. Windows found that those files on your PC are damaged and stopped before it changed the system.

The "UA" in the name stands for Update Agent, the part of Windows Update that downloads and prepares large updates, such as a new Windows 11 version. That is why the error usually shows as a download error: the download finished, but the files did not pass.

Why Windows Update fails with 0xc1900403

Microsoft's support page for Windows Update problems groups errors caused by an incomplete download and tells you to clear C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution so Windows downloads again. That is the most common cause of 0xc1900403 too. Each cause below points to a fix.

Where the logs show what failed

You do not need the logs for Fix 1 to Fix 3. Read them when the error comes back, or when you contact support.

The $Windows.~BT folder is hidden. Paste the path into the address bar of File Explorer to open it. It exists only after Windows has started to prepare a feature update.

How to fix Windows update error 0xc1900403

Fix 1 removes the damaged download and solves the error for most readers. Fix 2 to Fix 3 repair what Windows Update needs to download cleanly. Fix 4 and Fix 5 install the update without Windows Update's download. Fix 6 and Fix 7 repair Windows itself and come last.

Fix 1. Clear the damaged download: reset the Windows Update cache

10 minutes, plus the new downloadLow riskEveryone. This is the fix for the cause Microsoft names: corrupt payload files.

Windows keeps the downloaded update in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and its signatures database in catroot2. Microsoft's own advice for incomplete downloads is to stop Windows Update and empty SoftwareDistribution. Renaming both folders forces a fresh, complete download instead of a new check of the same damaged files.

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

• Restart the PC after the services are started again.
• Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. The failed update downloads again from zero.
• Leave the PC on, plugged in and online until the update says it is ready to restart.

Fix 2. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

5 minutesNo riskFix 1 did not help, or you prefer an automatic repair before using commands.

Microsoft points to the Windows Update troubleshooter for errors caused by corrupted or missing system files or an incomplete download. It checks the update services and their settings, which a manual cache reset does not.

1. Open Troubleshoot settings. Select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot.
2. Open the list of troubleshooters. Select Other troubleshooters.

   

3. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter. Under Most frequent, select Run next to Windows Update. The Get Help app opens and starts the checks.

   

4. Read the result. Wait until Get Help finishes. If it found and fixed a problem, it says so and asks whether this solved the problem. Answer the question so it can offer the next step.

   

5. Restart the PC. Restart when the troubleshooter finishes, even if it does not ask you to.
6. Check for updates again. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, and install the updates it finds.

These steps were written for Windows 11 (screenshots: 26H2). The full page with the other versions and what each result means: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

On Windows 11 the troubleshooter opens in the Get Help app. On Windows 10 22H2 it is under Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.

Fix 3. Free up space and keep the PC awake and online during the download

15 to 30 minutesLow riskDrive C has little free space, the PC is on Wi-Fi that drops, a metered connection, or it goes to sleep during the download.

A download that is cut off or cannot be written in full leaves damaged payload files behind. Microsoft asks for at least 20 GB free on 64-bit Windows for a feature update, and its setup table has separate codes for too little space to download or install.

1. Open File Explorer > This PC and check the free space on drive C. Aim for 20 GB or more.
2. Type Disk Cleanup in the search box and open it. Choose drive C: and select OK.
3. Select Clean up system files, choose drive C again, tick Temporary files, Delivery Optimization Files and Recycle Bin, and select OK.
4. Connect the PC with a cable if you can, or move close to the router.
5. Open Settings > Network & internet, open your connection and turn Metered connection off for the download.
6. Plug in a laptop and keep it awake until the update is downloaded, then run Fix 1 once more and check for updates.

With Storage settings and screenshots: Free up disk space and delete temporary files

Fix 4. Install the new Windows version with the Installation Assistant or the ISO

1 to 2 hoursLow riskThe failing item is a feature update, a new Windows 11 version, and Fix 1 to Fix 3 did not help.

Both tools download the whole new version as one package from Microsoft and run Setup from it. They do not use the Update Agent payload that Windows Update stored, which is the part that 0xc1900403 says is corrupt.

1. Back up your important files first: Back up your files (Windows Backup, File History, Time Machine).
2. Open Microsoft's Download Windows 11 page in a browser.
3. Under Windows 11 Installation Assistant, select Download Now and run the file. Or download the Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices.
4. For the ISO, right-click the file, select Mount, and double-click setup.exe on the new drive.
5. Choose to keep personal files and apps, and let Setup run with the PC plugged in.
6. After the last restart, open Settings > Windows Update and install the remaining updates.

Fix 5. Install a failing monthly update from the Microsoft Update Catalog

15 minutesLow riskThe failing item is a cumulative or security update with a KB number.

The Update Catalog gives the update as one .msu file. Installing it skips the download that Windows Update keeps failing to check.

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

If the installer says it encountered an error such as 0xc1900401, the file does not match this PC. Check the version and system type, then download the right line.

Fix 6. Reinstall the current Windows 11 version with Fix problems using Windows Update

1 hour or moreLow riskWindows 11, and the error stays after Fix 1 to Fix 5.

This Windows 11 recovery option downloads a fresh copy of the version you have and reinstalls it, keeping apps, files and settings. It replaces damaged system files that can make every update fail.

1. Open Settings > System > Recovery.
2. Next to Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now.
3. Choose whether the PC may restart on its own, then select OK.
4. Keep the PC plugged in and online until it restarts and finishes.
5. Open Settings > Windows Update and check for updates again.

More options, including Reset this PC: Reinstall Windows without losing files

Fix 7. Repair Windows system files with DISM and SFC

20 to 40 minutesLow riskOther updates fail too, or every fix above failed.

DISM repairs the component store that Windows Update installs into, and SFC then repairs protected system files from it. A damaged store can make Windows reject update files even when they are complete.

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

If error 0xc1900403 is still there

When the error comes back after a fresh download and a system repair, the logs decide the next step. Collect them before the next try, because a new attempt can overwrite them.

• What to send to support: the code 0xc1900403, the name of the update from Update history, and your Windows version from Settings > System > About.
• Attach WindowsUpdate.log from Get-WindowsUpdateLog, and setupact.log and setuperr.log for a feature update.
• Say which fixes you already tried.

How to keep 0xc1900403 from coming back

Frequently asked questions

What does error 0xc1900403 mean?

It means the update files Windows downloaded are corrupt. Microsoft's setup error table names it MOSETUP_E_UA_CORRUPT_PAYLOAD_FILES with the description "Payload files were corrupt." The payload is the set of files Windows Update downloads before it installs a large update. Windows checks them, finds damage and stops before it changes anything, so your files and apps are safe. Clear the Windows Update cache (Fix 1) so the update downloads again.

What does Download error - 0xc1900403 in Windows Update mean?

It is the same error, shown in Settings > Windows Update next to the update that failed. "Download error" tells you the problem is with the files Windows downloaded, not with the installation that would come after. Selecting Retry usually checks the same damaged files again, which is why the error repeats. Reset the cache with Fix 1, restart and check for updates, so Windows downloads the update again from zero.

What is error 0xc1900401?

0xc1900401 is a neighbour code in the same Update Agent group. Microsoft names it MOSETUP_E_UA_NO_PACKAGES_TO_DOWNLOAD, "No packages to be downloaded." Windows found nothing to download for this PC. It often appears when an offer or an update file does not match the PC's version or system type. Reset Windows Update (Fix 1) and check again. If you install an .msu file, make sure it is for your Windows version and for x64 or arm64.

Why does the installer say it encountered an error 0xc1900401?

That message comes from the Windows Update Standalone Installer, which runs when you open an .msu file. With 0xc1900401, Microsoft's meaning is that there are no packages to install, so the most likely reason is that the file does not fit this PC: another Windows version, another system type, or an update that is already installed. Check your version in Settings > System > About, then download the matching line from the Update Catalog (Fix 5).

What about the installer error 0xc80003f3?

0xc80003f3 is not part of the 0xC19004xx group on this page, and we could not confirm its meaning in Microsoft's current documentation. It is a different Windows Update code. The first steps are the same, though: restart the PC, free up space, and reset the Windows Update cache with Fix 1. If an .msu file shows it, download the update again from the Update Catalog and install it after a restart.

Will resetting Windows Update delete my files?

No. Fix 1 only renames two system folders that hold downloaded updates and their signatures. Your documents, photos, apps and settings are not in them. The only visible change is that the Update history list can look empty, because its database was in the renamed folder. Windows creates new folders on its own and downloads what it needs again. Delete the .old folders later, once updates work.

Is 0xc1900403 a sign that my PC cannot run Windows 11?

No. Compatibility problems have their own codes in Microsoft's table, such as 0xC1900200, "The system does not pass the minimum requirements to install the update." 0xc1900403 says only that the downloaded files are corrupt. A PC that gets this error was offered the update, so Windows Update considers it eligible. Clear the cache and download again. If the error keeps coming back on one PC, check the drive and memory as described above.

Does 0xc1900403 appear on Windows Server 2025?

This guide is about Windows 11 and Windows 10. The code has the same meaning in Microsoft's setup error table on any edition, because it comes from the same update engine. On a server, clear the Windows Update cache the same way as in Fix 1, but do it in a maintenance window. Servers that take updates from WSUS or another management tool should be checked there, because the damaged files may be on the update server.

Can I just keep pressing Retry until it works?

It rarely helps. The reader at the top tried for several days and got the same code each time. Windows Update keeps the downloaded files and checks them again on each retry, so damaged files stay damaged. One restart is worth trying, because it clears a pending state. After that, reset the cache with Fix 1. If the update is a new Windows version, the Installation Assistant in Fix 4 avoids the stored download completely.

This page is about 0xc1900403: what if I searched in another language?

The error code is the same in every language, so this guide applies to Windows in any language. Only the text around the code is translated. If you typed a short question such as "what is this" or "what should I do now", the answer is: your update download is damaged, and Fix 1 on this page clears it so Windows can download it again. Find the code in Settings > Windows Update > Update history first.