Fix Windows 11 Update Error 0x800736b3

Introduction: Error code 0x800736b3 is a common Windows update error that users may encounter on their Windows 11 PCs. These errors typically occur when there is a problem connecting to the Windows Update servers or when the update process is interrupted. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve these errors and get your PC updated. In this step-by-step solution, I will guide you through the process of fixing these errors.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Check your internet connection Ensure that your Windows 11 PC is properly connected to the internet. Verify that you have a stable and active internet connection by browsing websites or running a network diagnostic test. If you're using a Wi-Fi connection, try connecting via Ethernet cable to rule out any wireless connectivity issues.

Step 2: Temporarily disable the firewall and antivirus software Firewall or antivirus software may sometimes interfere with the Windows Update process. Temporarily disable any third-party firewall or antivirus software you have installed on your PC. You can usually do this by right-clicking on the software's icon in the system tray and selecting the appropriate option.

Step 3: Restart Windows Update services

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "services.msc" (without quotes) and press Enter to open the Services window.
3. Scroll down and locate the following services:
   • Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
   • Cryptographic Services
   • Windows Update
4. Right-click on each service, select "Restart" from the context menu, and wait for the process to complete.
5. After restarting all three services, close the Services window.

Step 4: Clear Windows Update cache

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "cmd" (without quotes) and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each command:
   • net stop wuauserv
   • net stop cryptSvc
   • net stop bits
   • net stop msiserver
4. After stopping the services, type the following commands to rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders:
   • ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
   • ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
5. Finally, restart the services by entering the following commands:
   • net start wuauserv
   • net start cryptSvc
   • net start bits
   • net start msiserver
6. Close the Command Prompt window.

Step 5: Run Windows Update troubleshooter

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click on "System" and select "Troubleshoot" from the left-hand side menu.
3. Scroll down and click on "Additional troubleshooters."
4. Locate "Windows Update" and click on it.
5. Click on the "Run the troubleshooter" button and follow the on-screen instructions.
6. After the troubleshooter completes its process, restart your PC.

Step 6: Check date and time settings Ensure that your PC's date and time settings are correct. Incorrect date and time settings can sometimes cause issues with Windows Update. To check and adjust your date and time settings:

1. Right-click on the date and time in the taskbar and select "Adjust date/time."
2. In the Date & Time settings window, toggle on the "Set time automatically" and "Set time zone automatically" options.
3. Close the settings window.

Step 7: Perform a clean boot Performing a clean boot can help identify and resolve software conflicts that may be interfering with Windows Update. Here's how to do it:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "msconfig" (without quotes) and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. In the System Configuration window, go to the "Services" tab.
4. Check the "Hide all Microsoft services" box and then click on "Disable all."
5. Next, go to the "Startup" tab and click on "Open Task Manager."
6. In the Task Manager window, disable all the listed startup applications by right-clicking on each and selecting "Disable."
7. Close the Task Manager and go back to the System Configuration window.
8. Click on "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.
9. Restart your PC.

Step 8: Reset Windows Update components If the previous steps didn't resolve the issue, you can try resetting the Windows Update components using the Windows Update Reset script provided by Microsoft. Here's how:

1. Visit the following Microsoft support page using your web browser: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-windows-update-errors-by-using-the-dism-or-system-update-readiness-tool-02b84f2a-9b4b-2fb6-3e63-aeed1509943f
2. Scroll down to the "Resolution" section and locate the "Windows Update Reset script" subsection.
3. Download the script by clicking on the "Download" link provided.
4. Once downloaded, right-click on the script file and select "Run as administrator."
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset the Windows Update components.
6. Restart your PC.

After following these steps, attempt to update your Windows 11 PC again and check if the error code 0x800736b3 is resolved. If the issue persists, it may be helpful to seek further assistance from Microsoft support or their community forums.

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