How to get rid of the Windows Update Error 0xca00a000?

Windows 10 is undoubtedly the most stable build of all the Windows versions. However, it has its share of bugs and errors, especially when installing updates. One such error is the Windows Update error 0xca00a000. The full error message reads as follows:

“2018-07 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1803 for x64-based Systems (update code) – Error 0xca00a000.”

In today’s post, we show you how to troubleshoot the Windows Update error 0xca00a000, and hopefully, our tips will help you resolve the issue once and for all.

What Is the Windows Update Error 0xca00a000?

The “Updates failed… Error 0xca00a000” message pops up when trying to install Windows 10 updates and mostly seems to affect KB4056892. Usually, when this Windows Update error occurs, it probably means that the update has not been downloaded properly. Other reasons that might trigger the error code 0xca00a000 are as follows:

• The Windows Modules Installer Service being disabled – in instances where the Windows Modules Installer Service has been disabled, pending updates will not be installed.
• A false positive – it’s not uncommon for certain updates to throw an error even after they have been successfully installed.
• Missed updates – if somehow Windows missed installing a particular update or the update itself is bad/corrupted, it might explain the 0xca00a000 error code.
• Driver-related issues – the error could also imply problems with drivers that are preventing updates from installing successfully.
• Corrupt system files – there are also cases where corrupt system files prevent the successful installation of Windows updates.

How to Fix the Windows 10 Update Error 0xca00a000 Easily

Fix 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the troubleshooter helps to fix a variety of Windows problems and might come in handy in this situation. The Windows Update Troubleshooter will attempt to automatically resolve issues that are preventing the successful installation of updates.

To run the troubleshooter, follow this guide:

1. Press the Win + I shortcut to launch the “Settings” app.
2. Type “Troubleshoot” (without quotes) into the search box and select “Troubleshoot settings” from the options that appear.
3. Go to the “Windows Update” option under the “Get up and running” section.
4. Click on it to expand it, and then select the “Run the troubleshooter” button.
5. Windows will initiate the scan and attempt to detect problems affecting the updates. Wait patiently as the diagnosis runs.
6. If Windows identifies an issue, follow the on-screen instructions to apply the recommended fix. If it’s more than one fix, apply them all.
7. Once all the fixes have been applied, restart your PC to save the changes.

Now, try reinstalling the problematic Windows update again and see if you’ll still get the error.

Fix 2: Check If the Windows Modules Installer Service Is Disabled

Earlier, we mentioned that the Windows Modules Installer Service needs to be running for Windows updates to be installed correctly. So, if the troubleshooter couldn’t detect any issue, check if the service has been disabled and enable it.

Skip this step if the service is already enabled and running.

Here’s the guide:

Option 1: Use the Services Utility

1. Press the Win + R shortcut, type msc into the “Run” box and hit “Enter” or click “OK”.
2. Once the “Services” window opens, locate “Windows Modules Installer” and double-click it to open its “Properties” window.
3. On the next screen, under “Startup type:”, select “Automatic” and click the “Start” button.
4. Click Apply > OK.

Now, go ahead and try installing the update again.

Option 2: Use the Command Prompt

You can also turn on the service quickly via the Command Prompt. It only takes one command and you’re done. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows logo on your keyboard, type in cmd, and choose “Run as administrator” in the right pane.
2. Click “Yes” to grant administrator privileges.
3. On the “Command Prompt” window, execute the command SC config trustedinstaller start=auto.
4. You should see the message [SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS.

That’s it! Exit the Command Prompt and try the installation again.  If the error persists, try the next solution below.

Fix 3: Check Whether the Update Has Already Been Installed

In some cases, Windows could throw false positives, yet the update has already been installed successfully. To check that, follow the guide below:

1. Go to your “Start” menu, locate the Control Panel, and open it.
2. Select Programs > View installed updates.
3. You’ll see a list of updates that have been successfully installed on your PC. Check if the update with the 0xca00a000 error code is on this list. If it is, then Windows is throwing a false positive. In that case, wait for the next cumulative update to automatically resolve the error.

However, if you didn’t find the update giving the error 0xca00a000, keep trying the other solutions.

Fix 4: Delete the Contents of the Software Distribution Folder

The error code 0xca00a000 is also likely to be caused by incomplete Windows updates or file corruption in the Software Distribution folder. Clearing files in this folder forces Windows to download the updates again, and hopefully, this should get rid of the Windows Update error 0xca00a000.

Here’s what you need to do:

Before you clear the files from the Software Distribution folder, you first need to disable the Windows Update service and Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS).

Here is how to do so:

1. Press the Windows key, type in cmd and select “Run as administrator” in the right pane.
2. Click “Yes” when prompted by the system.
3. In the Command Prompt window, execute the two commands below, one after the other, to stop the services:
   • net stop wuauserv
   • net stop bits
4. Minimize the “Command Prompt” window; we’ll come back to it later.
5. Now that you’ve stopped the services, you can proceed to delete the contents of the Software Distribution folder. To do this, open File Explorer (Win + E) and open the following path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.
6. Use the Ctrl + A shortcut to select all the contents of the folder and press the “Delete” key. If you get a system prompt, choose “Yes”.
7. With the contents cleared, the next step is to re-enable the two services that you disabled earlier. To do that, maximize the “Command Prompt” window and execute the commands below, one after the other:
   • net start wuauserv
   • net start bits
8. Reboot Windows and try reinstalling the updates again.

Hopefully, this fix gets rid of the error.  If not, try the next step.

Fix 5: Run the SFC tool

If you suspect cases of system file corruption, running the SFC (System File Checker) tool might help to repair or replace the bad files. To run this utility, follow the guide below:

1. Open the “Run” dialog box using the Win + R keyboard shortcut.
2. Type in cmd and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter key combination to launch the Command Prompt as an administrator.
3. Click “Yes” to grant permission.
4. Type in or paste the command sfc /scannow and press “Enter”. The scan will take a while, and you must let it run uninterrupted.

If it finds corrupt system files, it will attempt to fix them. If this fails, run the DISM tool by following this quick guide: Open the Command Prompt with elevated rights and execute the command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth. This scan might take longer than the first one, and once it’s done, run the SFC tool again and then restart your PC.

That should resolve the Windows Update error 0xca00a000. If it doesn’t, there’s one other solution that you could try.

Fix 6: Try Manual Installation

If you’re getting frustrated by the countless attempts to fix the Windows Update error 0xca00a000 to no avail, you can try manually installing the update. You’ll need to go to Microsoft’s Update Catalog, where you’ll manually search for the update in question and download it.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog.
2. On the top right, you’ll see a search box. Enter the problematic update’s number, which in our case is KB4056892, and click “Search”.
3. Select the appropriate update that matches your bit version and CPU architecture, and click “Download”.
4. Open the folder containing the downloaded file and follow the instructions to install the update.

If this time the update goes through without throwing the 0xca00a000 error code, the issue has been resolved. Reboot Windows to save the changes.

Keep Your Drivers Updated

It’s always advisable to keep your device drivers updated. Many PC issues arise due to outdated or corrupt device drivers, and using your apps might be problematic if you have the wrong drivers.

Since it’s not easy to keep track of all your drivers, why not opt for a modern and intuitive tool like Auslogics Driver Updater? This is a dedicated program designed specifically to address driver-related problems. The update process is entirely automated: the tool scans your PC to identify the installed drivers and detect those that are having issues. It then lets you fix all the problems at once with the click of a button.

Auslogics Driver Updater will search for the latest official driver versions from the manufacturers’ websites and install only those that are compatible with your system. You don’t have to worry about conflicts since the backup feature allows you to restore the previous driver versions if something goes wrong.

If you have additional information about the Windows Update error 0xca00a000, feel free to leave your comments below.