8 Ways to Fix Windows 11 Upgrade Error 0x800F0830-0x20003
If you are encountering the error 0x800f0830-0x20003 when upgrading to Windows 11, this tutorial covers the solutions to resolve this error.
An error 0x800F0830-0x20003 prevents the upgrade process on Windows 10/11. This error occurs during the SAFE_OS phase during the INSTALL_UPDATES operation. If you don’t resolve this error, you’ll never be able to upgrade your Windows to the next version.
Installing Windows 11 or upgrading it from Windows 10 is a smooth process, and you can use multiple methods to upgrade to Windows 11. However, you may encounter several errors during the upgrade, either due to hardware being incompatible, incompatible apps, or other reasons. We recommend referring to the Microsoft article on Windows 11 upgrade and installation error codes.
Error 0x800F0830-0x20003 installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase
When you’re upgrading to Windows 11, the setup screen shows the following error message:
We couldn’t install Windows 11.
We’ve set your PC back to the way it was right before you started installing Windows 11. Error 0x800F0830-0x20003.
The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during INSTALL_UPDATES operation
The following screenshot is an example of the Windows 11 installation failed error 0x800F0830-0x20003. Remember that you may come across the same error during Windows 10 installation as well.
The above error message states that the Windows 11 upgrade has failed. And the system will go back to the previous version of Windows you are running. At this point, you should not worry because all your files are safe, even if you haven’t backed them up.
When you click the Close button, the setup window closes. Your PC restarts and all the changes are undone.
Fix Error 0x800F0830-0x20003 when upgrading to Windows 11
The primary cause of error 0x800F0830-0x20003 during the Windows 11 upgrade or installation is that developer mode is enabled on the computer. To resolve this error, you will have to manually disable the developer mode in Windows settings.
To turn off developer mode in Windows 11, open Settings by pressing Win+I. Select System, and now choose the option “For developers.” Slide the toggle under “Developer Mode” to the left to disable it. Refer to the guide on how to enable or disable developer mode in Windows 11.
If turning off developer mode doesn’t resolve the 0x800F0830-0x20003 error, don’t worry. We have covered multiple solutions that you can try.
Solution 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
Using the built-in Windows update troubleshooter is a common troubleshooting step you should take if you encounter errors related to a Windows update or upgrade. This tool will run on your computer and will report issues with Windows update components.
If you’re getting error 0x800F0830-0x20003 for the Windows 11 upgrade, run the Windows update troubleshooter using these steps:
Right-click the taskbar’s Start icon to select Settings. Scroll down to the System tab to select Troubleshoot. Click Other Troubleshooters to view the troubleshooters. Then select the Run option for Windows Update.
The Windows Update troubleshooter launches, and this tool scans for issues related to Windows updates. The Windows update troubleshooter can identify the errors, such as 0x800F0830-0x20003 and resolve them. Normally, a restart is recommended after running the Windows update troubleshooter.
Solution 2: Restart Windows Update Service
During the Windows 11 upgrade, the error 0x800F0830-0x20003 may appear due to issues with the Windows update service. You can follow the below steps to restart the service:
- Right-click on Start and select Run.
- In the Run box, enter the command services.msc and click OK.
- In the Services console, scroll to find Windows Update Service.
- Right-click Windows Update Service and select Restart.
After performing the above steps, restart your computer. Now attempt to run the Windows 11 upgrade and hopefully that resolves the 0x800F0830-0x20003 error.
Solution 3: Check the compatibility of the Windows version
When you’re upgrading Windows to the next version or changing the edition via a product key, you should be aware of the edition upgrade paths. If you’re upgrading to an incorrect or unsupported edition of Windows, you will encounter error 0x800F0830-0x20003.
For instance, Windows 10 Home Edition cannot be directly upgraded to Windows 11 Enterprise because it is not supported. You’ll need to upgrade from Home to Pro and then upgrade Windows 11 Pro to Enterprise.
Solution 4: Check for Free Space on C:\ Drive
The root drive (C: Drive) is where your operating system is installed. Lack of disk space during the Windows 11 upgrade can result in error 0x800F0830-0x20003. So make sure you have enough free space available on your C:\ drive before you begin the upgrade.
For example, if you’re upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, make sure there is at least 64 GB of free space on the C:\ drive. Also, run the PC health check app to determine if your device can be upgraded to Windows 11.
Solution 5: Reset Windows Update Components
In addition to restarting the Windows Update service, you must also try this solution of resetting the Windows Update components. The corrupt Windows update components can cause errors such as 0x8024a206, 0x800F0830-0x20003 while downloading the updates during the Windows 11 upgrade.
To manually reset Windows update components, open a Windows command prompt. To open a command prompt, click Start > Run. Copy and paste (or type) the following commands in order and then press ENTER.
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader*.*"
rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q
rmdir %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 /S /Q
regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll
regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll
netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset proxy
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc
After you reset the Windows update components, restart your computer and then attempt to run the Windows 11 upgrade.
Solution 6: Run System File Checker (SFC) Scan
The 0x800F0830-0x20003 error can occur during the Windows 11 upgrade due to corrupted or missing system files. The SFC (System File Checker) scan on a Windows 11 PC locates the corrupted files and fixes them after scanning.
To run the SFC scan on the computer with error code 0x800F0830-0x20003, follow the steps below:
- Click Start, type “Command Prompt” and select Run as administrator.
- Enter the command sfc /scannow.
- The sfc /scannow command will scan all protected system files and replace corrupted files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.
After the SFC scan is completed, restart your computer. Run the Windows 11 upgrade setup, and you will find that the 0x800F0830-0x20003 error is resolved.
Solution 7: Disable third-party Antivirus Software
Even though Windows Security is pre-installed on Windows 10/11 computers, third-party antivirus software, if it is installed, can undoubtedly prevent the Windows 11 upgrade, leading to error 0x800F0830-0x20003.
To ensure the upgrade is not interrupted, disable the antivirus and once the upgrade is successful, enable it again. The majority of antivirus programs alert you to files that are blocked and that you can manually allow or whitelist.
Solution 8: Disconnect the Computer from Internet
When you are upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 using ISO media, the setup wizard checks for the latest updates from Microsoft. The checks include drivers, optional features and critical updates for the operating system.
While using an ISO media to upgrade to Windows 11, if you encounter an error message (0x800F0830-0x20003), disconnecting the device from the internet during the upgrade will resolve this error. Basically, when you prevent the setup from checking the latest updates, you get rid of the 0x800F0830-0x20003 error.
Disconnecting from the internet means you have to unplug the Ethernet cable connected to the computer or disable the Wi-Fi adapter to ensure the computer is offline. You must ensure the computer is offline before you run the Windows 11 upgrade or installation.
On the Windows 11 setup screen, click on the option Change how setup downloads updates.
On the Get updates, drivers and optional features window, select the option “Not right now.” This will prevent the wizard from checking the updates from Microsoft and you should continue your upgrade offline.
After the Windows 11 upgrade or installation is successful, you can connect the computer to the internet and install the updates via Windows Update. We suggest using this as one of the solutions for the Windows 11 upgrade error 0x800F0830-0x20003.
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