Lately, several users have encountered a common update error 0xc004f075 in Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. It most often indicates activation issues, possibly due to licensing problems or system changes and pops up when you try to install any new updates. If you encounter this error, you cannot upgrade your Operating System. Nevertheless, continue reading this guide to fix Windows 10 Update or Activation Error Code 0xc004f075.
How to Fix Windows 10 0xc004f075 Update Error
Here are some reasons that contribute to this error code:
- Missing or corrupt files in Windows 10 computer.
- Virus or malware attack on PC.
- Incomplete or corrupt Windows Update Components in PC.
- Background applications or Antivirus/Firewall interfere with the update process.
- Insufficient space in hard drives to install the new updates.
Basic Troubleshooting Tips
Before trying out advanced troubleshooting methods, try these basic tricks instead:
- Ensure that you are connected to a stable internet connection.
- Close all unnecessary programs running in the background using Task Manager.
- Disable Windows 10 Firewall or Antivirus temporarily.
If you still receive Windows 10 update error codes, now it’s time to follow the below-discussed slightly technical solutions.
Method 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
To solve any update-related issues, run in-built Microsoft toolkit that automatically analyses the update issues and fixes the same.
1. Hit the Windows key. Type Troubleshoot settings in the search bar and click on Open as shown.
2. Now, click on Additional troubleshooters as depicted below.
3. Now, select Windows Update, which is displayed under Get up and running as shown.
4. Select Run the troubleshooter.
5. Finally, restart your PC once all the fixes are applied and fixed on your computer.
Method 2: Reset Update Components
If you want to fix any update-related issues, you can try manually resetting Windows Update components. This procedure restarts BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, Windows Update services, and update folders like SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2.
1. Type Command Prompt in the Windows search bar and click Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
3. Now, type the following commands one by one and hit Enter key after each command.
net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
4. Wait for the commands to be executed, and this would help you get the error solved.
Also Read: Fix Windows 10 Update Pending Install
Method 3: Repair Corrupt System Files
This 0xc004f075 error code arises if a few essential update elements are broken, corrupt, or missing. You can use built-in tools SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) in Windows 10/11 PC to scan and remove harmful corrupt files.
1. Launch Command prompt as explained in previous method.
2. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt to run as administrator.
3. Now, type the chkdsk C: /f /r /x command and hit Enter key.
Note: If you are prompted with a message, Chkdsk cannot run…the volume is… in use process, press Y key and reboot your PC.
4. Again, type the sfc /scannow command and hit Enter to SFC scan.
Note: The System File Checker will scan all the programs and repair them automatically in the background. You can continue your activities until the scan is complete.
5. After completing the scan, it will show either of the messages.
- Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
- Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
6. Finally, restart your PC.
7. Now, open Command Prompt as done earlier in this method.
8. Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter.
DISM.exe /Online /cleanup-image /scanhealth DISM.exe /Online /cleanup-image /restorehealth DISM /Online /cleanup-Image /startcomponentcleanup
Note: You have to be connected to a network to run DISM properly.
9. Finally, wait for the process to run successfully and close the window.
Method 4: Re-Enable Essential Services
Firstly, you must check whether essential Windows services are running, and if not, re-enable them as instructed below to fix 0xc004f075 error.
1. Launch the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys simultaneously.
2. Type services.msc as follows and click OK.
3. Now, in the Services window, scroll down and search for Windows Update Services and click on it.
4. Now, click on Properties as depicted in the below picture.
Note: You can also double-click on Windows Update Services to open the Properties window.
5. Now, set the Startup type to Manual, as shown below.
6. Finally, click on Apply > OK to save the changes.
7. Likewise, follow the same for the below services and enable them as instructed.
- Windows Update Medic Services: Manual
- Cryptographic Services: Automatic
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service: Manual
- DCOM Server Process Launcher: Automatic
- RPC Endpoint Mapper: Automatic
- Windows Installer: Manual
Also Read: Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070005
Method 5: Install & Use Microsoft Update Tool
Microsoft tool will allow you to update the version without deleting any files. Follow the below steps to resolve 0xc004f075 error.
1. Visit the Microsoft Software Download page.
2. Click the Download tool now button.
3. Click on the downloaded launcher file at the bottom.
4. Click Yes in the prompt.
5. Click Accept on the license terms page.
6. Select Upgrade this PC now and click Next.
Note: If you receive an error stating PC cannot be upgraded, navigate to the path C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther in the File Manager. Delete the compatscancache.dat file by pressing Shift + Delete keys simultaneously. Again, try installing the update.
Method 6: Restart Windows Update Service
The Windows update files and log data will be stored in the SoftwareDistribution folder. The files in the folder are responsible for Windows updates, and they usually should not be deleted from the computer. Yet, if you face any issues during the process, you can try deleting them to fix the problems.
1. Launch the Services window as before.
2. Now, scroll down the screen and right-click on Windows Update.
3. Here, click on Stop if the current status displays Running.
4. Now, open the File Explorer by clicking Windows + E keys together.
5. Now, navigate to the following path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore
6. Now, select all the files and folders by pressing Ctrl + A keys together and right-click on them.
Note: You can only delete these files with an admin user account.
7. Here, select the Delete option to remove all the files and folders from the DataStore location.
8. Now, navigate to the path: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.
9. Delete all the files in the Download location as mentioned in the previous steps.
Note: You can only delete these files with an admin user account.
10. Now, go back to the Services window and right-click on Windows Update.
11. Here, select the Start option as depicted in the below picture.
Also Read: How to Enable Telnet in Windows 10
Method 7: Delete Software Distribution Files in Safe Mode
If there are any issues while resetting the Windows update components, then launching the computer in recovery mode and deleting the conflicting SoftwareDistribution folder should certainly fix them.
1. Read our guide to boot Windows 10 in Safe mode or safe mode with networking on Windows 11.
2. Now, press and hold Windows + E keys together to open File Explorer.
3. Navigate to the following location: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
4. Select all the files in the Software Distribution folder and Delete them.
5. Then, reboot your PC to effect changes and boot normally.
Method 8: Remove Recent Windows Update
If any conflicting Windows updates are interfering with the latest Windows update components, before installing any updates, delete the previous update to fix 0xc004f075 error.
1. Open the Run dialog box.
2. Now, type appwiz.cpl as shown and hit Enter.
3. Now, click on View installed updates in the left pane as shown here.
4. Now, select the most recent update and click Uninstall.
5. Then, confirm the prompt, if any, and reboot your PC.
Also Read: Fix Windows Update Error 0x800704c7
Method 9: Download Update Manually
When your computer lacks any essential Windows Update components, you cannot install the updates automatically or through system settings. Yet, you can manually install latest update as instructed below and fix 0xc004f075 error.
1. Press the Windows + I keys together to open Settings in your system.
2. Now, select Update & Security.
3. Now, click on the View update history option as highlighted below.
4. In the list, note down the KB number that is pending to be downloaded due to an error message.
5. Here, type the KB number in the Microsoft Update Catalog search bar.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the update manually.
7. Then, run the installed file as an administrator, and now the 0xc004f075 Windows 10 error will be fixed.
Method 10: Reset or Restore PC
If the manual update of Windows components does not help you, then there are some chances that your Windows 10 computer has gone corrupt. Resetting your Windows 10 PC will fix the error.
Note: Still, if you encounter this issue, then you could restore the system to its previous version. Restoring your computer to its previous state will resolve any errors conflicting with the software.
How to Fix Windows 10 Activation Error Code 0xc004f075
Here are some potential and effective troubleshooting methods to resolve Windows 10 activation error code, now it’s time to follow the below-discussed methods.
Method 1: Run Activation Troubleshooter
On the other hand, if there is any activation 0xc004f075 error on your PC, you can resolve it by running the Activation troubleshooter.
Note: Log in with admin rights to perform the below steps.
1. Press the Windows key and type Troubleshoot settings. Then, click on Open as done earlier.
.
2. Then, switch to the Activation tab.
3. In the right pane, click on the Troubleshoot link.
Note: You can find this option only if your operating system is not yet activated.
4. Click Yes in the prompt.
5. Once the troubleshooter is complete, click I changed hardware on this device recently.
6. Enter your Microsoft account credentials to sign in to your account and click Sign in.
Note: If your Microsoft account is not connected to the system, enter your system’s log-in password (local password/Windows password). Click Next.
7. Select your current device and click on the Activate button.
Also Read: Fix Windows 10 Update Stuck or Frozen
Method 2: Run SLMGR Command
Sometimes, issues in the Windows Product key also lead to errors during the Windows update process. Hence, you can try using SLMGR (Software Licensing Management Tool) command to perform Product Activation tasks. This tool will fix any problems during normal activation and fix Windows update 0xc004f075 error for sure.
1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
3. Now, type the slmgr /ipk <Windows Key> command and hit Enter key to reinstall the key.
Note 1: If you are not aware of the product key, type the command wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey, and hit Enter.
Note 2: Type your License key instead of Windows Key in the above command. If the License key is incorrect, you will face The Software Licensing Service reported that the product key is invalid error.
3. Now, type the slmgr /ato command and hit Enter key to force Windows for online activation.
4. Once the process is complete, reboot your PC.
Method 3: Run SLUI3 Command
You can use SLUI.EXE 3 (SOFTWARE LICENSING USER INTERFACE) command line to activate Windows and fix 0xc004f075 error.
- SLUI 1 opens the activation status window.
- SLUI 2 opens the activation window.
- SLUI 3 brings up the CHANGE PRODUCT KEY window.
- SLUI 4 opens the CALL MICROSOFT & MANUALLY ACTIVATE window.
Here are a few steps to use Slui 3 command line.
1. Press and hold Windows + R keys together to open the Run dialog box.
2. Now, type Slui 3 and hit Enter key.
3. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
4. Enter the 25-digit product key as shown.
5. Now, click on the Next button.
Method 4: Clean Install Windows OS
Still, if you face this issue even after implementing the above method, this indicates that your computer has any badly affected configuration files. In this case, you cannot resolve the errors with normal solutions, but you can try this method. Ensure you back up all the data in your Windows 10 PC and perform a clean installation. Read our guide to perform a clean installation of the Windows 10 Operating System.
Method 5: Contact Microsoft Support
If the issue persists, then contact Microsoft Customer Support to resolve 0xc004f075 Windows 10 error.
Recommended: 5 Ways to Stop Automatic Updates on Windows 10
We hope this guide was helpful to you fix Windows 10 Update or Activation Error Code 0xc004f075. Feel free to reach out to us with your queries and suggestions via the comments section below. Let us know what you want to learn next.