Windows Update Error 80072EE2 [Full Working Fix]

By: Sid Asalekar - Updated: December 26, 2018 8:34 am

Updating a Windows computer doesn’t always go as easy as one would expect. It is quite common for you to face an issue like the error 80072EE2 while installing updates on your Windows PC.

To fix a Windows Update error correctly, you need to know the problem in depth. A wrong configuration can not only mess up your update installer but also trigger more problems on your Windows PC.

Let’s know more about the Windows Update Error 80072EE2 and identify the factors that triggered this glitch. Further, you’d learn some easy ways to fix Windows Update Error 80072EE2 on Windows 10/8/7.

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What does Windows Update Error Code “80072EE2” mean?

Fixing errors linked to Windows Updates are always tricky. Most update errors on Windows leave you with a general message that provides insufficient information on the problem.

The Error 80072EE2, in particular, occurs usually when you are installing updates through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). It is an error that stops Microsoft’s software update services to run new installations and download further updates.

When the Windows Update Error 80072EE2 occurs while downloading an update, it indicates a technical interference with the Windows Update Center .

Sometimes, the update being downloaded may interfere with installed updates. In such a case, you’ll face the 80072EE2 error while searching for updates on Windows Update Center.

Why Windows Update Error 80072EE2 Occurs?

I connected my Windows 10 PC to WSUS for downloading the latest updates. My Windows computer was unable to establish a stable connection with the server. The same thing happened on my Windows 7 laptop.

My screen displayed an error coded as - 80072EE2. When the Windows Update Error 80072EE2 throws up, it shows a message that reads something as follows -

“ Windows could not search for new updates ”
“ An error occurred while checking for new updates for your computer ”
“ Error(s) found: Code 80072EE2 ”

A technical interpretation of Windows Update Error 80072EE2 message would mean that the system failed to access WSUS sites or Microsoft Update portal.

Simply put – when your Windows PC is unable to create a stable connection with WSUS and fails to access Microsoft’s update services, you face the Windows Update 80072EE2 Error.

Easy Ways to Fix Windows Update Error 80072EE2

Before you go for the fixes, prepare for a plan B. Some users have faced issues after fixing the 80072EE2 error on Windows. The Windows Updates started facing some failures and apps weren’t able to run properly, and so on.

You must create a system restore point on Windows. Do this before fixing the 80072EE2 error with solutions shown below.

1. Use the Troubleshooter

The most obvious fix for Windows Update error is using the Troubleshooter program. The Windows Update Troubleshooter can detect the problems, configure your system to find a fix, and solve the error with an appropriate fix.

Open the Run dialog (press Windows + R keys)
Type “ control panel ” and hit the OK button

In the Control Panel window, change the View by options to “ Small icons ”
Click on the Troubleshooting link
Below the section for System and Security , click on Fix problems with Windows Update

Hit the Next button

Windows Update Troubleshooter starts fixing the 80072EE2 error. Allow the troubleshooter to detect the cause of the error and fix it automatically. Restart your Windows computer and run Windows Update to see if you still face the 80072EE2 error.

2. Clear Out the Corrupted Files from Windows Update Contents

If the Troubleshooter failed to fix the Windows Update Error 80072EE2, try using this method. Here, you’ll manually remove all corrupted files linked to Windows Update.

By deleting the files that cause problems for Windows Update, you’ll clear out factors that could trigger the 80072EE2 error on your PC.

Open the Run dialog ( Windows + R )
Type “ services. msc ”
Press the Enter key

In the Services window, browse the list and right-click on ‘ Windows Update ’ service
Click on ‘ Stop ’ from the drop down menu

Now, close the services window and open a File Explorer window
Navigate to file path – C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution (paste this in the address bar and hit the Enter key)
In this folder, delete all contents

Make sure you delete these contents permanently. Use the shortcut keys Ctrl and A to select all contents, and press Shift + Del to delete them permanently.

Restart your Windows computer and rerun the Windows Update services. If you don’t face the 80072EE2 error while searching or downloading the updates, then some corrupted file must have triggered the error on your Windows computer earlier.

3. Remove Corrupted Registry Keys

Similarly, corrupted or misconfigured registry keys can also trigger the Windows Update Error 80072EE2.

Before using the Registry Editor, follow the above method and clear out the corrupted files related to Windows Update services.

After deleting the contents,

Open the Run dialog ( Windows + R )
Type “ regedit ”
Click on OK button to open Registry Editor
On the left pane, navigate to the following folders –
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  - SOFTWARE
    - Policies
      - Microsoft
        
        Windows
        
        WindowsUpdate
In the ‘WindowsUpdate’ folder, locate the registries for WUServer and WUStatusServer
Right-click on each of them and click on Delete

You’ll get confirmation prompts to delete these keys & their associated values. Click on ‘Yes’ and continue. Once the deletion is complete,

Open the Run dialog ( Windows + R )
Type “ services. msc ”

Press the Enter key
In the Services window, browse the list and right-click on ‘ Windows Update ’ service

Click on ‘ Start’ from the drop-down menu

Now, you can restart your Windows computer. Open the Windows Update services again and see if you still face the 80072EE2 error.

4. Fix with Command Prompt

In some cases, renaming the ‘SoftwareDistribution’ folder (see method 2 ) can also fix the update error 80072EE2 on Windows.

Here’s a command-line fix to rename the folder –

Type “ cmd ” in Start menu search box
Right-click on Command Prompt program from the search results
Click on ‘ Run as administrator ’ option

Click on Yes in the UAC prompt
In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands and hit the Enter key after each line –

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

Now, you’ve stopped all Windows Update Services
Type the following commands and press the Enter key after each line

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

Now, you’ve renamed the SoftwareDistribution folder
To restart Windows Update Services, type the following commands and press the Enter key after each line

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

To put the changes into effect, reboot your Windows computer. Now, rerun the Windows Update installer to see if you face the 80072EE2 error or not.

5. Re-register all Windows Update Components

This last solution is a makeshift fix. It involves resetting all the components & system files related to Windows Update services. You can follow this method only when all the above fixes failed to solve the 80072EE2 error.

Open the Command Prompt (Admin) program (see method 4 )
Type the following commands one by one and press the Enter key after each line

net stop bits

net stop wuauserv

net stop appidsvc

net stop cryptsvc

After stopping the Windows Update services, delete the qmgr*.dat files by typing the below command –

Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat”

Press the Enter key after this command
To refresh Command Prompt, type “ cd /d %windir%\system32 ” command and press the Enter key
Now, re-register the Windows Update components (BITS) files with following long list of commands (make sure to press the Enter key after each line)

exe atl.dll

exe urlmon.dll

exe mshtml.dll

exe shdocvw.dll

exe browseui.dll

exe jscript.dll

exe vbscript.dll

exe scrrun.dll

exe msxml.dll

exe msxml3.dll

exe msxml6.dll

exe actxprxy.dll

exe softpub.dll

exe wintrust.dll

exe dssenh.dll

exe rsaenh.dll

exe gpkcsp.dll

exe sccbase.dll

exe slbcsp.dll

exe cryptdlg.dll

exe oleaut32.dll

exe ole32.dll

exe shell32.dll

exe initpki.dll

exe wuapi.dll

exe wuaueng.dll

exe wuaueng1.dll

exe wucltui.dll

exe wups.dll

exe wups2.dll

exe wuweb.dll

exe qmgr.dll

exe qmgrprxy.dll

exe wucltux.dll

exe muweb.dll

exe wuwebv.dll

Don’t close the Command Prompt window; your next step is to restore Windows Update components –

Reset the Winsock by typing “ netsh winsock reset ” command in the Command Prompt window and pressing the Enter key
Reset the BITS service to default security descriptor with the following commands-

exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)

exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)

Finally, restart the Windows Update services as follows –

net start bits

net start wuauserv

net start appidsvc

net start cryptsvc

Now, install and update the Windows Update Agent to its latest version. And, restart your PC to save all these changes. After this, the Windows Update Error 80072EE2 won’t show up on your Windows computer for sure.

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