ErrorFix
Windows PC Errors

How to Fix Windows 11 Update Error 0x80070476 (2026)

By ErrorFix · Updated October 22, 2026 · 9 min read

Error 0x80070476Plain English: Windows tried to load a file, driver, or module it needed to install the update — and the file wasn't there. Think of it like a recipe that calls for an ingredient your pantry doesn't have; everything stops until the missing piece is supplied.
Quick answer: Update your device drivers (Device Manager + Settings > Windows Update > Optional updates) and unplug extra USB devices, then reset the update components and repair system files with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth followed by sfc /scannow. If the update still refuses, install it manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Exact steps below.

What error 0x80070476 means

Behind the scenes, 0x80070476 is the HRESULT version of Windows system error 118, officially named ERROR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND: 'The specified module could not be found.' Whenever Windows — or any Windows program — needs a DLL, driver, or other module file and that file is missing or unreadable, this is the error that comes back. During Windows Update, the update engine goes through the exact same step: it assembles the update from components already on your PC and loads each one it needs. When one of those loads fails, the whole install aborts with 0x80070476 instead of pushing ahead and risking a broken system.

You'll see it on the Windows Update screen in Settings, usually next to a failed cumulative update or feature update, with the familiar "There were some problems installing updates" message. Hitting Retry rarely helps on its own, because the same missing or broken module is still missing or broken the second time around. The fix is to figure out which piece is missing and supply or repair it — in practice that means drivers, the update cache, damaged system files, or the PC's hardware requirements. Work through the steps in order; most people are fixed long before the final step.

Common causes

How to fix error 0x80070476 — step by step

Work through these fixes in order. Steps 3 through 5 are the core repair; most people are fixed by step 5.

  1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter. Open Settings, go to System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters. Click Run next to Windows Update and let the tool scan for common blockers such as stopped services and stuck download jobs. It doesn't fix every case, but it cleans up the easy ones in a couple of minutes. When it finishes, retry the update from Settings, then Windows Update, then Check for updates.
  2. Confirm your PC meets the Windows 11 requirements. If the failed update is a Windows 11 feature update, press Windows key + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. Note the Processor, BIOS Mode (UEFI), and Secure Boot State values. Then download the PC Health Check app from Microsoft's website and run its Windows 11 check, which reports TPM 2.0 and CPU support directly. If your PC fails a requirement, a feature update can't install cleanly no matter what you try — the real fixes are enabling TPM and Secure Boot in your UEFI firmware settings, or installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware through Microsoft's supported clean-install path.
  3. Update device drivers and unplug extra peripherals. Right-click Start and open Device Manager. Expand Display adapters, Network adapters, and Storage controllers, right-click each device, and choose Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers. Also check Settings, then Windows Update, then Advanced options, then Optional updates, and install any listed driver updates. A missing or broken driver is one of the most common real-world triggers for a module-not-found error during setup. Before retrying the update, unplug everything you don't need: USB drives, SD card readers, printers, and any extra monitors.
  4. Reset the Windows Update components. Right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Stop the four update-related services by running each command: net stop wuauserv, net stop cryptSvc, net stop bits, and net stop msiserver. Then rename the cache folders so Windows rebuilds them from scratch: ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old and ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old. Finally, restart the services: net start wuauserv, net start cryptSvc, net start bits, and net start msiserver. This clears a corrupted download cache without touching your files or already-installed updates.
  5. Repair the component store and system files. In the same admin terminal, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and let it finish — it typically takes 10 to 30 minutes and replaces damaged components with clean copies. Then run sfc /scannow, which checks every protected Windows file and repairs anything broken. Restart your PC afterward and retry the update. These two commands fix most module-not-found failures that are caused by file corruption rather than drivers.
  6. Install the update manually or do an in-place upgrade. If automatic updates still fail, note the KB number of the failed update in Settings, then Windows Update, then Update history. Visit catalog.update.microsoft.com, search for that KB number, and install the .msu package matching your system — x64 for most Intel and AMD PCs. For a failed feature update instead, download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft's website and run it, or use the Media Creation Tool to make installation media, mount the ISO, and run setup.exe while choosing to keep personal files and apps.

Did this fix it? Quick checklist

If 0x80070476 keeps coming back after all of this, look one layer deeper. Failing RAM or a dying disk can silently corrupt the exact files the update needs, so run the Windows Memory Diagnostic (search it from the Start menu) and check your drive with chkdsk C: /f /r in an admin terminal — approve the restart prompt and let it scan on reboot. Also temporarily uninstall third-party "optimizer" or cleaner tools before retrying, since some of them re-break the very driver files you just repaired.

Frequently asked questions

What does Windows Update error 0x80070476 mean?

Error 0x80070476 is the HRESULT form of Windows system error 118, ERROR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND — 'The specified module could not be found.' During an update it means the update engine tried to load a driver, library, or component file and the file was missing or unreadable. The usual suspects are broken drivers, a corrupted update cache, damaged system files, or a PC that doesn't meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements.

Is 0x80070476 only a Windows 11 error?

Not only — the same code can appear on Windows 10 updates and even outside updates entirely, since it is a generic 'module not found' error. It is most commonly reported during Windows 11 feature updates, which is where driver and hardware-requirement checks hit hardest, but the fixes below apply to both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Can bad RAM or a failing disk cause 0x80070476?

Yes, indirectly. Failing memory or storage can silently corrupt the exact driver and system files the update needs, so the module load fails at install time. If the error keeps returning after drivers are updated and the update cache is reset, run a memory test (Windows Memory Diagnostic from the Start menu) and check your drive with chkdsk C: /f /r in an admin terminal.

Will reinstalling Windows fix 0x80070476?

An in-place upgrade (setup.exe with 'keep personal files and apps') almost always fixes it, because it rebuilds the entire component and driver set while preserving your files, programs, and settings. Treat it as the last step rather than the first — driver updates and an update-component reset resolve the majority of cases without touching your setup.

Related fixes