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How to fix issues with KB5021234 Windows update?

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  • 5 min read

Windows is one of the most popular and stable OS on the planet. Microsoft puts a lot of work into its flagship product and the result is an operating system that gets frequent updates that make it even better. However, these updates might not always have the intended effect as sometimes they can break more functionality than they aim to fix.

In this article, we’re talking about what issues the KB5021234 update can cause in Windows and what you can do to fix them.


What issues does KB5021234 cause?

A majority of user reports lean towards installation errors with the KB5021234 update. This can be caused because of a number of reasons including but not limited to the following:

  • Outdated Windows version.
  • Corrupt system files.
  • Windows update components aren’t working properly.

Also read: Windows update error 80072ee2: 5 Fixes


How to fix these issues?

You can try out the following seven fixes.

Restart your PC

Restarting your PC is by far one of the most simple and effective solutions to just about any problem you run into while using Windows. Graphics issues, network problems, update glitches, rebooting got you covered.

It’s also not a bad idea to check your internet connection real quick. At times a dead or inactive internet connection can be the root cause of a lot of problems.


Disable any third-party antivirus

Microsoft has revealed that certain Symantec and Norton antivirus versions do not work well with this particular update. Try disabling or uninstalling any third-party security software that you might have on your PC to see if you can install the update then.


Run an SFC scan

Corrupt files are the number one reason why your PC might be behaving weirdly. Here’s how you can get rid of them and potentially resolve your issue. 

Step 1: Press Windows Key + S to bring up the Cortana/Search box and search for Powershell. Open Windows Powershell from the search results.

This is an image of windows powershell 1

Step 2: Type sfc /scannow to scan your system for issues. 

Windows 10 start menu won't open: 6 fixes | candid. Technology

Step 3: If the SFC scan finds any problem, use the following command to resolve them. 

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Windows 10 start menu won't open: 6 fixes | candid. Technology

Restart your PC, and the error should be gone.

Also read: How to fix issues with KB5019959 Windows update?


Run the Windows 11 update troubleshooter

Just like Windows 10, Windows 11 also comes with a bunch of helpful troubleshooters that’ll automatically detect and resolve any problems your PC might be facing. The same goes for the update troubleshooter, here’s how. 

Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Troubleshoot settings. Click the corresponding search result. 

This is an image of windows11 update troubleshooter 1

Step 2: Click Other troubleshooters. 

This is an image of windows11 update troubleshooter 2

Step 3: Scroll to find the Update Troubleshooter and click the Run button. 

This is an image of windows11 update troubleshooter 3

This should automatically fix the problem. 


Restart the Windows Update Service

The Windows Update service is responsible for periodically checking for any new updates Microsoft may release. Restarting this service can help get your machine on track. 

Step 1: Press Windows Key + R to open the Run prompt. Type services.msc and hit enter.

Windows update error 80072ee2: 5 fixes | candid. Technology

Step 2: Find the Windows Update service. Right-click it and select Stop. 

Windows update error 80072ee2: 5 fixes | candid. Technology

Step 3: Return to the Services Console and restart the Windows Update service in step 2. 

Windows update error 80072ee2: 5 fixes | candid. Technology

Also read: How to cancel Canva subscription?


Reset Windows Update modules

Another thing you can try is completely resetting Windows Update modules to get them to work properly. 

Step 1: Press Windows Key + X to open the Quick Access menu and click on Command Prompt (Admin).

How to fix windows update error 8007000e? | candid. Technology

Step 2: Type the following command in the prompt and press Enter.

net stop wuauserv

cd %systemroot%

ren SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

net start wuauserv

net stop bits

net start bits

net stop cryptsvc

cd %systemroot%\system32

ren catroot2 catroot2.old

net start cryptsvc

regsvr32 Softpub.dll /s

regsvr32 Wintrust.dll /s

regsvr32 Initpki.dll /s

regsvr32 Mssip32.dll /s
How to fix windows update error 8007000e? | candid. Technology

Install the latest version manually

If nothing else works, instead of relying on Windows updates, you can head over to Microsoft’s official download page and download the latest version of Windows manually and install it on your system.

Alternatively, you can also use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft to install Windows 10 on a bootable flash drive and reinstall the OS on your machine.

The Windows Media Creation tool is a great way to install Windows and repair the OS. Using this, you can perform a clean installation or repair your OS without affecting your personal data.

You can download the Media Creation Tool here

Also read: Windows update error 0x80240fff: 8 Fixes

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: yadullahabidi@pm.me.

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