In this tutorial, learn how to fix “Potential Windows Update Database error detected” while trying to repair your Windows update feature in Windows 10.
To keep your existing operating system safe and secure you must download and install latest Windows Updates available to you. But sometimes you may not able to install Windows Updates due to many other different reasons. And then you run Windows Update troubleshooter on Windows 10 and it found a problem that couldn’t fix.
Potential Windows Update Database error detected – Not fixed
If you’re also getting the “Potential Windows update database error detected” problem with your Windows 10, this tutorial will help you.
How To Fix “Potential Windows Update Database Error Detected” In Windows 10
Method 1. Run the System File Checker
This method will find and fix corrupted files on your system.
Step 1. In the Windows search box, put cmd and select Command Prompt from results, right click it and click Run as administrator. This will open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
Step 2. In the Command prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Step 3. After the scan is complete, check if the issue still occurs.
If you’re still getting this issue, run the third DISM command. To do that, start a Command Prompt as an Administrator and then run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command. After the command is successfully executed, check if the problem still occurs.
Method 2. Restart Windows update service and rename the affected files
You should be able to fix “Potential Windows Update Database error detected” message by restarting Windows Update service and renaming the affected directories. To do so, follow these steps below:
Step 1. Open administrative Command Prompt.
Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, enter the following commands:
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
Step 3. After the command is successfully executed, close the Command Prompt window and restart the machine and then try to install Windows updates again.
Method 3. Run the Troubleshooter
Step 1. Open Control Panel (icons view) and select the Troubleshooting feature.
Step 2. From the left side of the screen, click on the View All button.
Step 3. Now, you will see a list of options and you need to find and click on the Windows updates.
Step 4. Click Next. And then follow the steps on the screen to complete the Windows updates troubleshooter.
Step 5. Finally, reboot the machine after the troubleshooting process finishes. Retry to install the Windows Updates available to you and the error is gone.
Method 4. Reset this PC without affecting your files
If you are getting the “Potential Windows Update Database error detected” error message and you don’t know why, I would recommend you Reset this PC without changing your settings or deleting any of your personal files.
Step 1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
Step 2. Go to Update & Recovery > Recovery to find the Reset this PC option.
Step 3. Click Get Started button under Reset this PC.
Step 4. You’ll now have two options: Remove everything and Keep my files. Select the one you want to do, in this case, you’ll be Keep my files option.
Step 5. From here you will need to follow the instructions on the screen and wait for this process to finish.
Note: You will need to take up to 30 minutes in step 4.
Step 6. Wait until this process is finished, reboot your Windows 10 device and check if the issue still occurs.
Method 5. Use System Restore
If Windows 10 Updates were working fine earlier, another method in which you can resolve Windows 10 Update problems is by using the System Restore to re-map your system that time so that you can install Windows Updates as expected. In this post, learn how to use System Restore in Windows 10.
Check the following video to learn how to fix Potential Windows Update Database error detected in Windows 10:
That’s about it. If you have any other Windows Update issues you can see for the solution on my blog.
