Alex Ruben
How To Resolve Windows 11 Update KB5063060 Installation Error 0x80070306
Encountered the 0x80070306 error when trying to install KB5063060? Yeah, it’s annoying — basically Windows is saying it’s missing some security stuff or something went sideways with the update. Honestly, this error pops up out of nowhere, and it’s not always instantly fixable. But there are some things to try, kinda tried-and-true, that might get that update to stick.
Prerequisites
- Make sure you’ve got admin rights on your Windows 11 machine. No admin, no dice.
- Close all the apps that are running — Windows updates tend to hate having everything open.
- Backup just in case — better safe than sorry. And no, you’re not gonna need to do a full wipe, but it’s good to have some restore points.
- Ensure your internet stays stable because download failures are more common than you’d think, especially if your Wi-Fi cuts out midway.
Step 1: Start the App Readiness Service
So, I found that making sure this service runs smoothly helps. It’s one of those background things Windows needs for updates. Sometimes it’s disabled or stuck.
- Type services in the Windows search bar and hit Enter.
- Scroll down to find App Readiness.
- Double-click it, set the Startup type to Automatic, then click Apply. If it’s stopped, hit Start.
- Sometimes this service fails to start on the first try, and yeah, you might need to reboot – because Windows has to make things harder than necessary.
Why does this help? Because the App Readiness service deals with app registration and other stuff Windows uses during updates. When it’s not running, the update can get stuck or fail mysteriously. When it works, your system’s a little more prepared to handle KB updates.
Step 2: Move the $WinREAgent Folder
This one is weird, but sometimes the $WinREAgent folder on your C:\ drive causes conflicts. Clearing or moving it out of the way can help, especially if it’s corrupted or hidden somewhere that confuses Windows Update.
- Open File Explorer and go to This PC > C:.
- If you can’t see $WinREAgent, click on View > Show > check Hidden items.
- Copy the folder and paste it somewhere safe, like your desktop for backup (just in case). To do that, right-click and choose Copy, then paste where you want.
- Delete the original $WinREAgent folder from the C:\ drive.
This helps because sometimes, a corrupted or misplaced recovery partition folder messes with Windows Update. Moving it out of its usual spot forces Windows to recreate or ignore it during the update process. On some setups, this works after the first reboot, but sometimes it takes a couple of tries.
Step 3: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
This built-in helper tool is like the “should I fix this?” app for Windows Update:
- Head over to Settings > System > Troubleshoot.
- Click on Other troubleshooters.
- Look for Windows Update and click Run.
- Let it do its thing. This might take a few minutes or a couple of restarts, but sometimes it nails the problem. On some setups, it’s like magic — but don’t hold your breath.
Why bother? Because this tool checks for common issues like corrupted files or stuck update processes. Sometimes, that’s enough to get the ball rolling again.
Step 4: Restart Windows Update Services
If Windows Update is being stubborn, restarting its services often helps clear out the cobwebs:
- Open the Services window again (services in search).
- Find Windows Update. Double-click, set to Automatic, click Apply, then Start.
- Also do this for Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS).
It’s kinda like hitting refresh — reset everything and see if it works better after that. Sometimes Windows just needs a nudge to rethink what it’s doing.
Step 5: Use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant
If none of that helped, this is a more aggressive approach — using the official tool to force an update. It’s pretty straightforward but can be a bit riskier if things go wrong.
- Go to the Windows 11 Download page.
- Download and run the Installation Assistant.
- Follow the prompts to upgrade. It’s like a repair shop for Windows, kinda brutal but effective.
This bypasses some of the intermediate steps Windows uses, and sometimes it’s the fastest way to get out of a jam. Not sure why it works, but on some machines, a fresh install via this method clears up stuck errors.
Step 6: Manual Download from Microsoft Update Catalog
If Windows refuses to install KB5063060 on its own, you can try grabbing it directly:
- Head to the Microsoft Update Catalog.
- Search for KB5063060.
- Pick the right version for your system — check your type in Settings > System > About.
- Download and double-click to install. Restart afterwards. This often bypasses whatever’s blocking the automatic update.
Note: Picking the wrong version might cause more issues, so double-check your system type (x86, x64, ARM).
Step 7: Reset Windows Update Components
This is pretty much a nuking for Windows Update’s guts. Sometimes the update components just get corrupted beyond repair, and resetting helps.
- Open Notepad and paste the following commands:
- Save this as Wufix.bat on your desktop.
- Right-click, run as administrator, and let it churn. Your system will likely restart multiple times during this process. Yeah, Windows has to make it hard.
SC config trustedinstaller start=auto net stop bits net stop wuauserv net stop msiserver net stop cryptsvc net stop appidsvc Ren %Systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old Ren %Systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll netsh winsock reset netsh winsock reset proxy rundll32.exe pnpclean.dll,RunDLL_PnpClean /DRIVERS /MAXCLEAN dism /Online /Cleanup-image /ScanHealth dism /Online /Cleanup-image /CheckHealth dism /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth dism /Online /Cleanup-image /StartComponentCleanup Sfc /ScanNow net start bits net start wuauserv net start msiserver net start cryptsvc net start appidsvc
If you’re ever in doubt, make sure your antivirus isn’t blocking anything. Sometimes, that’s the culprit, especially with aggressive security software.
Step 8: Use Media Creation Tool
If all else fails, the nuclear option — a clean reinstall using the Media Creation Tool.
- Download and run the Media Creation Tool.
- Create your install media (ISO, USB, whatever). Follow the prompts and pay attention.
- Run the setup from within Windows, or boot from the media and choose to update. It’s a bit more involved, but sometimes it’s the only way to fix stubborn errors.
Just a heads-up: it resets some settings, and you might lose some apps, so backup again. But in most cases, it clears everything up neatly.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
– Keep your internet connection as solid as possible; disconnecting mid-download is a recipe for errors.
– Disable antivirus temporarily — some software blocks Windows updates thinking they’re malware.
– Note down any specific error messages you see. They can give hints if you need to dig deeper or get help.
Summary
- Start the App Readiness service.
- Move or delete the $WinREAgent folder if needed.
- Run Windows Update troubleshooter.
- Restart Windows Update and BITS services.
- Use the official Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
- Manually download the update from Microsoft Catalog.
- Reset Windows Update components via batch script.
- As a last resort, use Media Creation Tool for a clean install.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. These updates can be finicky, but with patience, most of the time, they go through in the end.