Windows Update fails with error code 0x80070057. The update downloads but fails during installation, or it fails to download entirely with this error code displayed in the update history. The error 0x80070057 translates to ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER, meaning Windows received an unexpected value during the update process. This is one of the most common Windows Update errors and can be caused by corrupted update components, incorrect system settings, disk problems, or conflicting software.
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Start with the built-in troubleshooter designed for update problems. Open Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other Troubleshooters, and click Run next to Windows Update. The troubleshooter checks the update service configuration, clears the update cache, and resets components that may be causing the error
Let the troubleshooter complete all checks and apply any fixes it finds. After it finishes, restart the computer and try running Windows Update again. The troubleshooter resolves many instances of this error by resetting the update components to a clean state
If the troubleshooter reports that it could not identify the problem, the issue likely requires manual intervention with the steps below
Reset Windows Update components
Corrupted update components are the most common cause of this error. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following commands in order: net stop wuauserv then net stop cryptSvc then net stop bits then net stop msiserver
After stopping the services, rename the update cache folders. Run: ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old then ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old. These folders contain cached update files and certificates. Renaming them forces Windows to create fresh copies
Restart the services: net start wuauserv then net start cryptSvc then net start bits then net start msiserver. Then try running Windows Update again. The update system downloads fresh copies of everything it needs
Check disk space
Windows Updates require significant free disk space for downloading, extracting, and installing. If the system drive has less than 10 GB free, updates may fail with various error codes including 0x80070057. Check free space in File Explorer by right-clicking the C drive and selecting Properties
Free up space by running Disk Cleanup. Search for Disk Cleanup in the Start menu, select the C drive, click Clean Up System Files, check all categories including Previous Windows Installations and Windows Update Cleanup, and click OK. This can reclaim several gigabytes
Also check the drive where Windows stores the update staging folder. If you moved the Windows Update download location or if Windows is using a secondary partition, ensure that drive has adequate free space as well
Run DISM and System File Checker
Corrupted system files can cause update failures because the update process cannot modify damaged files. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth first. This command repairs the Windows component store, which is the source repository for system files. It may take 15 to 30 minutes
After DISM completes, run sfc /scannow in the same window. System File Checker scans all protected system files and replaces any that are corrupted or missing. If SFC finds and repairs files, restart the computer
After restarting, try Windows Update again. If the corrupted files were causing the 0x80070057 error, the repair should allow the update to proceed normally
Check the system partition
The System Reserved partition (or EFI System Partition on UEFI systems) stores boot files and update staging data. If this partition is full or corrupted, updates fail. Open Disk Management (right-click Start, select Disk Management) and check the size and free space of the System Reserved or EFI partition
The System Reserved partition should have at least 100 MB of free space. If it is nearly full, third-party software (particularly antivirus) may have placed files there. You cannot easily resize this partition, but you can clean up unnecessary files on it with specialized tools
If the partition is corrupted, running chkdsk on it may fix errors. Identify the partition letter in Disk Management (assign one temporarily if needed), then run chkdsk with the /f flag on that drive letter in an elevated Command Prompt
Check regional and language settings
Error 0x80070057 sometimes relates to incorrect regional format settings that cause the update process to misparse configuration values. Open Settings, Time and Language, Language and Region. Ensure your Regional Format is consistent with your Windows language
Specifically check the decimal symbol setting. Open Control Panel, Clock and Region, Change Date Time or Number Formats, Additional Settings. The Decimal Symbol should be a period (.) and the Digit Grouping Symbol should be a comma (,) for English-language systems. Reversed settings can cause the invalid parameter error
After changing regional settings, restart the computer and try the update again. This fix is more common on systems that have been configured for non-English locales or where regional settings were changed manually
Manually download and install the update
If the automatic update process keeps failing, download the update manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Open a web browser, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website, and search for the KB number of the failing update (shown in the Windows Update error details)
Download the version matching your system architecture (x64 for most modern systems). Run the downloaded .msu file to install the update outside of the normal Windows Update process. The standalone installer uses a different code path and often succeeds when the automatic process fails
After manually installing the update, run Windows Update again to check for any remaining updates. The manual installation may unblock a chain of dependent updates that were all failing
Check Group Policy and registry settings
On systems that have been managed by corporate policies or had Group Policy edits applied manually, update policies can conflict and cause errors. Open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Navigate to Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Update. Check that no policies are set to block or redirect updates in unexpected ways
In the registry, check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Policies Microsoft Windows WindowsUpdate. If this key exists and contains unexpected values, it may be interfering with updates. Note the values before making changes, and delete the WindowsUpdate key if you did not set these policies intentionally
Group Policy settings override user preferences. If a policy blocks updates or points them to an unavailable internal server, the update fails regardless of other settings. This is most common on computers that were previously joined to a corporate domain
Perform an in-place upgrade
If no other fix works, an in-place upgrade repairs Windows by reinstalling it while preserving your files, applications, and settings. Download the Windows Installation Media Creation Tool from Microsoft, run it, and select Upgrade This PC Now
The in-place upgrade replaces all Windows system files, repairs the registry, resets update components, and rebuilds the component store. It is the most thorough repair available without a full reinstall. The process takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on system speed
After the upgrade completes, run Windows Update. All pending updates should now install successfully because the update infrastructure has been completely rebuilt
Need help with this update error?
If Windows Update keeps failing with error 0x80070057 and the troubleshooting steps above have not resolved the issue, LuxuriousComputers Repair can diagnose update component problems, repair corrupted system files, reset the update infrastructure, and get Windows Update working reliably on your computer.