How To Fix This Update Is Not Applicable To Your Computer Error: 11 Quick Fixes

Windows standalone updates packages are useful when your Windows updater is not working or you want to install a certain update manually.

However, running these updated packages, sometimes, shows the error message “This update is not applicable to your computer” or “This update is not applicable to your computer”.

Find out why it’s caused and how to fix this error on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.

Contents show

1 Causes of the “This Update is not Applicable” Update Error?

2 How To Fix the “This Update is not Applicable to Your Computer” Error?

Causes of the “This Update is not Applicable” Update Error?

Your system is missing a prerequisite update The update has been superseded (replaced by a newer update) The update is already installed on your computer Your system type/architecture doesn’t match the update Problems with the Windows updater Corrupted system files

How To Fix the “This Update is not Applicable to Your Computer” Error?

Check If the Update Package Matches Your Windows Version and System Type Ensure That the Update is not Already Installed Install the Most Recent KB Update Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter Run a DISM and SFC tool Scan Using the Command Prompt Enable Windows Update Services Change Your System Locale Install the Desired Update Using Command Prompt Use System Restore Use the Clean Boot Mode to Install the Update Upgrade Windows Using the Windows Installation Media

1. Check If the Update Package Matches Your Windows Version and System Type

Everyone knows the difference between Windows versions such as Windows 10 is different from Windows 11, so this problem is less common. However, some users ignore, forget, or don’t know that Windows updates are rolled out by system type as well.

So, an update for an x64-based CPU architecture (64-bit) will show errors on an x86-based system (32-bit). Therefore, check your system version and system type.

Open the Start menu, type ‘system information, and select the first app. You’ll find your system formation listed. Look for ‘System Type’. If it’s written x64-based PC, use a 64-bit update and for an x86-based PC type, use a 32-bit version of the update.

Moreover, check the OS Name as well.

2. Ensure That the Update is not Already Installed

A standalone update can show “The update is not applicable to your computer” or a similar error if the update you’re trying to install is already installed on your computer.

So, go to the update history and match the update number with the list of updates shown there.

Open the folder where the Windows update standalone installer is saved. Note down the number that starts after ‘kb’ and ends before the processor architecture (x64 or x86). For example; kb1234567. For Windows 10 and 11, go to the Windows update option in Settings. Click Start, type ‘Windows update’, and open the Windows update settings. Choose ‘View update history’.

Check the update numbers of the installed updates and see if the update that was showing the error message is already installed.

3. Install the Most Recent KB Update

Install the most recent KB update before running the update that’s showing the error as this may fix the problem.

Launch a web browser and visit the Microsoft Update Catalog. Type your windows name and hit enter. I’m entering Windows 11. It’ll show a list of Windows 11 updates arranged by their last update. So, the update at the top of the list is the most recent update.

Select the most recent update that is compatible with your PC. Choose between ARM64 and x64-based systems carefully. Refer to your System Information.

4. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

If you want Windows to help you find out the cause of the “This update is not applicable to your computer” error, run the update troubleshooter.

For Windows 10:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional Troubleshooters.

Click ‘Windows Update’ and press the button ‘Run the troubleshooter’. A new wizard will open. It will check for problems and show you the actions to fix them.

For Windows 11:

Navigate to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters. Select ‘Windows Update’ and choose ‘Run’.

5. Run a DISM and SFC Scan Using Command Prompt

Another reason for update issues on any version of Windows is missing or corrupted system files and registry files.

Click the Start button, type cmd, and select ‘Run as administrator’. Select ‘Yes’ if you get a UAC prompt. We’ll run the DISM scan first. Copy-paste this command and press enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess

It will take time to finish. After completion, copy-paste the below command and hit enter: sfc /scannow When it’s done, restart Windows and try to install the update again.

6. Enable Windows Update Services

Running a standalone Windows update when the Windows update services are disabled will result in errors.

Before rerunning the update, enable the two Windows update services: Windows Update and Windows Module Installer.

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run app. Type services.msc and press the enter key. Search ‘Windows Update’, right-click it, and choose ‘Properties’.

Set the ‘Startup type’ to ‘Automatic’. Plus, press the ‘Start’ button under ‘Service status’. Click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’. Now, find ‘Windows Module Installer’ and perform the same steps.

7. Change Your System Locale

It’s been reported that when the system locale or regional settings are other than English, users face the “The update is not applicable to your computer” error message. So, make sure that your region format and system are set to English.

Open the Start menu, type the control panel, and launch the app. Choose ‘Clock and Region’. Select ‘Region’. Click the drop-down menu under ‘Format’ and choose ‘English (United States)’.

Now, switch to the Administrative tab. Under ‘Language for non-Unicode programs’, select ‘Change system locale’. Click ‘Yes’ if you see the UAC prompt. Click the drop-down menu and select ‘English (United States)’. Click ‘OK’. Select ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’ on the Region window. Reboot your computer.

8. Install the Desired Update Using Command Prompt

If an update shows the “This update is not applicable to your computer” error when running directly, you should try installing it with the help of the command prompt.

Open File Explorer and go to the location where the update installer is stored. Right-click the installer and choose ‘Cut’. Navigate to Local Drive C. Right-click an empty space, hover your mouse cursor over ‘New’, and select ‘Folder’.

Name the folder ‘Update’. Open the folder and paste the installer there. Right-click the installer and choose ‘Rename’. Name it something easy to write and remember. I named it ‘update-test’. Click the Start menu, type cmd, and select ‘Run as administrator’. Paste the below command on the command prompt and press enter. This will extract .cab files from the installer. Expand -F:* c:updateupdate-test.msu c:update Go to the update folder you created. You’ll find more files in it. Find the file .cab file that has a KB number in it. Right-click it and choose ‘Rename’. Now, right-click the name and select ‘Copy’. Open Notepad and paste the name in it. After this, add .cab at its end without leaving any space. For example Windows11.0-KB5020044-x64.cab Go to the opened command prompt window. Copy-paste this command (don’t press enter) DISM.exe /online /add-package /packagepath:c:update Navigate to Notepad, copy the full update name (the KB number) and paste it right in front of the above command. It will look like this: DISM.exe /online /add-package /packagepath:c:updateWindows11.0-KB5020044-x64.cab Press the enter key to install the update.

9. Use System Restore

You can use System Restore to go back to a previous state if you’re getting the “The update is not applicable to your computer” message error whenever you try to install a standalone update and you have performed the above methods to no avail.

Open the Start menu, type ‘control panel’, and open the app. Click the search bar at the top right corner, type ‘restore’, and select ‘create a restore point’.

On the ‘System protection’ tab, if the ‘System Restore button can be clicked, you have System Restore turned on. Click ‘System Restore’. A new wizard will show you the list of saved restore points. Select the restore point you want to use and press the ‘Next’ button. Windows will be restored to the selected restore point.

10. Use the Clean Boot Mode to Install the Update

Some third-party apps can interfere with your update causing errors. To avoid this problem, temporarily disable the services of third-party apps to install the update.

Press the Windows key + R, type msconfig, and hit enter. When System Configuration opens, navigate to the ‘Services’ tab. Tick the box ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ and then click ‘Disable all’.

Click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’. Right-click the Start button on the taskbar and choose ‘Task Manager’. Go to the ‘Startup’ tab. Right-click each item and choose ‘Disable’. Restart your computer and install the update. After the update, go through the above again to change the settings back to the earlier values.

11. Upgrade Windows Using the Windows Installation Media

If you have exhausted all the above methods and are still getting the” This update is not applicable to your computer” error, consider performing an in-place upgrade.

Go to the Windows 10 or Windows 11 media installation page. Under ‘Crate Windows 10 installation media’ or ‘Create Windows 11 installation media’, choose ‘Download Now’.

After the download, run the file. The setup will begin. It will take some time to prepare. When you see the ‘What do you want to do’ option, select ‘Upgrade this PC now’. The setup will ask you to download Microsoft updates. Select this option and wait while it downloads the updates. On the next screen, select ‘Change what to keep’, and choose ‘Keep personal files and apps’. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process and upgrade your Windows with the latest updates.

If this method fails, you can also install a fresh copy of Windows using the Windows installation media.