Windows Update Error 0x8007000d: The Data Is Invalid

Quick answer for the impatient

Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in an elevated Command Prompt, then sfc /scannow, then stop the Windows Update service, delete the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder, and restart the service. Reboot and try updates again.

Why this happens

I see 0x8007000d mostly on machines where an update got partially downloaded, then Windows tried to install it anyway. The error message translates to "the data is invalid" — which means the update files are corrupted or incomplete. I had a client last month whose print queue died because his Windows 10 system had been trying to install a security patch for three weeks. This error was the root cause. Also, a failing hard drive or a bad memory stick can cause this, but 9 times out of 10 it's just a botched update cache.

Fix steps

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt — hit the Start button, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose "Run as administrator".
2. Run DISM first — type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and let it run. This fixes the system image. Takes 5-10 minutes.
3. Then run SFC — type sfc /scannow. This scans and replaces corrupted system files. Another 5-10 minutes.
4. Stop the Windows Update service — in the same CMD window, type net stop wuauserv and press Enter.
5. Delete the update cache — type rmdir /s /q C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and press Enter. This wipes out all the corrupted update files.
6. Restart the service — type net start wuauserv.
7. Reboot your machine.
8. Try Windows Update again — go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates.

If that doesn't work

Try these alternates in order:

• Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter — built into Windows 10/11. Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update. It's not a silver bullet, but it clears some stuck flags.
• Reset the Windows Update components manually — there's a script on Microsoft's support site that does this, but I've seen it break more than it fixes. If you're comfortable with the registry, stop the services, rename the Catroot2 folder (same location as SoftwareDistribution), and restart services.
• Check disk for errors — run chkdsk C: /f and reboot. Let it scan the drive. Bad sectors can cause update data to be invalid.
• Download the update manually — if the error is for a specific update like KB5021234, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog, download the .msu file, and install it manually.

Prevention tip

Don't let Windows Update defer updates indefinitely. Set it to download but not install, then install manually once a week. The longer updates pile up, the more likely the cache turns into a corrupted mess. Also, always keep 10GB free on your system drive — Windows Update needs room to unpack files.