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0x8024001D

Microsoft Windows Update 0x8024001D: invalid update metadata

Verified with sources1 sourceReviewed Oct 19, 2026
Technician coming? See the 2 steps they must show you

Risk level

Medium

Proceed carefully and stop if the check is unclear.

Urgency

Medium

Quick answer

Error 0x8024001D (WU_E_INVALID_UPDATE) means an update contains invalid metadata. Check Update history to note whether one KB or every scan fails, inspect PARSER, EEHandler, and {GUID}.revision in WindowsUpdate.log, and check with IT if your PC scans a WSUS server.

Safety first

Stop and check this first

  • Back up your personal files before stopping update services, renaming C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, or running DISM repairs, and never edit Windows Update registry keys or download third-party update packs to bypass 0x8024001D.

Safe checks you can perform

  • Check Windows Update history to see if 0x8024001D affects one KB or every scan
  • Inspect PARSER, EEHandler, PT, and {GUID}.revision in static WindowsUpdate.log
  • Try installing the standalone KB package from the Microsoft Update Catalog to isolate 0x8024001D

Leave these tasks to a qualified professional

  • Do not attempt this professional task: Run DISM /RestoreHealth and sfc /scannow if manual package installation also fails
  • Do not attempt this professional task: Audit WSUS client policy with GPRESULT /V and rebuild the Automatic Update Agent Store

What a technician must be able to justify

Technician visit

These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.

These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.

  1. Run DISM /RestoreHealth and sfc /scannow if manual package installation also fails

    What they doIf a standalone update package fails even when installed manually outside the scan channel, have the administrator back up personal files, open an elevated Command Prompt, run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth followed by sfc /scannow, and inspect %SYSTEMROOT%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

    They must show youthe DISM completion message and the Summary block in %SYSTEMROOT%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.

    In writingthe commands run, the detected and repaired corruption counts in CBS.log, and the Microsoft Support case number if escalated with TSS logs.

  2. Audit WSUS client policy with GPRESULT /V and rebuild the Automatic Update Agent Store

    What they doOn managed PCs, have the IT administrator check active update services with $MUSM.Services, run GPRESULT /V > GPRESULT.TXT to verify the applied WSUS Group Policy, and if the local datastore is corrupted, run sc stop wuauserv, rename C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, run sc start wuauserv, and execute wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow.

    They must show youthe Applied Group Policy Objects section in GPRESULT.TXT, the $MUSM.Services output, and a clean scan in WindowsUpdate.log after rebuilding SoftwareDistribution.

    In writingthe WSUS server URL, the offending {GUID}.revision declined or republished on WSUS, and the client store rebuild timestamp.

Before accepting a part or repair

Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.

Follow these steps

Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.

  1. Check Windows Update history to see if 0x8024001D affects one KB or every scan

    No special tools

    Who:
    You in Windows Settings on the affected computer.
    How:
    Open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Update history, locate every entry showing 0x8024001D, and note the KB number, update title, and date; then run the Windows Update troubleshooter under Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
    Result that matters:
    You determine whether the invalid metadata belongs to one specific update package or blocks the entire update scan.
    If 0x8024001D appears repeatedly on the same KB number while other updates install, that isolates the fault to that update's metadata or its publishing source.
    If every scan fails with 0x8024001D before listing individual KBs, that points to the local SoftwareDistribution datastore or the configured WSUS server catalog.
    Evidence to keep:
    Save a screenshot of Update history showing the 0x8024001D entries and the troubleshooter summary.

    Evidence: Windows Update error reference · Microsoft Windows Update troubleshooting

  2. Inspect PARSER, EEHandler, PT, and {GUID}.revision in static WindowsUpdate.log

    Tools required

    Who:
    Your IT administrator, support technician, or an advanced user in Windows PowerShell.
    How:
    Run Get-WindowsUpdateLog in PowerShell to convert the ETW traces in C:\Windows\Logs\WindowsUpdate into a static WindowsUpdate.log file, then locate 0x8024001D and inspect the component column (PARSER, EEHandler, PT, or DataStore) and the {GUID}.revision identifier.
    Result that matters:
    In WindowsUpdate.log, PARSER parses expression information, EEHandler evaluates applicability rules, PT synchronizes update information to the local datastore, and updates are identified as {GUID}.revision.
    If PARSER or EEHandler logs 0x8024001D on a specific update revision, that confirms which exact update revision carries the rejected metadata.
    If DataStore or DTASTOR logs errors reading local IDs from the datastore file, that indicates corruption in the local update cache.
    Evidence to keep:
    Keep the exact WindowsUpdate.log lines containing the timestamp, component name, {GUID}.revision, and 0x8024001D.

    Do not delete %WINDIR%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\Datastore.edb before extracting the failing {GUID}.revision from WindowsUpdate.log.

    Evidence: Windows Update error reference · Windows Update log files

  3. Try installing the standalone KB package from the Microsoft Update Catalog to isolate 0x8024001D

    Tools required

    Who:
    An advanced user or IT administrator when 0x8024001D names a specific KB.
    How:
    Open the Microsoft Update Catalog, type the KB number in the search box, download the package that matches your Windows version and architecture, and double-click the downloaded package to test manual installation.
    Result that matters:
    Microsoft states that testing manual installation quickly distinguishes a WSUS metadata or communication problem from a local Windows servicing issue.
    If the standalone package from the Microsoft Update Catalog installs cleanly, that confirms the invalid metadata came from the automated scan channel or WSUS server rather than the update payload.
    If the standalone package also fails to install, that rules out WSUS scan metadata and points to local servicing repair with DISM.
    Evidence to keep:
    Record the downloaded package filename, the target OS architecture, and the installer result.

    Only advanced users and administrators should download packages from the Microsoft Update Catalog; never install update files from unofficial sources.

    Evidence: Guidance for troubleshooting Windows Update issues · Determine whether WSUS configuration causes WU installation failures · How to download updates that include drivers and hotfixes from the Microsoft Update Catalog

Still not solved

If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.

Where this code applies

A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.

Primary scope

System
Software and digital services
Brand
Microsoft Windows
Product type
Operating system

Known code variants

  • 0x8024001D
  • Windows Update 0x8024001D
  • WU_E_INVALID_UPDATE

What it means

In Microsoft's Windows Update error reference and Wuerror.h, 0x8024001D is WU_E_INVALID_UPDATE: an update contains invalid metadata. During scanning and installation, the Windows Update client downloads update metadata from Microsoft Update or a WSUS server, PARSER and EEHandler evaluate expression and applicability rules, and the Arbiter compares device details with downloaded metadata to create an action list for CBS or Setup. Unlike 0x8024000D or 0x8024000E (which report XML parser failures), 0x8024001D flags invalid update metadata and never proves physical disk damage.

Warnings and stop conditions

  • Mediumsource verified

    Back up your personal files before stopping update services, renaming C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution, or running DISM repairs, and never edit Windows Update registry keys or download third-party update packs to bypass 0x8024001D.

    Evidence: Microsoft Windows Update troubleshooting · How Windows Update works · How to download updates that include drivers and hotfixes from the Microsoft Update Catalog

Symptoms and causes

Probable causes · in order

  • Update package or revision contains invalid metadata (WU_E_INVALID_UPDATE)Confirmed

    Microsoft's Windows Update error reference and Wuerror.h define 0x8024001D as WU_E_INVALID_UPDATE: an update contains invalid metadata.

    Evidence: Windows Update error reference · WUA Success and Error Codes (Wuerror.h)

  • Damaged or out-of-sync update metadata served by an intranet WSUS serverPossible

    When a device scans a WSUS server (ServiceId 3DA21691-E39D-4da6-8A4B-B43877BCB1B7), it receives the update revisions published on that server; Microsoft notes that WSUS configuration or client sync issues can cause update delivery and installation failures.

    Evidence: How Windows Update works · Determine whether WSUS configuration causes WU installation failures · Windows Update issues troubleshooting

  • Corrupted local update datastore or cached manifest files in SoftwareDistributionPossible

    The Windows Update client caches update metadata locally in %WINDIR%\SoftwareDistribution\Datastore\Datastore.edb via the DataStore and PT components, and Microsoft Support notes that corrupt cached update files cause errors.

    Evidence: Microsoft Windows Update troubleshooting · Windows Update log files · Troubleshoot issues with WSUS client agents

Virtual technician

Does 0x8024001D still appear after these checks?

Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.

Start diagnosis

Sources and technical references

  1. 1

    Windows Update error reference

    Microsoft · 2026 · official_doc

Sources: Windows Update error referencereviewed 2026-10-19 · verified

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