Reset Windows Update Components: Open Command Prompt as Administrator
👇 See all 3 solutions belowWhat is Error 1654?
Windows System Error Code 1654, known as ERROR_INSTALL_REJECTED, is a Security & Privileges error that occurs during security, authentication, and user privileges. The error indicates that: The app that you are trying to run is not supported on this version of Windows. When this error is encountered, the Windows operating system was unable to complete the requested operation within the security services subsystem. The error code 1654 is returned by the GetLastError() function and provides developers with a specific identifier to diagnose the root cause of the failure. The symbolic name ERROR_INSTALL_REJECTED maps directly to this numeric code and is commonly referenced in Microsoft documentation, developer forums, and system logs. Understanding this error and its context within security, authentication, and user privileges is essential for effective troubleshooting.
Common Causes
- Windows Update cache is corrupted (SoftwareDistribution folder)
- Required update services (BITS, Cryptographic) are stopped
- Insufficient disk space for the update to install
- Third-party antivirus is interfering with the update process
Fixing Permission Denied (0x80070005) and Access Violation Errors
An encyclopedia on Windows NT File System (NTFS) permissions, taking ownership via command line, and surviving 0x80070005 Access Denied errors.
Read the full guide →Step-by-Step Solutions
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Run these commands in order:
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop cryptSvc
- net stop bits
- ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
- ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
- net start wuauserv
- net start cryptSvc
- net start bits
- Retry Windows Update
Video Tutorials
Diagnostic Command
Run this PowerShell command to find related events in your system log:
Get-EventLog -LogName System -Newest 20 | Where-Object {$_.Message -like "*1654*" -or $_.Message -like "*ERROR_INSTALL_REJECTED*"} | Format-List💡 Open PowerShell as Administrator, paste the command above, and press Enter.
Prevention Tips
- Keep at least 20GB free on your system drive for Windows Updates
- Install updates promptly — don't let them accumulate for months
- If updates consistently fail, consider a Windows in-place repair upgrade