Fix Error 800f0830 – 0x20003 On Windows 11

Some users of Windows can't perform a clean install or upgrade to Windows 11; each attempt ends with the Error 800f0830 – 0x20003 (installation failed in Safe_OS phase with an error during INSTALL_UPDATES operation).

If you want to know more about this topic, continue reading our post.

What causes error 800f080 – 0x0003 in Windows?

We have investigated many user reports that they are dealing with this issue and realized that there are several common scenarios that are usually responsible for the appearance of this error:

• Wrong version of WindowsOne of the most common reasons why this error appears is when the user tries to upgrade to Windows 11 from an incompatible version. For example, if you try to upgrade to Windows 11 PRO from a Windows 10 Home version, this error will occur. In this case, try installing a supported version or a clean install instead of upgrading.
• There is not enough free space on the Windows partition: Please note that in case you are trying to upgrade to Windows 11 from an existing version of Windows, you need to make sure that you have at least 36 GB of free space on the Windows partition. If you don’t, expect to see the 800f0830 – 0x20003 error when the installer reaches the part where the downloaded files are installed.
• Windows Update Error 11: It turns out that if the problem only occurs when you try to use the upgrade assistant to complete the upgrade to Windows 11, you may be suffering from the notorious 'Optional Update' error. To avoid this, you'll need to configure the installer to complete the operation without downloading and installing optional updates.
• Security Violation Error: The previous version of Windows 11 build (the issue has since been fixed) has been suffering from a strange issue where this error code was thrown after the Windows 11 installation failed due to an alleged security breach.

The problem has been fixed with newer versions, but if you want to install an older version, you can avoid this problem by temporarily disconnecting your PC from the Internet during installation.

• El Boot insurance is disabled- Secure Boot is one of the most important requirements for Windows 11, but don't expect the Windows 11 installer to tell you that specifically in case the installation fails. If it hasn't already, take a look at your BIOS/UEFI settings and make sure Secure Boot is enabled.
• Third-party antivirus interference: If you're using the Windows 11 Update Assistant utility, you can expect it to conflict with certain third-party antivirus suites. If this is the underlying cause of the error code, you can avoid the conflict altogether by disabling or uninstalling the problematic antivirus suite before starting the upgrade.

How can I fix error 800f080 – 0x20003?

Now that we have gone over all the potential scenarios that could be responsible for causing this problem, let's review each confirmed fix that other affected users have successfully used to work around the bug 800f0830 – 0x20003.

1.- Make sure you update to the correct version of Windows 11 (if you are updating)

If you are just starting to solve this problem, you should start by making sure that the Windows 11 the one you are trying to update is compatible with your current version of Windows.

Please note that you will not be able to upgrade from an incompatible version of Windows. For example, if you currently have Windows 10 Home installed, you will not be able to upgrade to Windows 11 PRO.

Note: This only applies to people trying to upgrade their current version rather than doing a clean install. If you're simply trying to do a clean install, skip this method entirely (and the other three below) and go straight to Method 5.

If you find yourself in this particular scenario, you have two ways forward:

1. Upgrade to a supported version of Windows 11.
2. Perform a clean install of Windows 11 instead of upgrading your current version.

The route you'll want to take really depends on your particular scenario.

If you've already purchased a license key for a version of Windows 11 that isn't compatible (as an upgrade path) with the current version you've installed, it's best to simply clean install the compatible version.

However, if you have not yet purchased a license key, there is no reason to perform a clean install (unless necessary). In this case, you can simply Download and install the supported version of Windows 11 and proceed to use that ISO to complete the update process.

If this method is not applicable to your particular situation, move on to the next solution that we will explain in the following section.

2.- Create at least 36 GB of free space on the operating system partition (if you are upgrading)

If you previously made sure that you are actually trying to upgrade to the correct version of Windows 11 and you are still dealing with the same error 800f0830 - 0 x 20003, the next thing you need to investigate is your free partition space.

When trying to upgrade to Windows 11 (regardless of version), you must have at least 36 GB of free space on the same partition as your current Windows installation.

Note: Although the installer won't tell you this specifically, you can expect the installation to fail if the check performed by the installer reveals that you have less than 36GB available on the operating system partition.

• Open File Explorer and check if your current space on C: drive is less than 36 GB.

• In case you find that you do not have enough space, you should make sure to free up some space before trying the update process again.
• Once you manage to free up enough space, try updating once more and see if the problem is now fixed.

If the same type of problem still occurs or this method is not applicable for you, continue with the next solution.

3.- Update without optional updates (if you are updating)

Depending on when exactly you see the 800f0830 – 0x20003 error, you can tell if the problem is caused by a Windows Update error.

In case the first section of the update installs fine and you only get the error once the Windows Update wizard gets to the part where optional updates are installed, you should be able to avoid the problem entirely by specifically telling the installer to update without installing optional updates.

If this scenario applies, you can usually avoid the 800f0830 – 0x20003 error by mounting a compatible ISO and specifically instructing the installer to install Windows 11 without considering any option updates.

Note: Please note that following this route won't result in any loss of anything. Once the installation is complete, Windows 11 will ask you if you want to install Optional Updates anyway.

Follow the tips below to get step-by-step instructions on how to mount the compatible Windows 11 ISO and configure the installation to upgrade to Windows 11 without installing the optional updates:

• First things first, open File Explorer and mount the compatible Windows 11 ISO by double-clicking the file.

• Once the Windows 11 ISO is mounted, navigate to the recently mounted directory, then double-click setup.exe.
• When you get to the first Windows 11 installation screen, start by clicking Change how the installation downloads updates. 

• Once you're inside Get updates, drivers, and optional features, choose the option Not right now, then click Next and proceeds to install Windows 11 normally.

• Follow the remaining prompts to complete your upgrade to Windows 11 without installing any optional updates.

If the operation still resulted in the same error 800f0830 – 0x20003 even after you have configured the installation to ignore optional updates, continue with the next method below.

4.- Disable third-party antivirus (when updating)

If none of the above methods have proven effective in your case and you are trying to update your current version of Windows Windows 11, the next thing you should investigate is possible third-party security interference.

Please note that if you are trying to use the Windows 11 Upgrade Assistant, the tool is known to conflict with certain antivirus suites: Zone Alarm and the free version of AVG are the most commonly reported conflicting tools.

In most cases, you can disable third-party antivirus by simply right-clicking on the antivirus taskbar icon and disabling real-time antivirus shields.

Important: Please note that this operation will only be effective if you are using an AV suite without a firewall component.

In case you are using a third-party suite that includes a firewall component, follow the instructions below to temporarily uninstall the third-party tool and remove any remnant files before attempting to perform the Windows 11 upgrade once again:

• Press the Windows key + R to open a dialog box Run. Then write 'appwiz.cpl' inside the text box, then press Enter to open the screen Programs and Features.
• Once you are inside the menu Programs and Features, scroll down the list of installed applications and look for the third-party antivirus that you suspect is conflicting with the Windows 11 Update Assistant.
• After locating the correct listing, right-click on it and choose uninstall in the context menu.

• Within the uninstallation screen, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation of the conflicting antivirus suite.
• Once the AV suite is uninstalled, You must make sure that the AV installation did not leave any remnant files.
• Once you have finally made sure that the AV suite is uninstalled and there are no remnant files left, try to perform the update procedure once again and see if the installation completes without the same 0x800f0830-0x20003 error.

If the same type of problem continues to occur, try the following solution that we will describe below.

5.- Install without Internet

If you're getting this error when trying to perform a clean install of Windows 11, you'll also need to troubleshoot a potential 'security breach' flaw that only affects Windows 11 builds.

Microsoft has addressed this issue with the latest Windows 11 Public and Insider builds, but if you insist on installing an older version of Windows 11, the only way to do so without the risk of encountering the 'security breach' issue is to disconnect your PC from the Internet until the installation is complete.

Many Microsoft experts have reported that this solution was successful and we are trying to install a preview build of Windows 11, if you are in the same situation, doing the same might help.

On the other hand, if you experience error 0x800f0830-0x20003 when trying to install the latest version of Windows 11, you can fix it with the next solution that we will give you.

6.- Enable secure boot

In case none of the methods discussed so far have been effective for your case, you will need to make sure that the most important requirement for Windows 11 is enabled: Secure Boot.

Please note that you will get a specific error stating that Secure Boot is disabled in case you perform a clean install. But if you use the upgrade assistant, you will probably not get any indication that this feature is disabled on your PC and is the reason why you are seeing the error. error 800f0830 – 0x20003 when you try to perform a clean install (or upgrade) to Windows 11.

Note: Secure Boot is the new industry standard to ensure that modern PCs only use trusted software from OEMs (original equipment manufacturers).

If you have a fairly new motherboard, there is no doubt that Secure Boot is supported. In most cases, you just need to enable it from your BIOS settings. Follow these simple steps to enable Secure Boot in order to avoid the error 800f0830 – 0x20003:

• Start your PC in a conventional way and start pressing the key Configuration (Home key) immediately after seeing the home screen.

Note: Most motherboards will display the setup key at the bottom of the screen. If you can't see it, press one of the following keys: F1, F2, F4, F8, F12, Esc, or Del.

• Once you're inside the BIOS or UEFI settings, look for an option called Secure Boot and make sure it's enabled. Every BIOS is different depending on its manufacturer, but you can usually find this option somewhere in the BIOS tab. Security.

• When the function is enabled Safe start, continue and save the changes to boot your computer normally.
• Once your PC restarts, try using the Windows 11 Update Assistant once again and see if the problem is now fixed.

I hope this information helps you to put an end to this error. You can share your experience with us in our comments section. We'll see you again in a future post.