How to Fix Windows Update Error Code 9c48?

Several Windows users have been reaching us with questions after getting the Error Code 9c48 whenever they try to install a particular update. Most affected users are reporting that the issue only occurs with a particular Internet Explorer 11 or Edge update that defuses to be installed. The issue is not specific to a certain Windows version since it’s encountered on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

What’s causing the Windows Update  Error Code 9c48?

We investigated this particular issue by looking at various user reports and by trying out the different fixes that are currently recommended by other users that managed to fix this problem. As it turns out, several different scenarios will produce this scenario. Here’s a shortlist of culprits that are known to cause this issue:

• Generic WU glitch – A machine interruption during the update can produce what is commonly referred to as a generic Windows update glitch that might end up affecting future updates. If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to resolve the issue by running the Windows Update troubleshooter and applying the applicable repair strategy.
• Overprotective 3rd party AV suite – As it turns out, there are several different AV suites that are known to interfere between the connection of WU and the official Microsoft server (this ends up producing various error codes, including this one. In this case, the only fixes around the issue are to disable the real-time protection while the update is installed or to uninstall the 3rd party suite from the machine.
• Windows Module Installer is disabled – As reported by various users, this error code can also occur in instances where a critical process (Windows Module Installer) is disabled (either by manual user intervention or by a resource manager software). In this case, you can resolve the issue by accessing the Services screen and re-enabling the Windows Module Installer service.
• Incompatible Internet Explorer installation – A lot of users have started encountering this problem after installing IE11 on a Windows 7 computer using an executable (manual installation). As it turns out, the installation will succeed even if the IE version is not fully compatible. In this case, you can resolve the issue by rolling back to Internet Explorer 10 using an elevated Command Prompt.
• System file corruption – Corruption inside the system files can also be responsible for this error message. Several users that were also encountering this issue have managed to get the issue resolved by using a previously stored snapshot to return the machine to a healthy state or by performing a repair install or a clean install to refresh every Windows component.

Method 1: Running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

There are several different common reasons why this particular error will appear. But instead of trying out each fix, you can save a lot of time by using Windows Update Troubleshooter – a built-in Microsoft utility that contains fixes for the majority of common issues that are known to produce error codes during the installation of a Windows Update.

Several affected user has reported that they managed to resolve the issue indefinitely simply by running this utility. After identifying the problem, the Windows Update Troubleshooter recommended a viable repair strategy that was automatically applied and ended up fixing the problem.

Here’s a quick guide on running the Windows Update troubleshooter:

1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R. Next, type “ms-settings:troubleshoot” and press the Enter key to open up the Troubleshooting tab of the Settings app.
2. Once you manage to get inside the Troubleshooting tab, move over to the right-hand section of the screen and locate the Get up and running section. When you see it, click on Windows Update, then click on Run the troubleshooter from the newly appeared extended menu.
3. The utility will start and although it might look like it freezes, do not close the window until the initial scan is complete. This part of the analysis will determine if any of the repair strategies included with the utility is applicable to your current situation.
4. If a suitable fix is identified, you will see a window in which you can click on Apply this fix, to apply the applicable repair strategy. In some cases, you might also need to follow some manual instructions to apply the repair strategy.
5. Once the recommended repair strategy is applied, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved at the next startup.

If you’re still seeing the Error Code 9c48 when you try to install a particular Windows update, move down to the next method below.

Method 2: Disabling Real-time protection or Uninstalling 3rd party antivirus

Another culprit that is known to interfere with the installation of certain Windows updates is an overprotective AV suite. As it turns out, there are several security scanners (with real-time protections) will stop the connection between WU and the external server that is used to download the update files. Sophos, McAfee, AVAST, and Comodo are all reported to cause this problem.

If you’re currently using a 3rd party suite (even if it’s not included in the list above) it may be responsible for the apparition of the Error Code 9c48 when you’re trying to install a particular update.

To verify if this claim is true, you should disable the real-time protection and see if the update installs successfully while the 3rd party security suite is disabled. If the installation completes without issue while your 3rd party antivirus is disabled, it’s clear that it was previously interfering with the WU (Windows Update) component.

But keep in mind that the process of disabling the real-time protection will be different depending on the 3rd party suite that you’re using. However, you can typically do it by using the tray bar icon.

After you disable the real-time protection, try to install the update again and see if the process is successful without the apparition of the Error Code 9c48.

If the installation is successful, you might want to ensure that the 3rd party AV suite isn’t interfering with other updates of your Windows components – The most efficient way of doing this is to replace the current security solution with a different 3rd party program or to migrate to the built-in solution (Windows Defender).

If you are prepared to go this route, follow this article (here) to uninstall your current 3rd party suite and ensure that you’re not leaving behind any leftover files.

If you’ve installed your antivirus and you’re still encountering the issue or this scenario didn’t apply to you, move down to the next method below.

Method 3: Enabling the Windows Module Installer service

As it turns out, the Error Code 9c48 can also occur due to a critical Windows update services that were disabled by manual user intervention or by a 3rd party optimization program that disabled the service to free up system resources.

Several users that were also encountering this problem have reported that once they re-enabled this service (by setting the Startup Type to Automatic) and restarting the computer the Error Code 9c48 stopped occurring during the installation of Windows updates.

Here’s a quick guide on enabling the Windows Module Installer service:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, inside the text box, type “services.msc” and press Enter to open up the Services screen.
2. Once you manage to get inside the Services screen, move over to the right-hand section and scroll down through the list of installed services until you locate the Windows Module Installer service.
3. When you identify the service, right-click on it and choose Properties from the newly appeared context menu.
4. Inside the Properties screen of these services, select the General tab and change the Startup Type to Automatic.
5. Click Apply to save the changes, then attempt to re-install the Windows update that was previously failing with the Error Code 9c48.

If the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next method below.

Method 4: Rolling back to Internet Explorer 10 (Windows 7 Only)

Several users that were also struggling to resolve the Error Code 9c48 have finally managed to fix the issue indefinitely by rolling back to IE10 (Internet Explorer 10). As it turns out, this has served as an effective fix for a lot of users that we’re encountering the issue on Windows 7, after previously installing the latest IE version manually.

Here’s a quick guide on rolling back to IE10 manually from an elevated Command Prompt:

1. Make sure that any instance of Internet Explorer is completely closed.
2. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Inside the text box, type “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open up an Elevated Command Prompt. Once you see the UAC (User Account Control), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.
3. Inside the elevated Command Prompt, type/paste the following command and press Enter  to run it:

   FORFILES /P %WINDIR%\servicing\Packages /M Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-*10.*.mum /c "cmd /c echo Uninstalling package @fname && start /w pkgmgr /up:@fname /norestart"

4. Don’t be alarmed if you get Operation failed errors. It’s normal to see them since you will not have permissions to edit all items.
5. Once the operation is complete, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved at the next startup sequence.

Method 5: Doing a System Restore

If none of the potential fixes above have helped you in resolving the Error Code 9c48, chances are you’re dealing with some time of system file corruption that is interfering with the installation of some pending Windows Updates.

In situations like this, one damage-limiting fix is to use the System Restore. This built-in utility is capable of dealing with serious issues of this kind by restoring the entire Windows installation to a healthy state in which the circumstances that are currently causing the issue didn’t exist.

But in order for this method to work, it needs to have previously created snapshot that it can use to restore your operating system to a previous point in time where the problem wasn’t occurring. Fortunately, unless you modified the default behavior, Windows is configured by default to constantly save Snapshots (after every installed update).

However, going this route and using a system restore snapshot means that any system changes (including app installation, changed user settings and anything else) will be reverted. If you are prepared to accept this risk, here are step by step instructions with the process of performing a System Restore from a previously created snapshot:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Inside the text box, type “rstrui” and press Enter to open up the System Restore menu.
2. Once you’re inside the System Restore window, click Next to advance to the next screen.
3. Once you manage to get to the next screen, start by checking the box associated with Show more restore points. Next, look at the dates carefully and select a system restore point that is dated before the apparition of the Error Code 9c48. After you manage to select the correct snapshot, click on Next to advance to the next menu.
4. Now that everything is ready to go, click on the Finish button to initiate the process. After several seconds, your machine will restart and during the next startup sequence, the old machine state will be mounted.
5. After the boot sequence is complete, repeat the action that was previously causing the Error Code 9c48 and see if the issue is now resolved.

If the same error code is still occurring when you try to install a particular WIndows update, move down to the next method below.

Method 6: Performing a repair install

If none of the methods above have allowed you to resolve the issue, chances are you’re dealing with a more severe system file corruption issue that cannot be resolved conventionally. In this case, the only viable fix that will resolve this issue in the vast majority of cases is to reset every Windows component that might end up causing the Error Code 9c48.

There are two different methods that will allow you to do this: the radical solution (a clean install) or the damage-limiting solution (a repair install).

A clean install is very efficient, but the major downside is that it will also remove any personal data including documents, media, games and any other application.

If you want the less-destructive approach of resetting every Windows components, go for a repair install (in place install). On top of allowing you to keep your personal data, you will also be allowed to keep some user preferences.