Windows Upgrade Error 0xc1900208 [Easy Guide]

Tested solutions for Windows 10 & Windows 11 devices

Windows 10 » Update & Security

3 min. read

Updated on October 4, 2023

by Madalina Dinita

updated on October 4, 2023

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Key notes

Windows Update is an essential component of your OS designed to facilitate the integration of security patches and allow you to enjoy newly released features.
However, the process is not always smooth - here are some easy methods to fix related error 0xc1900208.
Follow the instructions below to remove errors and successfully upgrade your OS.

The error 0xc1900208 can appear while you’re trying to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10. This happens when there is software on the computer that is incompatible with the latest Windows 10 build.

As a result, you won’t be able to upgrade at all. In today’s article, we’re going to show you how to fix error 0xc1900208 once and for all.

1. Reset the Windows Update components

The first way to fix error 0xc1900208 is to reset Windows Update components. This is quite simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
When the Command Prompt opens, run the following commands:
- net stop bits
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop appidsvc
- net stop cryptsvc
Enter the commands below to create the backup of SoftwareDistribution directory:
- ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
- ren %systemroot%system32catroot2 catroot2.bak
Use these commands:
- net start bits
- net start wuauserv
- net start appidsvc
- net start cryptsvc
Restart your computer and try to update.

2. Uninstall the incompatible apps

Some antivirus applications are known to cause error 0xc1900208. However, you can fix this problem simply by finding and removing problematic applications.

Open the File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E and paste this C: WindowsPanther in the bar and press Enter.
Right in the folder, search for the Compat*.xml file and open it.
You will find the name of the app that is incompatible with your system.
Uninstall that application from your PC and try to upgrade again.

Bear in mind that some applications might leave leftover files that can cause future issues, therefore it’s important to remove those files as well.

3. Run a third-party solution

If you’re going for third-party software, you might as well go for the best in the niche.

Firstly, using an uninstaller tool might be extremely beneficial to remove stubborn apps from your system. You can, of course, perform this task just using Control Panel to uninstall unwanted programs.

Yet that can leave temporary files and broken registry files behind that might cause errors. That’s why uninstaller software plays an essential role here, detecting the installed programs and permanently removing them from your computer.

Our top recommendation in this regard is CCleaner. It scans your PC for junk files and removes them in just a few clicks and it also integrates its own uninstaller.

Just locate your app in the list, select it and click the uninstall button. CCleaner will uninstall the app and completely remove any files related to it.

We hope these solutions were able to help you fix the error 0xc1900208 on your PC.

Let us know how it went for you and feel free to share any other possible solutions via the comments section below.

If you are interested in reading more about the topic, check out more handy solutions in our Windows Update Hub.

Also, for those of you that are interested in getting the best out of your operating system, don’t be shy to explore our Windows 10 Guides for more in-depth information.