Windows Update Error x Returns in : Microsoft’s Ongoing WinRE Woes

The Longstanding Battle With Windows Recovery Updates

More than a year after the initial reports, Microsoft still hasn’t managed to fully resolve one of the most persistent issues plaguing Windows 10: the dreaded 0x80070643 error during WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) updates. Despite various patches and attempts at fixes, the problem has resurfaced with the recent KB5057589 update released on April 8, 2025.

For Windows 10 users, this recurring issue has become a frustrating experience — and now it’s back, again causing headaches for those simply trying to stay up-to-date. Microsoft has quietly acknowledged the situation in a newly updated support document, admitting that users may once again see the error, but also suggesting it’s not worth worrying about.

This leaves users in a strange position: facing update errors that aren’t technically errors, with no real fix in sight — and a tech giant that’s essentially saying, “Just ignore it.”

A Closer Look at the Return of Error 0x80070643

Microsoft released a WinRE security update (KB5057589) on April 8, 2025, meant to patch vulnerabilities in Windows 10.
Following its rollout, many users began experiencing update installation failures showing the 0x80070643 error code.
This is not a new occurrence. The same issue was reported as far back as January 2024 during a similar WinRE update.
Originally, Microsoft attributed the issue to insufficient Recovery partition space. However, users with ample storage also faced the error.
Microsoft was initially slow to respond and previously indicated they couldn’t determine a solution.
Over time, users either gave up attempting the update or opted for clean installations to bypass the issue entirely.
With KB5057589, users again report the same error during or after installation, even when updates seem to apply correctly.
Microsoft has acknowledged the error in a support document, stating that it often appears erroneously, even when updates are successful.
Specifically, Microsoft notes the error appears when there is another pending reboot update on the system.
Despite the appearance of “ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE,” the update typically applies without issue.
Microsoft advises users to ignore the error and wait for the system to re-scan updates, which should resolve the display issue automatically.
The 0x80070643 message may persist temporarily until the next update cycle or system reboot clears it.
Microsoft says it is actively working on a long-term fix but offers no specific timeline or guarantee of resolution.

What Undercode Say:

Microsoft’s ongoing struggle with WinRE update errors paints a larger picture of the complexities buried deep within the Windows Update system. The 0x80070643 error — while now classified as largely cosmetic — exposes the vulnerability and lack of robustness in how updates are verified and delivered, especially for legacy systems like Windows 10.

From a technical standpoint, the recurrence of this bug isn’t just a minor inconvenience. It signals persistent problems in how update logic interacts with system states like pending reboots or overlapping patch installations. It’s especially concerning that users with no apparent storage issues or configuration conflicts are also hit — eliminating the one factor Microsoft initially blamed.

Worse yet is the messaging. For over 15 months, Microsoft has struggled to deliver a coherent plan. The fallback now is to tell users to ignore the error entirely. This might seem like a practical approach for an error that doesn’t impact functionality, but from a trust and reliability perspective, it doesn’t sit well. How many users will feel confident in a system that flashes failure messages with the expectation they’ll just move on?

More troubling is that updates like KB5057589 are automatically pushed, and users can’t opt out. This creates a paradox — mandatory updates combined with errors users can’t resolve and are advised not to worry about. It undermines the purpose of clear and secure patching, which should give users peace of mind, not ambiguity.

Let’s not forget that WinRE is tied to recovery functions. While this update issue may not hinder normal operations, problems in the recovery environment could have serious consequences if users ever need to reset or repair their systems. If even the recovery layer of Windows becomes unstable or error-prone, the OS loses one of its essential fail-safes.

Microsoft’s efforts to patch the problem have resulted in a game of update whack-a-mole, with each fix seemingly spawning a new error variant. What’s missing is transparency and accountability — a roadmap showing what’s broken, what’s fixed, and what’s coming next.

With Windows 10 nearing its end of mainstream support, this lingering issue may signal a shifting focus toward newer platforms. But millions still rely on Windows 10 daily, and for them, stability and clarity are not optional.

This episode should push Microsoft to re-evaluate how update failures are communicated and resolved. Users deserve more than just a message telling them to look the other way. At the very least, errors should mean something — or nothing at all — but not both.

Fact Checker Results:

Microsoft confirmed error 0x80070643 appears post-update but does not affect update success.
The bug stems from conflict with pending reboot updates and is largely harmless.
No user-side fix is available; Microsoft is investigating a future resolution.