Windows Update error 0x8024402C: the update server name cannot be resolved

Error 0x8024402C means Windows Update tried to contact a server by name but could not translate that name into a usable network destination.

Microsoft names the error WU_E_PT_WINHTTP_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED and defines it as:

the proxy server or target server name cannot be resolved. ^{[R1] [R2]}

In plain language, Windows Update does not know how to reach one of the names it has been told to use.

That points first to network name resolution or proxy configuration, not to damaged Windows Update files.

Does this mean my internet connection is down?

Not necessarily.

If websites, email, and other apps also cannot reach the internet, start with the ordinary network connection.

But a browser working successfully does not prove that Windows Update has the same path to the internet.

Windows Update uses Windows HTTP services (WinHTTP) when checking for updates. Microsoft documents that its system-level proxy configuration can differ from the proxy settings used by ordinary user applications. ^[R3]

This means a PC can browse the web normally while Windows Update still fails because it is trying to use a proxy or update-server address that it cannot resolve.

What should I check first?

Start with the least disruptive checks.

1. Confirm that the PC is connected to the expected Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
2. Check whether ordinary websites load.
3. Retry Windows Update once after confirming the connection.
4. Open Settings → Network & internet → Proxy and check whether a proxy is configured.
5. If you use a VPN, consider whether Windows Update started failing only while that VPN was connected.
6. If the PC belongs to an employer, school, or other managed organization, do not remove organization-provided proxy or update settings yourself.

Microsoft recommends verifying local-network connectivity and DNS resolution when troubleshooting this error. ^[R1]

What is DNS?

DNS — the internet's address book — translates names into network addresses.

Windows Update normally connects to services using names rather than fixed numeric addresses.

If DNS cannot resolve the required server name, Windows cannot make the connection and may report 0x8024402C.

A DNS problem can affect the whole PC, one network, or only the particular update server Windows is configured to use.

For that reason, changing unrelated Windows Update components is not a good first response to this code.

Could a proxy cause it?

Yes.

A proxy is an intermediary that sends network requests on behalf of the PC. Organizations often use proxies for filtering, security, or network management.

Microsoft's error definition explicitly says that 0x8024402C can mean either the proxy server name or the target server name could not be resolved. ^{[R1] [R2]}

Windows supports automatically detected proxies, setup scripts, and manually configured proxy servers. ^[R4]

If a proxy address is obsolete, misspelled, unreachable, or only available on another network, Windows Update may fail even though some other applications still work.

Do not remove a proxy merely because one is present. On a managed PC it may be required for network access.

What if this is a work or school PC?

The PC may receive updates from an internal Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server instead of Microsoft's public Windows Update service.

Microsoft states that when 0x8024402C occurs on a computer configured to use WSUS, the computer may be unable to connect to that WSUS server. ^[R1]

That can happen if, for example:

• the PC is away from the organization's network;
• a required VPN is disconnected;
• the WSUS hostname cannot be resolved;
• the configured proxy cannot reach the WSUS server; or
• the organization's update-server configuration is no longer valid.

In this situation, the safest next step is usually to reconnect to the required company network or VPN and retry. If the error remains, contact the organization responsible for the PC rather than replacing its update settings.

Should I reset Windows Update?

Not as the first step.

0x8024402C identifies a name-resolution/network path problem. Resetting the Windows Update cache does not correct an invalid DNS answer, an unreachable proxy name, or an inaccessible WSUS server.

Likewise, reinstalling drivers, running DISM, or deleting Windows Update files does not directly address what this error reports.

A broader network reset is also more disruptive and should not be the first response. Microsoft recommends network reset only after less disruptive network troubleshooting has failed, because it removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets their settings. ^[R5]

What should I do now?

1. Confirm that the PC is connected to the expected network.
2. Check whether ordinary internet access works.
3. Review Settings → Network & internet → Proxy for an unexpected or obsolete proxy configuration.
4. If you intentionally use a VPN or organizational proxy, make sure the required connection is active.
5. Retry Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
6. On a managed PC, contact the administrator if the configured WSUS or proxy server remains unreachable.
7. Confirm that Windows Update can search for or download updates without returning 0x8024402C.

See also: no-internet-on-this-pc-only

A successful repair means Windows Update can reach its configured update service again. A browser opening successfully is useful evidence, but by itself it does not prove that this incident is resolved.