Installation Errors in Windows Recovery Environment Updates
Microsoft has acknowledged that some users may encounter installation failures, specifically the error code 0x80070643, while attempting to deploy the April 2025 Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) updates. This issue affects the KB5057589 update for Windows 10, versions 22H2 and 21H2, as well as the KB5057588 update for Windows Server 2022 systems.
In a recent communication, the tech giant reassured those impacted that these installation errors can be disregarded, as they are misleading and do not compromise the functionality of the Windows device. Microsoft clarified, “After installing the April 2025 Windows Recovery Environment update [KB5057588], you might see the following error message in the Windows Update settings page: 0x80070643 – ERRORINSTALLFAILURE. This error message is not accurate and does not impact the update or device functionality.”
The company explained that this error typically arises when the device attempts to install the WinRE update while another update is pending a reboot. Despite the error message suggesting an incomplete update, the WinRE update is generally applied successfully once the device restarts.
Users may notice that Windows Update continues to indicate a failure in installation; however, this status will be rectified following the next daily scan and device restart. At that point, the failure message will be automatically cleared, and the updates will no longer be presented as pending.
In response to this known issue, Microsoft is actively working on a resolution, which is expected to be delivered in a future update. This proactive approach follows a similar situation in August 2024, when the company retired Windows security updates from January 2024 Patch Tuesday that also triggered 0x80070643 errors during the installation of WinRE updates across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server devices.
Notably, this announcement came two months after Microsoft had initially informed users that a fix would not be forthcoming, instead recommending manual resizing of the WinRE partitions to address the problem. During this interim period, eSentire’s Threat Response Unit identified fraudulent IT support websites promoting malicious PowerShell “fixes” for the 0x80070643 errors, which were designed to infect unsuspecting Windows users with information-stealing malware.
