Yes, a proxy or VPN can sometimes cause Windows Update error 0x80244018. This error usually appears when Windows cannot properly connect to Microsoft’s update servers.
Some common reasons include:
Proxy settings are incorrect or unavailable.
A VPN blocks or redirects Windows Update traffic.
Network filtering prevents Windows from reaching Microsoft servers.
Security software connected to the VPN or proxy interferes with updates.
The connection becomes unstable during the update process.
Temporarily disconnect your VPN and try Windows Update again. If the update works, the VPN may be causing the connection problem.
Go to:
Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy
Turn off any manually configured proxy and try checking for updates again.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
netsh winhttp reset proxy
ipconfig /flushdns
Restart your PC and check Windows Update again.
Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Find Windows Update and Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). Make sure they are running. Restart them if necessary.
A VPN or proxy is not always the cause of error 0x80244018, but it can interfere with the connection between Windows and Microsoft Update servers. Disconnecting the VPN, disabling the proxy, and resetting network settings are simple steps to identify and fix the problem.
If the error continues after disabling your VPN or proxy, the issue may be related to Windows Update services, network configuration, or corrupted update components.