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Error 0x80070422 usually means a required Windows service—most often Windows Update—is disabled or stopped. Re-enable the service, restart Windows, and try the Defender or Windows Update action again. If that does not work, use Microsoft’s Windows Security and Windows Update troubleshooters, then check for third-party antivirus software that may have disabled Defender.
What error 0x80070422 means in Windows Defender
Microsoft identifies 0x80070422 as the condition in which the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. Microsoft Learn labels the underlying condition ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED: the Windows Update service has stopped working or is not running. Although people often notice the code in Windows Security while downloading Microsoft Defender security-intelligence updates, the code describes a service state rather than a virus diagnosis.
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The same number can appear in more than one Windows component. Windows Update, Microsoft Defender update delivery, Windows Firewall, the Microsoft Store, or another service that uses the same service infrastructure can produce a similar message in a different context. Therefore, note exactly where the code appears before changing settings:
- Windows Update: the update page refuses to check for or install updates.
- Windows Security or Defender: security-intelligence updates fail, or protection status cannot refresh.
- Firewall or another app: a related service may be disabled even though Windows Update itself is configured correctly.
Re-enabling Windows Update is the least invasive first step because it is Microsoft’s documented procedure for this error. Do not begin by deleting system folders or changing a large group of services at random.
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Before changing anything: identify the scope
Check whether Windows Update is the failing action
Open Settings and select Windows Update. If the page shows the same code, the Windows Update service is the primary suspect. If Windows Update works but only Defender security-intelligence updates fail, continue with the service check anyway and then investigate Windows Security and third-party antivirus software.
Record your Windows version
Press Win + R, type winver, and press Enter. The cited Microsoft guidance applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11, but their support status is different. Microsoft ended free Windows 10 software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes on October 14, 2025. A Windows 10 computer that cannot receive current security updates may need a supported upgrade decision rather than repeated attempts to repair an individual update.
Fix 1: enable and start the Windows Update service
This procedure changes one service and is reversible. You need an account with administrator rights to change its startup configuration.
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Enter
services.mscand press Enter. The Services console opens. - Scroll to Windows Update. Double-click it, or right-click it and choose Properties.
- In Startup type, choose Automatic.
- Check Service status. If it says Stopped, click Start.
- Click Apply, then OK.
- Restart the computer.
- After Windows restarts, return to Settings > Windows Update and select the option to check for updates. If the original message came from Windows Security, retry the Defender update or protection action that produced it.
If the service starts and the update succeeds, no further repair is required. Leave the startup type at Automatic so Windows can deliver future operating-system and security-intelligence updates.
If Start is unavailable or the setting immediately reverts
A disabled control, an access-denied message, or a startup type that reverts after you click Apply indicates a deeper configuration or policy problem. Do not repeatedly force the setting or disable unrelated services. Continue with the Microsoft troubleshooters below. If you cannot change the service at all, qualified Windows technical support is the safest escalation.
Fix 2: run the Windows Security troubleshooter
Use this step when Windows Security still reports a protection problem after Windows Update is running, or when the code appears during a Defender action rather than on the Windows Update page.
- Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
- Open the area that reports the problem and choose the available Windows Security troubleshooter option. The exact wording can vary by Windows release.
- Allow the troubleshooter to inspect the system and apply its recommended repairs.
- Restart Windows if it requests a restart, then retry the Defender action.
Microsoft says this troubleshooter checks and can enable several security-related features, including User Account Control (UAC), Data Execution Prevention (DEP), Windows Firewall, and antivirus-protection status and updates. It is intended to correct configuration issues without requiring you to edit each security setting manually.
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Microsoft warns that a non-Microsoft antivirus product can interfere with upgrades and, when it integrates with the Windows Security Center API, can disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus. This can leave Windows Security showing a Defender update or protection error even though the underlying cause is another security product’s configuration.
- Open Settings > Apps (or Apps & features on some Windows 10 builds) and review the installed security software.
- If a third-party antivirus is installed, read that vendor’s documented process for temporarily disabling it or removing it. Do not delete its folders manually.
- After following the vendor’s process, restart Windows.
- Check Windows Update and retry the Defender action.
- If the third-party product is required for your organization, contact its administrator or support team before removing it.
Do not run multiple real-time antivirus products at once unless their vendors explicitly support that arrangement. A third-party product may intentionally take over protection status reporting; in that case, the expected result is for that product to provide updates while Defender remains in its reduced or disabled state.
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Fix 4: use the Windows Update troubleshooter
If Windows Update is set to Automatic and starts normally but 0x80070422 continues, run Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooter. It is designed for update detection, download, and installation problems that remain after basic service checks.
- Open Settings.
- Open the system’s Troubleshoot section and choose the list of available troubleshooters. On Windows 11 this is under System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters; Windows 10 places troubleshooters under its Update & Security > Troubleshoot area.
- Run the Windows Update troubleshooter and accept a repair only after reviewing what it reports.
- Restart the computer when prompted.
- Check for updates again, then retry the Defender update if that was the original failure.
The troubleshooter may report that no change was necessary. That result does not prove the service is healthy; it means the automated checks did not apply a repair. Continue to the component-reset step if the service is running and the error persists.
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Microsoft documents a Windows Update component-reset path for cases where the service is enabled but update operations still fail. A component reset is more invasive than changing a startup type because it rebuilds parts of the update cache and registration state.
- Back up important files and close applications before starting.
- Follow Microsoft’s current Windows Update component-reset procedure for your Windows edition. Use the commands and sequence Microsoft publishes for that edition rather than copying a reset script from an unknown website.
- Allow each command or step to finish; interrupting the sequence can leave update services in a partially changed state.
- Restart Windows after the reset completes.
- Run Windows Update again and then retry the Defender update or action.
If you are not comfortable using an administrator command prompt or the documented reset sequence reports permission errors, stop rather than improvising. A technician can verify service permissions, policy settings, and update components without risking an incomplete reset.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common causes and what each symptom suggests
| Symptom | Likely condition | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Update immediately shows 0x80070422 | Windows Update is disabled or stopped | Set Windows Update to Automatic, start it, restart Windows, and retry |
| Windows Update works, but Defender security-intelligence update fails | Windows Security configuration or another antivirus product may be involved | Run the Windows Security troubleshooter and check third-party antivirus software |
| The service starts but stops again | Policy, permissions, damaged update components, or another dependency may be interfering | Run the Windows Update troubleshooter; use the documented component reset or seek support |
| Windows Firewall or another app shows the same code | A different service is disabled; the code is not limited to Defender | Identify the named feature and use its Microsoft troubleshooting path rather than changing Windows Update blindly |
| Startup type cannot be changed | Permissions or organizational policy may be restricting service configuration | Contact an administrator or qualified Windows technician |
Windows 10 versus Windows 11 considerations
The service and troubleshooter procedures apply to both Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the Settings labels differ slightly. Windows 11 generally places troubleshooters under System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters; Windows 10 uses the Update & Security section. If a label is not visible, search Settings for troubleshoot or Windows Update rather than downloading a third-party utility.
Windows 10’s support lifecycle is the larger distinction. Microsoft ended free software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes on October 14, 2025. In 2026, repairing 0x80070422 on Windows 10 may restore the immediate service, but it does not extend the operating system’s ended support period. Check whether the device can move to a supported Windows release and whether its hardware meets that release’s requirements.
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The number alone does not identify the failing component. If the message appears in the Microsoft Store, Firewall settings, or another application, the named service may not be Windows Update at all. Read the complete message and note which screen produced it. Apply the Windows Update procedure first only when Windows Update or a Defender update is involved; otherwise, troubleshoot the service associated with that feature.
Likewise, 0x80070422 is not proof that malware is present. It describes a disabled or stopped service condition. Security status can still be serious if protection is off, but the code itself is a configuration or service signal, not an infection finding.
What not to do
- Do not delete the Windows Update cache or system folders before trying the documented service and troubleshooter steps.
- Do not disable Windows Firewall, UAC, or DEP as a workaround. Microsoft’s Windows Security troubleshooter checks those protections because they are part of the security configuration.
- Do not remove third-party antivirus files manually. Use that product’s documented disable or uninstall process.
- Do not install random “Defender fixer” executables or registry scripts. They can change more services than the error requires.
- Do not assume that a successful service start guarantees every future update will install; update components, policies, or software conflicts can still cause a separate failure.
When to escalate to technical support
Seek qualified Windows support when the Windows Update service cannot be started, its startup type is locked, the setting reverts after a restart, or the component-reset procedure fails. Escalation is also appropriate for managed work or school computers, where policy may intentionally control Defender and Windows Update. Provide the technician with the Windows version from winver, the exact screen showing 0x80070422, whether Windows Update starts, and any third-party antivirus product installed. Those details help distinguish a service configuration problem from a policy or dependency issue.
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