If Windows 10 shows 0x80070422 during Windows Update, the usual cause is that the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. The spelling 0xC80070422 needs checking first: Microsoft’s current error tables define 0x80070422, without the extra C, while the C-prefixed form is not defined in those tables. Confirm the exact code and the program that displayed it, then check the service before attempting command-line repairs.
Check the code and where it appeared
Error codes can look almost identical while pointing to different components. Write down the complete message, including every character after 0x, and identify the screen that displayed it.
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- Windows Update: the Microsoft definition for
0x80070422is “Windows Update service is disabled or stopped.” - Windows upgrade or installation: Microsoft describes the related condition as a service that cannot be started because it is disabled.
- Microsoft Store, a .NET installer, or another setup program: the same-looking number may belong to a different component. Do not assume the Windows Update service is the cause until the context is confirmed.
Capitalization does not matter, but the extra C does. If your screen really says 0xC80070422, record that exact spelling and continue with the checks below only if the message came from Windows Update. If it came from another installer, use that program’s full message when deciding which service or component needs repair.
What 0x80070422 means
For Windows Update, the code indicates a service-state problem rather than a particular update package. Windows needs the Windows Update service available to search for, download, and install updates. A disabled service cannot be started by the update workflow; a stopped service may simply need to be started, or it may be failing because another Windows component is damaged.
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This distinction determines the safest order of work. Service verification is reversible and does not alter system files. The built-in troubleshooter is the next low-risk step. DISM repairs the Windows image, and System File Checker (SFC) checks protected files after the image is in a healthy state.
Prepare before changing anything
- Sign in with an account that has administrator rights.
- Save open work and connect the PC to reliable power, especially on a laptop.
- Note the Windows 10 edition and build shown in Settings > System > About.
- Record the update’s KB number if Windows Update shows one.
- Keep the complete error text available. It will be needed if the problem returns or support requests logs.
Do not start by deleting servicing folders, importing registry files, or installing a random “registry cleaner.” Those actions are not part of Microsoft’s supported sequence for this code and can make later repair harder.
Step 1: Check and start the Windows Update service
- Press
Windows key + R, typeservices.msc, and press Enter. - In the Services console, locate Windows Update. The list can be sorted by clicking the Name column.
- Read the Status and Startup Type columns. A stopped service has no running status; a disabled service cannot be started normally.
- Double-click Windows Update. If Startup type is Disabled, select a non-disabled startup option available on your installation, choose Apply, and then select Start.
- If the service is already running, leave it running. Do not repeatedly stop and start it while an update is in progress.
- Select OK, close Services, restart Windows, and try Windows Update again.
If Start is unavailable, produces an error, or the service immediately stops again, note that message rather than repeatedly forcing it. Check any related update service named in the error. The exact dependency can vary with the operation that produced the code, so use the full message to decide whether another service requires attention.
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Step 2: Run Windows 10’s Windows Update troubleshooter
When the service is enabled and running but the update still fails, use the built-in troubleshooter before repairing system files.
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Update & Security, then Troubleshoot.
- Open Additional troubleshooters if that link is shown.
- Select Windows Update, choose Run the troubleshooter, and follow its prompts.
- Apply any offered correction, restart the computer, and retry the update.
The troubleshooter can identify a service that is not in the expected state and other update configuration problems. It does not prove that the code was caused by a damaged system image; if the error remains, continue to DISM.
Step 3: Repair the Windows image with DISM
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) repairs the Windows component image that provides files for system maintenance. Microsoft’s documented online repair command is:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth- Open Start, type
Command PromptorPowerShell, right-click the result, and choose Run as administrator. - Accept the User Account Control prompt.
- Enter the command exactly as shown and press Enter.
- Allow the operation to reach completion. Progress can appear to pause for a while; do not close the window merely because the percentage has not changed recently.
- Restart Windows when DISM finishes, then run Windows Update again.
For this online command, DISM can obtain replacement files through Microsoft Update. That means a working internet connection is important. If DISM reports that repair files cannot be found, do not substitute a random ISO, another computer’s files, or an unverified command. Use a matching Windows installation source and Microsoft’s corruption-repair guidance, or move to qualified support with the exact DISM message.
Step 4: Run System File Checker after DISM
SFC checks protected Windows system files. Run it after DISM so the component image used to restore files has already been checked.
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- Open an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell window again by choosing Run as administrator.
- Run:
sfc /scannow- Wait for verification to finish, even if it takes time.
- Restart Windows and retry the update.
SFC and DISM have different jobs: DISM repairs the Windows image, while SFC checks protected files in the installed system. Running SFC alone does not replace the image repair step when DISM is the component reporting corruption.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If the code returns after repair
The Windows Update service will not stay running
Return to services.msc and record the service’s exact error when you select Start. A service that stops immediately may indicate a deeper Windows configuration or file problem. Avoid guessing registry values; preserve the message for support.
DISM completes but Windows Update still fails
Restart once more, confirm that Windows Update is still enabled and running, and retry the same update. If only one update fails, record its KB number. The number helps distinguish a general service problem from an issue involving that particular package.
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The message came from the Store, .NET, or another installer
Stop treating the number as a Windows Update diagnosis. Capture the application name, installer version if shown, complete message, and the action that triggered it. The Microsoft definition cited above applies to 0x80070422 in Windows Update; it does not establish what a C-prefixed code from another setup program means.
The spelling is 0xC80070422
Recheck the screen, screenshot, or log rather than silently changing the code to 0x80070422. The extra C may be a transcription error, or it may identify a different component. If Windows Update clearly displays the C-prefixed form, provide that exact value when requesting help and mention that Microsoft’s table lists the no-C form.
Choosing the least invasive remedy
| Remedy | Use it when | Internet needed | Relative impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check Windows Update in Services | The code appears during Windows Update, especially with a disabled or stopped service | No | Lowest; a reversible service-state change |
| Windows Update troubleshooter | The service is running but the update workflow still fails | Usually not for the diagnostic itself | Low; uses Windows’ built-in checks |
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth |
The service is healthy but Windows components may be damaged | Yes, for Microsoft Update to supply repair files | Higher; repairs the Windows image |
sfc /scannow |
After DISM, to verify protected system files | No, unless Windows needs a source it cannot find locally | Higher than a service check; performs system-file verification |
| Support or a qualified technician | The service cannot start, DISM lacks source files, or the code’s context is unclear | Not necessarily | Appropriate when further changes could risk the installation |
What to collect before escalation
If the error persists, assemble evidence instead of repeating the same commands. Include:
- The exact code, including whether it is
0x80070422or0xC80070422. - The complete text of the message and the program that displayed it.
- Your Windows 10 edition and build.
- The update KB number, if one is listed.
- Whether Windows Update was disabled, stopped, or already running in Services.
- The final DISM result and any message saying that source files could not be found.
- The final SFC result.
- Relevant Windows Update and DISM logs requested by Microsoft support.
This information matters because a persistent failure may not be the Windows Update service at all. A full message and reproducible context let support select the correct component instead of applying a generic registry or folder reset.
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