Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
If Windows shows 0x80070422—sometimes mistyped as 0X800704022—the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. Re-enable that service in services.msc, restart Windows, and check for updates. If the error remains, run the Windows Update troubleshooter and then reset the update cache.
What error 0x80070422 means
Microsoft defines 0x80070422 as “Windows Update service is disabled or stopped.” Microsoft Learn maps the same code to ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED and describes a Windows Update service that has stopped working or is not running. The code therefore points first to a Windows service state, not to a failed graphics card, hard drive, controller, or other physical component.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The code in the supplied title, 0X800704022, has one extra 2 at the end. Windows error codes are normally written with eight hexadecimal digits after 0x; the documented code for this message is 0x80070422. Check the original dialog, Settings page, or installation log before changing anything. If the text actually contains a different code, use that code’s own diagnosis rather than applying this guide blindly.
You may encounter 0x80070422 while checking for Windows updates. A related symptom can appear when Windows cannot install Microsoft Store apps, because those operations can depend on Windows servicing components. The defining condition remains the same: Windows Update is not running or has been disabled.
#1 Best Overall
- Fresh USB Install With Key code Included
- 24/7 Tech Support from expert Technician
- Top product with Great Reviews
Fix 0x80070422 in the documented order
Use the least invasive remedy first. The sequence below follows Microsoft’s documented path:
- Open the Services console with
services.msc. - Set the Windows Update service’s startup type to Automatic.
- Start the service if it is stopped, then apply the change.
- Restart the computer and check for updates again.
- If the error persists, run the Windows Update troubleshooter from Settings.
- Only if those steps fail, reset the contents of the Windows Update cache.
Do not jump directly to deleting system folders. The service setting and the built-in troubleshooter resolve the condition without altering cached update files.
Step 1: Re-enable the Windows Update service
Open the Services console
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
services.mscexactly, then press Enter. - In the list of services, locate Windows Update. The list is alphabetical, so scrolling to the W section is usually quickest.
If Windows asks for permission to open the management console, approve the prompt. You need an account permitted to change service settings; a standard account may be asked for administrator credentials.
Set the startup type and start the service
- Double-click Windows Update to open its Properties window.
- Find Startup type and choose Automatic.
- Check the service status. If it says Stopped, select Start.
- Select Apply, then OK to close the Properties window.
“Automatic” controls how Windows starts the service; “Start” changes its status immediately. Set both as described rather than changing unrelated services. If the Start button is unavailable or an error appears, note the exact message and continue to the restart and troubleshooter steps; do not delete registry entries or service files.
Step 2: Restart and test Windows Update
Restart the computer after changing the service. A restart clears the previous service session and lets Windows load the new startup configuration. Save open work, choose the normal Windows restart command, and wait for the sign-in screen to return.
After signing in, open the Windows Update page in Settings and select the control that checks for updates. The exact surrounding labels can differ by Windows edition, but the update check should be available from Settings. If the check completes without 0x80070422, the disabled-service condition has been corrected.
If the same code returns, record what happened: whether Windows Update remained set to Automatic, whether its status changed back to Stopped, and whether the failure occurred during checking, downloading, or installing. That information helps distinguish a service-state problem from a damaged cache.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Step 3: Run Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooter
When re-enabling the service does not clear the error, use the built-in troubleshooter before resetting files.
- Open Settings.
- Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update and select Run.
- Follow the prompts until the troubleshooter reports its findings or requests a restart.
- Restart if prompted, then check for updates again.
The troubleshooter is designed to examine Windows Update’s configuration and apply the repairs available in the current Windows build. It may report that no change was necessary, that a setting was corrected, or that more work is required. Keep the report’s wording; it can explain why the code remains even after the service was enabled.
If your Settings layout does not show the exact path above, use Settings search for troubleshoot and open the page containing Other troubleshooters. Do not download a separate “fixer” merely because the menu placement differs between Windows releases.
Step 4: Reset the SoftwareDistribution cache
Microsoft also documents a cache reset for cases in which the service and troubleshooter do not resolve 0x80070422. The cache is stored in C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution. Resetting it removes the folder’s contents so Windows can recreate update data; it does not require deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder itself.
Stop Windows Update before touching the cache
- Press Win + R, enter
services.msc, and press Enter. - Open the Windows Update service’s Properties window.
- Select Stop and wait for the status to show that the service has stopped.
Do not remove files while Windows Update is still running. If the service refuses to stop, close the Services window, restart Windows, and return to this step after signing in.
Delete the cache contents
- Open File Explorer and enter
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionin the address bar. - Select the contents inside that folder and delete them. Leave the
SoftwareDistributionfolder in place. - If Windows reports that a file is in use, cancel the operation, confirm that Windows Update is stopped, and try again. Do not force-delete a locked file by using an unrelated cleanup utility.
Deleting the contents can remove downloaded update data that Windows would otherwise reuse, so a later update check may need to obtain those files again. That is expected behavior for a cache reset, not evidence that a hardware component has failed.
Rank #2
- [Win OS Install or reinstall] — Boot from the USB to install or reinstall Win 11, 10, or 7 Home & Pro editions. Includes OS installations and reinstallations media plus WinPE Utility Suite.
- [WinPE Repair & Recovery Tools] — Boot into the included WinPE utility suite to backup system and important files, troubleshoot startup problems, repair boot issues, recover data, recover Win User accounts password, and diagnose common PC problems.
- [All-in-One PC Rescue USB] — Combines Win 11, 10, and 7 installation media with PC repair, recovery, and diagnostic tools on one bootable 64GB USB drive, helping you troubleshoot and restore a computer without needing multiple discs or downloads.
- [Support] — Full instructions are included in packaging plus a printable copy of the instructions with troubleshooting information on the device. Also, a video “How to boot from a bootable USB drive.mp4” to help guide you through starting a PC from a USB drive. If you need help using the USB please contact us for assistance, we are here to help.
- [Video] - If you are new to booting from a USB drive or need a refresher see our video "How to boot from USB drive" both in description and on USB device.
Start the service and retry
- Return to
services.msc. - Open Windows Update again and select Start.
- Confirm that Startup type remains Automatic, then select Apply and OK.
- Restart the computer.
- Run Windows Update again from Settings.
If the update check now proceeds, Windows is rebuilding its local update cache. Allow the process to finish rather than interrupting it because the first attempt takes longer than usual.
What to check when the code appears during a Store installation
Some users meet 0x80070422 while installing Microsoft Store apps rather than while manually opening Windows Update. The code still identifies the Windows Update service condition. Follow the same sequence: verify the service in Services, restart, run the Windows Update troubleshooter, and reset C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution only as a later step.
Retry the Store installation after Windows Update completes its check. If the Store displays a different error code, stop using this guide as the primary diagnosis and record the new code. A different code may describe an app-specific or account-specific problem rather than a disabled Windows Update service.
Related services: what the evidence does and does not establish
Community answers from 2020 sometimes recommend checking Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic Services, Windows Installer, and Windows Update when Windows 10 updates or Store installs fail. Those suggestions can be relevant in a broader troubleshooting session, but they are community guidance, not the current Microsoft diagnosis for 0x80070422.
For this code, start with the Windows Update service itself. Do not disable, delete, or change additional services solely because an old forum post lists them. If Microsoft’s troubleshooter identifies a specific related component on your installation, follow that report’s instruction and preserve the exact wording for any later support request.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common mistakes and safe recovery
Confusing the extra digit with the documented code
The strings 0X800704022 and 0x80070422 are not identical. The first contains an additional trailing digit; the second is the code documented by Microsoft. Recheck the source of the message before changing services. Search results and copied forum titles can contain transcription errors.
Recommended Free Tools
Changing the wrong service
Services with similar names can appear near Windows Update. Open the entry whose name is exactly Windows Update. Set its startup type to Automatic and start that entry. Avoid making broad changes to unrelated services as a workaround.
Deleting the folder instead of its contents
The documented cache reset calls for stopping Windows Update, opening C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution, deleting the contents, and then starting Windows Update again. Keep the parent folder. Removing other directories under C:Windows is outside this procedure.
Skipping the restart
A service can show as running immediately after you change it while the update client still has the previous session’s state. Restart before judging whether the repair worked. If the error reappears after reboot, move to the troubleshooter instead of repeatedly toggling the same setting.
Assuming the code proves malware or hardware failure
0x80070422 identifies a disabled or stopped Windows Update service. It does not, by itself, prove that the computer is infected, that a component must be replaced, or that a game device is defective. Keep the diagnosis limited to what the code establishes.
A practical decision guide
| What you observe | Next action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Update is set to Disabled or is stopped | Set Startup type to Automatic, select Start, apply the change, and restart | This is Microsoft’s documented remedy for 0x80070422 |
| The service is running but the code remains | Run Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update | The built-in troubleshooter checks update configuration |
| The troubleshooter does not clear the error | Stop Windows Update, delete the contents of C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution, start the service, restart, and retry |
This resets the Windows Update cache |
| The message contains a different code after retrying | Record the new code and use its specific diagnosis | 0x80070422 may no longer be the active problem |
When to seek further Windows support
Escalate after documenting the exact code, the Windows edition, and the result of each step. Include whether Windows Update stayed on Automatic, whether the service could be started, what the troubleshooter reported, and whether the cache contents could be removed after stopping the service. This record prevents repeated attempts and helps support staff distinguish a configuration issue from a separate update failure.
If the original text truly contains 0X800704022 rather than 0x80070422, provide a screenshot or the complete log line when asking for help. The extra digit may be a transcription error, and a support technician needs the exact source string to identify the correct code.
Final verification checklist
- The code was confirmed as
0x80070422, not a different eight-digit error. - Windows Update is set to Automatic.
- The service starts successfully and remains running long enough to check for updates.
- The computer was restarted after the service change.
- The Windows Update troubleshooter was run if the first check failed.
- The SoftwareDistribution contents were reset only after the earlier steps failed.
- A new error code was treated as a separate diagnosis rather than as proof that this procedure was incomplete.
For the documented error, restoring the Windows Update service is the central fix. The troubleshooter and cache reset are escalation steps for cases in which the service is enabled but Windows still cannot complete its update workflow.
Quick Recap
As an optional shortcut after trying the manual steps, Outbyte PC Repair can address more than 100 common Windows issues where possible, including broken system elements, while also offering settings tweaks, temporary-file cleanup, privacy tools, vulnerability checks, a real-time boost, file shredder, and app-crash log. It runs on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 and has a free trial by category lasting at least two days before a paid subscription; it complements antivirus software rather than replacing it, results vary, and no tool repairs every crash.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
