If Windows shows 0x80070422 while checking for updates, the usual cause is that the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. The title “0X800070422” contains an extra zero; Microsoft’s documented Windows Update code is 0x80070422. Confirm the exact code on your screen first, then set Windows Update to start automatically, start it, restart the PC and check for updates again.
The instructions below use current Windows 11 menu names where Microsoft has specified them. The service and cache steps also apply to Windows 10, 8 and 7, although wording and support status differ by release.
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Confirm the code before changing anything
Error codes that look almost identical can have different causes. Read the complete message in Windows Update, Settings, or the upgrade assistant and compare every character. Microsoft documents 0x80070422 for a Windows Update service that is disabled or not running. If your screen really says 0x800070422, or shows another suffix, do not assume these steps describe it; record the exact code and message first.
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What 0x80070422 means
Windows Update relies on a background service to discover, download and install updates. Microsoft maps 0x80070422 to ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED and describes the Windows Update service as stopped, disabled or otherwise not running. Until that service can run, the update client cannot complete its check.
This is normally a local configuration problem rather than proof that an update package itself is defective. If enabling the service does not hold after a restart, Microsoft’s troubleshooting sequence broadens the check to the built-in troubleshooter, connectivity, permissions, the update cache, date and time, drivers, storage and the Windows release’s support status.
Before you repair the service
- Sign in with an account that has administrator access. Windows may require elevation to change a service or clear its cache.
- Connect the computer to reliable internet and plug in a laptop or tablet. An interrupted update can leave the check incomplete even after the service is fixed.
- Save open work and back up personal files before troubleshooting. A USB flash drive can be useful for a backup or temporary storage when space is tight, but it is not a direct fix for 0x80070422.
- Disconnect unnecessary external drives, docks and other hardware for the first retry. Leave only the keyboard, mouse, display and essential network equipment attached.
Primary fix: enable and start Windows Update
This is the shortest path because it directly addresses the documented cause.
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. Approve the User Account Control prompt if Windows asks. - In the Services window, scroll to Windows Update. The list is alphabetical, so the entry is near the end under W.
- Double-click Windows Update to open its Properties dialog.
- Open the Startup type menu and choose Automatic. This tells Windows to start the service when the operating system starts instead of leaving it disabled.
- Look at Service status. If it says Stopped, select Start. If it is already running, leave it running and continue.
- Select Apply, then OK to close Properties.
- Restart the computer. A restart ensures the changed startup setting is loaded in a normal boot rather than only in the current session.
- After signing in, open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. On some Windows 10 builds the page is under Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
A successful check should proceed without 0x80070422. Let any update finish, restart when Windows requests it, and run one more check only if the Settings page still reports that updates are pending.
If Windows Update will not start
If the Start button is unavailable, an error appears when you select it, or the service returns to a stopped state, continue in the order below. Each step tests a different documented cause, so retry Windows Update after the step that applies rather than changing several unrelated settings at once.
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
- Open Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters on Windows 11.
- Find Windows Update and select Run.
- Follow the checks and recommended repairs, then restart if Windows requests it.
- Return to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
Microsoft also directs users to the automated Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app. The exact prompts can vary by Windows version, but the purpose is the same: identify a service, configuration or update-component problem without manually editing the registry.
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Verify network, power and permissions
Confirm that a browser can reach the internet, disable airplane mode, and reconnect to the intended Wi-Fi or wired network. Keep the device on mains power during the check. If the computer is managed by an employer or school, a policy may prevent you from changing services; an administrator will need to perform the repair. A non-administrator account can also explain why the service properties cannot be saved.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRemove temporary external hardware
Shut down or disconnect nonessential USB storage, docks, card readers and other peripherals, then boot and retry the update. This is a diagnostic step for upgrade and installation failures: it reduces the number of devices Windows must initialize while the update runs. Reconnect hardware after the update succeeds, one item at a time if you need to identify a conflict.
Reset the Windows Update cache
Corrupt files in the update cache can make an enabled service fail repeatedly. Microsoft’s manual cache procedure uses the SoftwareDistribution folder and does not require registry changes.
- Press Win + R, enter
services.msc, and press Enter. - Find Windows Update, open its Properties, and select Stop if the service is running. Leave the Services window open.
- Open File Explorer and enter
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionin the address bar. - Delete the files and folders inside SoftwareDistribution. Do not delete the SoftwareDistribution folder itself. If Windows says an item is in use, return to Services and confirm that Windows Update is stopped, then try again.
- Go back to the Windows Update Properties dialog and select Start. Choose Apply and OK.
- Restart the computer and select Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Windows recreates the cache contents as it downloads update information. The first check can take longer because previously downloaded temporary files are no longer available.
Correct the clock and time zone
- Open Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
- Turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically when those options are available.
- Select Sync now to perform an immediate time synchronization.
- Restart Windows Update from Services if it had been stopped, then run Check for updates again.
An incorrect clock can prevent secure connections and update validation even when the Windows Update service itself is configured correctly.
Install current hardware drivers
For upgrade failures that continue after the service and cache are repaired, obtain drivers from the hardware manufacturer’s official support page. Prioritize network adapters, storage controllers, graphics hardware and other devices identified by Windows as having a problem. Choose the driver for your exact model and Windows edition, install it, restart, and retry Windows Update. Do not use a driver package intended for a different model or operating system.
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Free enough storage
Check available space on the Windows system drive in Settings > System > Storage (the path can differ on older releases). Microsoft states that an upgrade requires at least 16 GB free for a 32-bit operating system or 20 GB free for a 64-bit operating system. Those figures are minimum requirements for the upgrade process, not a guarantee that every update will fit comfortably. Remove or move large personal files, uninstall applications you no longer need, empty temporary files through Windows Storage settings, and then retry.
Run the update again and restart
After each repair, use the Windows Update page to check again instead of relying on an earlier failed notification. If updates install, restart when prompted; some service and component changes do not become active until the reboot completes. A second check after the restart confirms whether the error was resolved or merely postponed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use the symptom to choose the next step
| What you observe | Most relevant area | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Update is set to Disabled or shows Stopped | Local service configuration | Set Startup type to Automatic, select Start, apply the change, restart and check for updates. |
| The service starts but 0x80070422 returns after reboot | Service state is not persisting, or another component is interfering | Run the Windows Update troubleshooter, verify administrator access and review the cache procedure. |
| The service starts but the update download or installation fails | Cache, network, time, driver or storage conditions | Check internet and power, synchronize date and time, disconnect unnecessary hardware, reset SoftwareDistribution, update drivers and free space. |
| The error appears during an operating-system upgrade | Service configuration plus upgrade prerequisites | Complete the service and cache steps, meet the documented free-space minimum, remove peripherals and install manufacturer drivers. |
| Windows says the device is no longer supported | Windows lifecycle rather than a local service setting | Identify the Windows edition and support status before expecting further free updates or technical assistance. |
Windows 10 support and upgrade expectations
Microsoft says Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 devices continue to operate, but under that support policy they no longer receive free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance or security fixes. Therefore, repairing 0x80070422 on Windows 10 can restore the update service’s operation without creating new updates that the operating system is no longer eligible to receive.
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What not to do first
- Do not delete arbitrary registry keys because a forum post promises a one-click repair. The documented workflow begins with the Windows Update service, built-in troubleshooter, cache, connectivity, permissions, time, drivers, storage and restart.
- Do not run undocumented repair scripts before identifying the exact error code. A script can alter services or permissions without explaining which change solved the problem.
- Do not delete the entire
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionfolder. Stop Windows Update and remove only its contents, then start the service again. - Do not assume that a USB flash drive fixes this error. It is useful for backing up files or temporarily holding data when storage is limited, not for repairing a disabled service.
- Do not treat a successful service start as proof that every update will install. Cache corruption, insufficient space, an inaccurate clock, incompatible drivers, unsupported Windows versions and network failures can still block an update.
When the error persists
Record the exact code, the Windows edition and version, whether Windows Update remains set to Automatic, whether the service stays running after a reboot, and which troubleshooting step changed the symptom. This information separates a repeatable service-state problem from an upgrade-specific failure. If the account is managed, contact the organization’s administrator; if the release is outside support, verify what updates are still available before attempting repeated repairs.
For a normal supported installation, the practical stopping point is reached when Windows Update is set to Automatic, starts without an error, survives a restart and completes a check from the Windows Update settings page. If any of those four conditions fails, return to the matching branch in the table rather than making unrelated system changes.
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