PC 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 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf Windows shows 0x80070422 while checking for updates, the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. The first fix is to open Windows Services, set Windows Update to Automatic, start it, restart the PC, and run Check for updates again. The code in the title is probably mistyped: Microsoft documents 0x80070422, not 0x800704022.
This error does not normally mean that Windows itself is missing. It means the service responsible for downloading and installing updates is unavailable. If the service will not start, use the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter and then Microsoft’s supported Windows Update component-reset procedure.
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What error 0x80070422 means
Microsoft classifies 0x80070422 as ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED. Its error table describes it as: “Windows Update service is disabled or stopped.” In practical terms, Windows cannot use the service that coordinates update detection, downloads, installation, and restart handling.
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The service may have been disabled manually, changed by a system-management policy, stopped after a failed update, or prevented from starting by another problem. The code alone does not prove that malware, a missing DLL, or damaged hardware is involved. Start with the service configuration and only move to broader repair steps if that does not resolve the error.
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Check the situation before changing anything
- Confirm the code. Open the Windows Update page and write down the complete code.
0x80070422is the documented Windows Update error; an extra zero or digit may be a transcription mistake. - Identify your Windows edition. The Settings layout differs between Windows 10 and Windows 11. The service procedure is the same, but the troubleshooter path is different.
- Use an administrator account. Changing a Windows service and resetting update components requires administrative permission. If Windows asks for credentials, use an account that is allowed to make system changes.
- Keep the PC connected to the internet. The service can start without an internet connection, but Windows cannot check Microsoft’s update servers until networking is available.
- Save open work. The primary fix ends with a restart, and later troubleshooting may also require restarting.
Fix 0x80070422 by starting Windows Update
These are the direct Microsoft-documented steps for this code.
- Open Services. Press Win + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears. - Find Windows Update. In the Services list, scroll to Windows Update. Click the column heading if you need to sort the list alphabetically.
- Open its properties. Double-click Windows Update, or right-click it and choose Properties.
- Change the startup setting. In the Startup type menu, select Automatic. This allows Windows to start the service as part of normal system operation rather than leaving it disabled.
- Start the service. If Service status says Stopped, select Start. Wait for the status to change before continuing. If the button is unavailable or an error appears, leave the window open and use the escalation section below.
- Save the change. Select Apply, then OK. Closing the window without applying the setting can leave the previous startup configuration in place.
- Restart Windows. Restart the PC even if the service started successfully. This tests whether the configuration survives a normal boot.
- Check for updates. After signing in, open Windows Update and select Check for updates. On Windows 11, go to Settings > Windows Update. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
If the update check completes, install the offered updates and restart when Windows requests it. If the same code returns, the service may be getting stopped again, or the update cache and related components may need repair.
When the Windows Update service will not start
A failed start is useful evidence. Note the exact wording of any message instead of repeatedly clicking Start. A service that immediately stops, reports that access is denied, or displays a dependency error needs a different next step from a service that simply remained disabled.
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Close Services and reopen it with an administrator account. Organizations can enforce service settings through management policies, so a work or school computer may revert a change. If the setting changes back after a restart, ask the organization’s administrator rather than repeatedly forcing it.
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If Start produces an error
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter next. It can detect common service and update-configuration problems without requiring you to guess which related setting should be changed. Record the result and any repair that Windows says it performed.
If the service starts but stops again
Restart once, then check Services before opening Windows Update. If Windows Update is stopped again, continue to the troubleshooter and component-reset sections. Avoid changing unrelated services at random; doing so can create new startup or networking problems without addressing 0x80070422.
Run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter
The troubleshooter is the next supported step when setting Windows Update to Automatic does not hold or the update check still fails.
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Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Select System, then Troubleshoot.
- Choose Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update and select Run.
- Follow the prompts, allow the tool to apply a recommended repair, and restart if Windows requests it.
- Return to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
Windows 10
- Open Settings.
- Choose Update & Security, then Troubleshoot.
- Select Additional troubleshooters.
- Choose Windows Update, then select Run the troubleshooter.
- Apply the recommended repair, restart if prompted, and try Windows Update again.
If the troubleshooter reports that it could not identify a problem, that does not prove the service is healthy. Recheck its status in services.msc, then proceed to the component-reset guidance.
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Reset Windows Update components when the cache is damaged
Microsoft’s broader Windows Update guidance includes a supported component-reset procedure for cases in which the service is configured correctly but updates still cannot download or install. The reset addresses the local update components and cache rather than changing the Windows edition or deleting personal files.
Use Microsoft’s procedure for your Windows version and follow its commands exactly. The supported sequence normally requires an elevated administrator session, temporarily stopping update-related services, clearing or renaming the local update cache folders, and starting the services again. Because service names and commands must be entered precisely, do not substitute commands from an unofficial “repair” package or import service settings from another PC.
What to expect from a component reset
- Windows may need to rebuild update catalogs and downloaded files after the reset.
- Previously downloaded updates can need to download again.
- The process should not be treated as a way to bypass licensing, activation, or Windows edition requirements.
- Restart the PC when the procedure says to, then run Check for updates again.
If a reset command returns an access-denied message, stop and reopen the command environment with administrator rights rather than deleting folders by force. If a file is in use, restart and repeat the supported sequence instead of downloading replacement DLL files.
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Microsoft identifies several broader causes of update failures. Check them in an orderly way so you can tell which change affected the result.
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Network connectivity
- Open a normal website to confirm that the PC has internet access.
- If you use Wi-Fi, reconnect to the network and retry the update check.
- Temporarily test another trusted connection if the current network blocks update traffic.
A network problem can prevent the update check even after Windows Update is running. It does not, by itself, explain a service that is visibly disabled; fix the service configuration first.
Firewall or antivirus interference
Security software and firewall rules can interfere with update communication. Check whether your security product has recently quarantined a Windows component or changed network rules. Do not leave protection disabled as a permanent fix, and do not remove security software solely because the error code appears. If a temporary diagnostic pause is allowed by the product and your organization, restore protection immediately after the test.
Permissions and policy
Use an administrator account for service changes and component resets. On a managed computer, a policy may intentionally control Windows Update. A setting that reverts after each restart should be handled by the administrator responsible for that device.
Corrupted update files
If the service is Automatic, starts normally, and the troubleshooter does not resolve the problem, corrupted local update files are a possible cause. Use Microsoft’s supported component-reset procedure rather than downloading “missing DLL” files or copying registry entries from another computer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025
Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. That date matters when diagnosing a computer that can no longer update: repairing the service may restore normal update behavior, but it does not extend Windows 10’s support lifecycle.
After fixing the immediate service error, check whether the PC meets Windows 11 eligibility requirements or determine which other supported lifecycle option applies to the device. Do not assume that every Windows 10 update failure is a temporary service problem after the end-of-support date.
Quick Recap
Methods compared
| Method | What it changes | Administrator access | Windows versions | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set Windows Update to Automatic and start it | Windows Update service startup configuration and current state | Usually required | Windows 10 and Windows 11 | Startup type can be changed again |
| Windows Update troubleshooter | Common update and service settings identified by the built-in diagnostic | May prompt for approval | Windows 10 and Windows 11, with different Settings paths | Depends on the repair it applies |
| Microsoft component-reset procedure | Update services and local update caches/components | Required | Use the procedure for the installed Windows version | Cache changes can be rebuilt; follow Microsoft’s rollback or recovery directions if a step fails |
| Network, firewall, security, and permissions checks | Connectivity or access conditions that can block update operations | Sometimes | Windows 10 and Windows 11 | Restore any temporary test setting immediately |
What not to do
- Do not add an extra digit to the code. Search for and troubleshoot the documented
0x80070422code. - Do not import service registry entries from another PC. Different editions, policies, and installed components can make those entries unsuitable.
- Do not download unofficial “missing DLL” packages. They are not established by Microsoft’s guidance as a safe fix for this service error.
- Do not disable security protection permanently. A firewall or antivirus check is a diagnostic step, not a recommendation to run unprotected.
- Do not repeatedly force-start a service that immediately stops. Capture the error, run the troubleshooter, and use the supported component-reset procedure.
A practical escalation path
- Verify that the code is
0x80070422and that the Windows Update page is the place showing it. - Set Windows Update to Automatic, start it, apply the change, restart, and check for updates.
- If it fails, run the Windows Update troubleshooter for your Windows version and restart if instructed.
- If the service still will not remain running or update files appear damaged, use Microsoft’s supported component-reset procedure with administrator rights.
- Check network access, firewall or antivirus interference, permissions, and policy-controlled settings.
- Once Windows Update works, review Windows 10’s lifecycle status. A device still on Windows 10 after October 14, 2025 may need an eligibility check for Windows 11 or another supported option.
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