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If Windows shows 0x80070422 while checking for or installing updates, the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. The title’s 0X800070422 has an extra zero; Microsoft’s documented code is 0x80070422, classified as ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED. On a normally managed Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, the primary fix is to open services.msc, set Windows Update to an enabled startup type (Microsoft specifically recommends Automatic), start it, restart Windows, and check for updates again. If downloads still fail, check Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) as well.
What 0x80070422 means
The code is not a description of a particular update package. It is a service-state error. Windows returns ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED when a service required by the operation is disabled or is not running. Microsoft describes this condition as “Windows Update service is disabled or stopped.”
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That distinction matters because reinstalling an update, deleting a single failed download, or repeatedly clicking Check for updates will not repair a service that Windows is forbidden to start. The service can be disabled by a manual change, a system-cleanup utility, an organization’s policy, damaged update components, or a failed servicing operation. On a work or school computer, an administrator may have deliberately restricted Windows Update; in that case, changing the setting yourself can be temporary or contrary to policy.
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- Use Settings > Windows Update on Windows 11, or Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update on Windows 10, and read the complete error details.
- Record whether the failure occurs while checking, downloading, installing, or upgrading Windows. BITS is especially relevant when a download or managed-update job fails.
- If the message contains a different code, do not assume these steps apply; service errors that look similar can require different repairs.
Before you change a service
Use an account with administrator rights. Save open work and disconnect from a VPN or metered connection only if your organization’s policy permits it. A service change normally does not remove personal files, but a component reset later in this guide renames update-cache folders, so do not interrupt that process.
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On an organization-managed device, look for wording such as “Some settings are managed by your organization,” a company update server, or an enrollment in Windows management. If Windows Update is controlled by WSUS, Intune, Group Policy, or another management system, ask the administrator to verify the policy and update schedule before forcing a local change.
Primary fix: enable Windows Update in Services
This is the shortest and most direct repair for a personal Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer.
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears. - In the services list, locate Windows Update. The list is alphabetical; clicking the Name column can make it easier to find.
- Double-click Windows Update to open its properties.
- Open the Startup type menu and select Automatic. If your Windows build presents another enabled option and your administrator has specified it, use that approved setting instead.
- Look at Service status. If it says Stopped, click Start. If it is already running, leave it running and continue.
- Click Apply, then OK to close the properties window.
- Close Services, restart the PC, and sign in normally.
- Open Windows Update and select Check for updates. Allow the scan to finish before starting another repair.
If the Start button is unavailable, the startup-type menu is greyed out, or Windows reports an access error, skip to the managed-device and command-line sections instead of repeatedly clicking the button.
Check BITS when downloads or managed updates still fail
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) transfers files in the background and is used by Windows Update and some managed-update systems. Microsoft identifies ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED (0x80070422) with BITS being disabled in download and WSUS scenarios. Windows Update can therefore be enabled while a download still fails because BITS remains disabled.
- Press Win + R, enter
services.msc, and press Enter. - Find Background Intelligent Transfer Service and open its properties.
- Set Startup type to an enabled setting. For a personal PC, Automatic is the straightforward choice when the service has been disabled.
- If the service status is Stopped, click Start, then click Apply and OK.
- Restart Windows and try the update again.
Do not disable BITS after a successful update merely to reduce background activity. Windows and management tools may need it for later downloads.
Command-line repair for a service that will not start
The Services console is a graphical front end to the same service configuration. An elevated terminal can show the exact state and repair a setting when the console fails.
Open an administrator terminal
- Open Start and type Terminal or Command Prompt.
- Right-click the result and choose Run as administrator, then approve the prompt.
- Run each command separately and read the result before continuing. A message saying the service is already running is not an error.
Inspect and enable Windows Update
sc.exe query wuauserv
sc.exe config wuauserv start= auto
net start wuauservThe first command reports the service state. The second changes the startup mode; keep the space after start=, because the Service Controller command syntax requires it. The third starts the service immediately. If net start returns a specific system error, record that number; it is useful when an administrator or support technician investigates.
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sc.exe query bits
sc.exe config bits start= auto
net start bitsRestart the computer after both services start, then run one update check. If the commands return “Access is denied,” the terminal was not elevated or a policy is blocking the change.
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Reset Windows Update components when the service is enabled but updates remain broken
Microsoft’s upgrade guidance recommends enabling and manually starting Windows Update and resetting Windows Update components when the service-disabled error appears. A component reset clears cached update metadata by renaming the existing folders; Windows recreates clean folders during the next scan. Use this only after the service repair, because it is more disruptive than changing a startup setting.
Stop the services that hold update files
In an administrator Command Prompt or Terminal, run:
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvcIf a service is already stopped, continue. If a command says files are in use, close Settings and other update tools, wait a minute, and run the stop command again.
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ren %systemroot%SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren %systemroot%System32catroot2 catroot2.oldRenaming preserves the old folders as a rollback reference while forcing Windows to create new caches. If a folder name already ends in .old, choose another temporary suffix such as .old2 rather than overwriting anything.
Start the services again
net start cryptsvc
net start appidsvc
net start wuauserv
net start bitsRestart Windows. The first scan after a reset can take longer because update metadata and downloads must be rebuilt. Do not delete the renamed folders until the update process has completed successfully; they can be removed later if disk space is needed.
Run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter
The troubleshooter can identify a disabled service, permissions issue, or inconsistent update configuration. It does not replace the manual service checks above, but it is a useful next step when the settings look correct.
Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Choose System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update and select Run.
- Apply any proposed repair, restart Windows if requested, and check for updates again.
Windows 10
- Open Settings.
- Choose Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
- Select Windows Update, choose Run the troubleshooter, and follow the prompts.
- Restart the PC and retry the update.
Repair damaged system files only when service repairs are not enough
If Windows Update and BITS are enabled but the service stops immediately, system files or the servicing store may be damaged. From an administrator terminal, you can run the following checks, allowing each command to finish:
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sfc /scannowRestart after both commands complete, then verify the two services again. These commands repair Windows components; they do not substitute for setting a disabled service to an enabled startup type.
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When Windows Update is controlled by an organization
On a company, school, or shared family computer, a disabled service may be intentional. WSUS, Intune, Group Policy, security baselines, and maintenance windows can control when updates run. Signs include a greyed-out startup setting, a message that some settings are managed, a configured internal update server, or a service that returns to Disabled after every restart.
- Do not repeatedly force the service to Automatic; policy may simply revert it.
- Give your administrator the exact code 0x80070422, the service name that was disabled, and any error returned by
sc.exeornet start. - Ask whether the device uses WSUS or another update-management system and whether BITS is required for the assigned update job.
- Do not rename update caches on a managed device unless the administrator approves it, because it can discard locally staged update data.
Recovery-media fallback
A USB recovery drive is not normally needed for 0x80070422. Consider recovery media only when Windows cannot boot reliably, the Services console and administrator terminal cannot stay open, or a prior servicing failure left the operating system unable to repair itself. A recovery drive can provide access to startup repair, system restore, or a reset option, but those choices can remove applications or files depending on the option selected.
Before using recovery, back up personal files and confirm whether you have the correct Windows edition and account credentials. Choose the least destructive repair available first. If Windows still starts, finish the service, BITS, component-reset, and system-file checks before moving to recovery.
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| Approach | Best for | What it changes | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services console | A personal PC showing 0x80070422 | Enables and starts Windows Update, then optionally BITS | Startup controls may be locked by policy |
| Command line | The console cannot start a service or you need exact status output | Queries service state and sets startup configuration directly | Requires an elevated terminal and exact syntax |
| Component reset | Services run but update metadata or downloads remain corrupted | Stops services and renames SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 caches | More disruptive; the next scan rebuilds data |
| Organization support | WSUS, Intune, Group Policy, or a greyed-out setting | Confirms the approved policy and update schedule | Local changes may be reverted or violate policy |
| Recovery media | Windows cannot boot or normal servicing is unavailable | Provides offline repair and recovery options | Some reset options can remove apps or files |
Verify that the repair worked
- Open
services.mscand confirm Windows Update is not disabled and is running when an update check is active. - If the failure involved downloads, confirm Background Intelligent Transfer Service is enabled and can start.
- Restart Windows once after changing services or resetting components.
- Run one update check and wait for the result. Avoid launching several scans simultaneously.
- Open Update history and note whether the previously failing update installs, remains pending, or produces a new code.
If 0x80070422 returns immediately after a successful manual start, check for policy reversion, security software that manages services, scheduled maintenance scripts, or a damaged service configuration. If the code changes, use the new code rather than continuing to apply this service-disabled procedure.
Common questions
Is 0X800070422 a real Windows error code?
The documented Windows Update code is 0x80070422. The extra zero in 0X800070422 is most likely a transcription error, so use the canonical code when searching support records or reporting the problem.
Does this error mean Windows is infected?
No. The code identifies a disabled or stopped service. It does not, by itself, indicate malware or any particular security condition.
Do I need to reinstall Windows?
Usually not. Enabling and starting Windows Update, checking BITS, and resetting update components resolve the service condition on a normally functioning installation. Recovery media is a fallback for systems that cannot boot or cannot complete normal servicing.
Why does Windows Update work once and then become disabled again?
A management policy, scheduled script, or software that changes service startup settings may be applying the disabled state again. Check whether the PC is organization-managed and compare the service setting before and after a restart.
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