Error 0x80070422 means Windows cannot use the Windows Update service because it is disabled or stopped. The primary fix is to open services.msc, change Windows Update to Automatic, start it, restart the computer, and select Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. If the service stops again, investigate policy settings, dependencies, security software, or damaged system files rather than repeatedly forcing the same start command.
What error 0x80070422 means
Microsoft maps 0x80070422 to ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED. Microsoft Learn describes the issue as occurring when the Windows Update service stops working or is not running, while Microsoft Support describes it as the Windows Update service being disabled or stopped.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Windows Update is the background service that lets the operating system check for, download, and install updates. When its service state is disabled or stopped, the Settings app cannot complete an update check and may display this code. The code identifies a service-state problem; by itself, it does not prove that files are corrupted, that a security product is blocking updates, or that the computer is infected.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What you need before changing the service
- Sign in with an account that can change Windows services. You may be asked for administrator approval.
- Save open work before restarting the computer.
- If the computer belongs to an employer or school, find out whether updates are managed by an administrator. A local change can be reversed by organizational policy.
- Record the current startup setting before changing it, especially if you are troubleshooting a managed computer.
The documented repair changes only the Windows Update service state. It does not require buying software or deleting update files.
#1 Best Overall
- Dual USB-A & USB-C Bootable Drive – compatible with nearly all Windows PCs, laptops, and tablets (UEFI & Legacy BIOS). Works with Surface devices and all major brands.
- Fully Customizable USB – easily Add, Replace, or Upgrade any compatible bootable ISO app, installer, or utility (clear step-by-step instructions included).
- Complete Windows Repair Toolkit – includes tools to remove viruses, reset passwords, recover lost files, and fix boot errors like BOOTMGR or NTLDR missing.
- Reinstall or Upgrade Windows – perform a clean reinstall of Windows 7 (32bit and 64bit), 10, or 11 (amd64 + arm64) to restore performance and stability. (Windows license not included.). Includes Full Driver Pack – ensures hardware compatibility after installation. Automatically detects and installs drivers for most PCs.
- Premium Hardware & Reliable Support – built with high-quality flash chips for speed and longevity. TECH STORE ON provides responsive customer support within 24 hours.
Primary fix: re-enable and start Windows Update
- Press Win+R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. The Services console opens. - Scroll to Windows Update. The entries are listed alphabetically by display name.
- Double-click Windows Update to open its Properties window.
- Open the Startup type menu and select Automatic.
- Look at Service status. If it says Stopped, click Start.
- Click Apply, then OK.
- Restart the computer.
- After signing back in, open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
This sequence directly addresses what the code reports: a Windows Update service that is disabled or not running. A successful start does not necessarily mean an update is immediately available; it means Windows can resume checking normally.
Confirm whether the repair worked
The service remains running
Open services.msc again and open Windows Update Properties. The startup type should remain Automatic, and the service status should show Running while Windows is using it. Then use the Windows Update page to perform a fresh check. If the check completes without 0x80070422, the service-state problem has been corrected.
The Start button is unavailable or access is denied
That usually means your account does not have the required rights, or a policy controls the service. Sign in with an administrator account if you are authorized to do so. On a work or school computer, ask the administrator who manages Windows Update to review the setting instead of trying to bypass it.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The service starts but stops again
A service that immediately stops, or returns to Disabled after a restart, needs diagnosis. Do not keep clicking Start without finding what is changing the state. Review the escalation checks below and note the exact message shown in the Properties window.
If 0x80070422 returns: investigate the cause
Microsoft’s technical mitigation remains the same: verify that the Windows Update service is running. A recurring failure is a clue that something else is preventing that state from persisting. The following are diagnostic paths, not causes established by the error code alone.
Check local or organizational policy
A policy can deliberately disable Windows Update or prevent users from changing its startup type. If the device is managed, contact the person or department responsible for updates and report that Windows Update is disabled or stops after being started. Include whether the setting changes back immediately or only after a restart.
On a personally owned Windows edition that exposes local policy controls, review update-related policies for a setting that disables the service. Do not change an unfamiliar policy at random: write down its original state so you can undo the change, and expect an organizational policy to reapply itself on a managed device.
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 minuteReview service dependencies
In Windows Update Properties, open the Dependencies tab. It lists services Windows Update relies on. If a required service is disabled or stopped, Windows Update may fail even when its own startup type is set to Automatic.
- Open each listed dependency and note its current status and startup type.
- Restore a dependency only when you understand why it is disabled and have permission to do so.
- Start dependencies before trying Windows Update again, then restart the computer and test from Settings.
- Do not alter unrelated services merely because they appear in the Services console.
The Dependencies tab helps identify which component is blocking startup; it does not by itself prove that a particular dependency is damaged.
Examine security software interference
Security software can be a possible reason a service cannot run or update components. Check the product’s event, quarantine, or protection logs for entries involving Windows Update, and use its documented allow or restore process if it has blocked a legitimate Windows component. Apply only changes supported by that product and restore normal protection afterward.
Do not use a firewall shutdown as a routine fix. Microsoft says stopping the service associated with Windows Firewall with Advanced Security is not supported. Leaving the firewall stopped can create a security and connectivity problem without repairing Windows Update.
Rank #2
- High-speed USB 3.0 performance of up to 150MB/s(1) [(1) Write to drive up to 15x faster than standard USB 2.0 drives (4MB/s); varies by drive capacity. Up to 150MB/s read speed. USB 3.0 port required. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, usage conditions, and other factors; 1MB=1,000,000 bytes]
- Transfer a full-length movie in less than 30 seconds(2) [(2) Based on 1.2GB MPEG-4 video transfer with USB 3.0 host device. Results may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors]
- Transfer to drive up to 15 times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives(1)
- Sleek, durable metal casing
- Easy-to-use password protection for your private files(3) [(3)Password protection uses 128-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac OS X v10.9 plus; Software download required for Mac, visit the SanDisk SecureAccess support page]
Consider system-file damage
Windows Update can also fail when required system elements are damaged. If the service is set to Automatic, its dependencies are available, and no policy or security product is changing it, use Windows’ built-in system-repair options or contact Microsoft Support for the appropriate repair procedure for your Windows edition. Keep the service-state evidence you collected, including the startup type, status, and any error text.
A damaged-system diagnosis is an escalation path, not something the 0x80070422 value proves. Avoid deleting update folders or editing the registry solely because the error code appears; those actions change more than the documented service fix and can make recovery harder.
Repair approaches compared
| Approach | What it changes | Administrator rights | Reversible? | Documentation status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set Windows Update to Automatic and start it | Windows Update’s startup state and current running state | Usually required | Yes; the startup type can be changed again | Primary procedure documented by Microsoft Support and Microsoft Learn |
| Restart, then check for updates | Reloads services and tests the repaired state through Settings | Not normally for the restart; account rights still apply to service changes | Yes | Part of Microsoft’s documented sequence |
| Review policy settings | Identifies a rule that may be disabling or controlling updates | Often required, especially on managed devices | Depends on who owns the policy | Diagnostic escalation; not a guaranteed cause |
| Review dependencies | Identifies services Windows Update requires | Often required to change a dependency | Yes, if the original settings are recorded | Diagnostic escalation; not a guaranteed cause |
| Review security-product logs | Identifies possible blocking or quarantine activity | Depends on the security product | Use the product’s documented restore and allow controls | Diagnostic escalation; not a guaranteed cause |
| System-file repair or support escalation | Addresses possible corruption beyond service configuration | Usually required | Depends on the repair operation | Escalation path when the service fix does not persist |
The documented service change does not reset Windows Update’s stored data. A data reset is therefore a different operation, not an implied part of the fix above.
Common mistakes and how to recover
Choosing the wrong service
The Services console contains many entries with similar names. Change Windows Update, not a random updater, installer, or firewall entry. If you changed another service accidentally, return it to its recorded startup type and seek support before making more changes.
Setting the type but not starting the service
Selecting Automatic controls how Windows starts the service; it does not always start an already stopped service immediately. Click Start, then Apply and OK.
Starting the service but skipping the restart
The documented sequence includes a restart. Without it, a policy refresh, dependency, or pending service state may not be fully tested. Restart before judging the result, then run a new update check from Settings.
Stopping the firewall
Do not stop Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security as a routine attempt to clear this code. Microsoft does not support that action as a fix. If you already stopped it, restore the firewall service and use the Windows Update service procedure instead.
Assuming recurrence means a guaranteed infection or guaranteed hardware failure
0x80070422 is a Windows service-state error. Recurrence warrants checking policy, dependencies, security software, and system integrity; it does not establish any one of those explanations on its own.
Recommended Free Tools
When to seek further help
- The startup type changes back to Disabled after every restart.
- The Start command returns an access-denied or dependency error.
- Windows Update starts but stops repeatedly during normal use.
- The computer is managed by an organization and you cannot change the setting.
- System-file repair reports errors or other Windows components are failing at the same time.
When contacting support, provide the code 0x80070422, the Windows edition, the service’s startup type and status, whether the change survives a restart, and any message shown when you click Start. Those details distinguish a simple disabled service from a policy, dependency, security, or integrity problem.
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 and shared DLL problems, while also offering settings tweaks, cleanup, privacy checks, vulnerability checks, a real-time boost, file shredding, and an app-crash log. It runs on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7; its free trial lasts at least two days by category before a paid subscription, and it complements rather than replaces antivirus protection. Results vary, and no tool repairs every crash.
Bottom line
Restore Windows Update through services.msc: set Windows Update to Automatic, start it, apply the change, restart, and run Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. If the setting will not hold, investigate policy, dependencies, security software, or system-file damage, and avoid unsupported firewall shutdowns.
Quick Recap
Product 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.
