If Windows shows 0x800700422 while updating, first verify the characters on screen. Microsoft’s current error documentation identifies 0x80070422—not 0x800700422—as the condition in which the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. The longer string in the title is not independently defined in the Microsoft error tables available for this problem. EnableFeaturedSoftware is a separate registry value mentioned in an older Microsoft Q&A answer, not a universal repair switch. Start with the supported Windows Update troubleshooter and service checks; only then consider component repair, a registry backup and edit, or an optional-feature command.
Confirm the error before changing Windows
Read the message again, or take a screenshot, and compare every character. A zero and the letter “O” are easy to confuse, and one extra digit changes the diagnosis. If the actual code is 0x80070422, the documented meaning is that the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. If the screen really says 0x800700422, Microsoft’s published error tables do not define that exact value, so do not assume that a registry edit or a feature command will address it.
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Also note what operation produced the message. A failure in Settings > Windows Update points toward the update service and update components. A message shown while adding a Windows capability, such as .NET Framework or a media feature, may need an optional-feature repair instead. The same-looking code can therefore require a different branch of troubleshooting.
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| Action | What it addresses | Risk | Administrator rights | Evidence level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Update troubleshooter | Common update configuration and service problems | Low | Usually requested if a change is needed | Current Microsoft Support procedure |
| Windows Update service check | A stopped or disabled service, including documented 0x80070422 |
Low | Yes | Current Microsoft Support procedure |
| Disconnect peripherals or clean boot | Background software and device interference | Low to moderate | Sometimes | Microsoft upgrade guidance |
| DISM followed by SFC | Component-store or protected system-file corruption | Moderate | Yes | Current Microsoft guidance |
| Clear the update cache | Damaged files in the Windows Update download cache | Moderate | Yes | Use only the documented cache procedure |
Edit EnableFeaturedSoftware |
A specific legacy registry setting mentioned in a community answer | Higher | Yes | Older Microsoft Q&A community guidance |
| Enable an optional feature with PowerShell | A named Windows optional feature that will not install | Moderate | Yes | Microsoft Learn procedure |
Work from the top down. A registry edit cannot restart a service that is disabled, and an optional-feature command is not a blanket cure for every Windows Update error.
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Prepare the PC
- Sign in with an administrator account, or have the administrator credentials available. Services, Registry Editor, DISM and SFC can all require elevation.
- Save open documents and connect the PC to reliable power. DISM and system-file checks can take time, and the computer must be restarted afterward.
- Back up important files. If you eventually edit the registry, create a restore point or an export of the relevant key before changing it.
- Record the exact error code, the Windows edition and version shown under Settings > System > About, and whether the failure occurs during an update or while enabling a feature.
Windows 10 reached the end of Microsoft’s support period on October 14, 2025. A Windows 10 PC can still start and run installed software, but it no longer receives the same ongoing feature and security servicing as a supported release. Confirm the device’s lifecycle status before treating the absence of a new update as a repair failure.
1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Select System, then Troubleshoot.
- Open Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update and select Run.
- Apply any recommendation it presents and restart the PC when requested.
- Return to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
Windows 10
- Open Settings and choose Update & Security.
- Select Troubleshoot, then Additional troubleshooters.
- Choose Windows Update and select Run the troubleshooter.
- Restart when the process finishes, then use Check for updates.
Microsoft also provides automated diagnostics through the Get Help app. Use that route if the troubleshooter page does not expose the Windows Update option on your build. A troubleshooter can correct common settings, but it cannot make an unsupported Windows release eligible for updates or repair every form of component corruption.
2. Re-enable the Windows Update service
For the documented 0x80070422 condition, this is the most direct manual check.
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- Press Win+R to open the Run dialog.
- Enter
services.mscand press Enter. Approve the User Account Control prompt if it appears. - In the list, locate Windows Update and double-click it.
- Set Startup type to Automatic. If your organization intentionally manages this setting, do not override its policy without approval.
- Look at Service status. Select Start if it is stopped.
- Select Apply, then OK.
- Restart Windows and try Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates again.
If the service immediately stops, note the message shown in its properties. A service that cannot remain running may indicate damaged update components, a policy restriction, or interference from another program; continue to the repair and clean-boot sections instead of repeatedly clicking Start.
3. Remove interference from devices and background software
Disconnect nonessential hardware
Shut down the PC and unplug external drives, USB hubs, printers, cameras, Bluetooth adapters and other nonessential peripherals. Leave the keyboard, mouse, display and network connection attached. Restart and retry the update. Reconnect devices one at a time after a successful update so that a problematic driver or peripheral can be identified.
Use a clean boot when software may be involved
Microsoft’s upgrade guidance identifies background applications, antivirus products and utility software as possible sources of interference. A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of Microsoft services and startup programs.
- Press Win+R, enter
msconfig, and press Enter. - On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then select Disable all. Do not disable Microsoft services by clearing the hide option.
- Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
- Disable enabled nonessential startup items, close Task Manager, and select OK in System Configuration.
- Restart and run Windows Update.
After testing, return to msconfig, choose Normal startup, re-enable services and startup items in groups, and restart. Leaving a clean boot in place can prevent expected software from launching.
4. Repair the component store and protected system files
Use these commands when the troubleshooter and service check do not resolve the issue, or when Windows reports corruption. They repair different layers: DISM services the Windows component store, while SFC checks protected system files.
- Open Windows Terminal (Admin), PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Run this command and wait for it to finish:
Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth - When DISM completes, run:
Sfc.exe /Scannow - Restart the computer, then run Windows Update again.
Keep the window open until each command reaches completion. Interrupting a repair can leave the operation unfinished. If DISM says that source files cannot be found, do not substitute a random downloaded image; use a matching Windows installation source or the repair-source options documented for your edition. SFC may report that it found no integrity violations, repaired files, or could not repair some files. Those results determine whether further servicing diagnostics are needed; they do not prove that the original code was caused by system-file corruption.
5. Clear the Windows Update cache only with the documented procedure
Corrupted downloads in C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution can make an update retry indefinitely. Clearing this directory is not the first step and should be performed only as part of Microsoft’s documented update-cache procedure, because deleting files while the service is running can create new errors.
- Stop the Windows Update service from
services.msc. If Microsoft’s procedure also instructs you to stop another servicing service, follow that procedure exactly. - Use the documented method to rename or clear the contents of the
SoftwareDistributioncache rather than deleting unrelated folders underC:Windows. - Start the stopped service again.
- Restart Windows and select Check for updates.
Windows recreates the cache when the service runs. You may need to download update packages again, so allow additional time and keep the device connected to the internet.
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EnableFeaturedSoftware is not a standard answer for every update error. An older Microsoft Q&A response discusses it at this registry path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionWindowsUpdateAuto Update
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That community guidance says that, if a value named EnableFeaturedSoftware already exists, its data should be 1. The thread is not a current Microsoft Support article, so treat it as a narrowly scoped suggestion rather than a guaranteed fix.
Back up before inspecting or editing
- Press Win+R, enter
regedit, and press Enter. - Approve the elevation prompt.
- Navigate to the key shown above.
- With Auto Update selected, choose File > Export, save the
.regbackup somewhere you can find, and verify that the export completed. - Look for the value named exactly
EnableFeaturedSoftware. Do not create a value, rename another value, or alter unrelated entries simply because the name is absent. - If the value exists and its data is not
1, record the original data, change it only if you understand the policy implications, close Registry Editor and restart Windows.
On a work or school computer, Windows Update settings may be controlled by Group Policy or mobile-device management. A local registry change can be overwritten or violate the organization’s configuration. If the registry editor displays an access error, stop rather than taking ownership of system keys.
7. Use an optional-feature command only for a feature-specific failure
If the message appears while enabling a named Windows optional feature, use the feature’s actual name and the supported PowerShell syntax. Microsoft Learn documents:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName <name> -All
Replace <name> with the feature identifier, not the display sentence from Settings. Run PowerShell as administrator. The -Online switch targets the running Windows installation, -All includes parent features required by the selected feature, and the command can restart the computer if the operation requires it.
When a repair source is required
If Windows cannot obtain source files from Windows Update, Microsoft supports using a matching repair source with -Source and, where appropriate, -LimitAccess. A typical form is:
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Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName <name> -All -Source <path> -LimitAccess
The source must match the installed Windows edition, architecture and servicing level closely enough for the feature. A mismatched image can fail or introduce servicing problems. This command enables the selected feature; it does not repair a disabled Windows Update service, validate 0x80070422, or replace DISM component repair for a different problem.
What to check when the error remains
The code is still ambiguous
Return to the original dialog, Windows Update history and any setup log, and copy the code exactly. If no component identifies 0x800700422, search using the confirmed code and the operation that failed rather than appending EnableFeaturedSoftware to every query.
The service is disabled again
Check whether a Group Policy, security baseline, management tool or scheduled script is changing the startup type. On a managed PC, ask the administrator to review the policy. On a personal PC, review recently installed system utilities and undo only changes you recognize.
DISM or SFC reports corruption repeatedly
Run the commands again only when the preceding run completed normally. If the same corruption returns after a restart, preserve the command results and Windows Update history, then use Microsoft’s supported recovery options for your edition rather than repeatedly editing the registry.
Only one optional feature fails
Confirm the exact feature name, available disk space, edition compatibility and source files. Use the optional-feature command with the required parent features; do not treat a feature-specific failure as evidence that the entire Windows Update service is disabled.
Updates remain unavailable on Windows 10
Because Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, the device may be outside the normal servicing channel. Verify the installed release and Microsoft’s lifecycle information before escalating a missing update as a local repair defect.
Quick Recap
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not change registry values merely because a search result mentions them. Export the key first and use the exact path and value name.
- Do not run DISM optional-feature commands as a generic response to an update-service error.
- Do not delete the entire
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributiondirectory while Windows Update is running or without following the documented cache-reset sequence. - Do not disable antivirus or security software permanently. If a clean-boot test identifies interference, restore normal startup and consult the product’s supported configuration.
- Do not assume that a restart alone proves the service is fixed; return to Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- Do not confuse the legacy community suggestion about
EnableFeaturedSoftwarewith a Microsoft guarantee or a replacement for the troubleshooter.
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