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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Windows 10 error 0x80070422 means the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. Open the Services console, change Windows Update’s startup type to Automatic, start the service, restart your computer, and check for updates again. If the service will not start or the error returns, run Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooter and reset the update cache. These repairs address the service error itself; they do not restore free Windows 10 updates after Microsoft’s support deadline of October 14, 2025.
What error 0x80070422 means
The code often appears as 0x80070422. A title or search result that says “8×80070422” is generally referring to this standard hexadecimal Windows error notation. Microsoft Support describes it as: “0x80070422 | Windows Update service is disabled or stopped.” Microsoft Learn classifies the condition as ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED: the Windows Update service has stopped or is not running.
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Windows Update relies on that service to check Microsoft’s update servers, download update files and install them. If the service is disabled, set not to start, or stopped when Windows tries to use it, Settings can display the code instead of completing the update check. The message does not by itself prove that Windows files are damaged, that your hardware has failed, or that malware is present.
Check the support status before troubleshooting
Microsoft says that after October 14, 2025, it no longer provides free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance or security fixes for Windows 10, and recommends moving to Windows 11. Because that date has passed, a successfully repaired service may still find no new free Windows 10 updates. Fix the service if you need Windows Update to work, but distinguish a service error from the separate end-of-support policy.
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- If Windows Update reports 0x80070422 immediately, continue with the service repair below.
- If the service starts and Windows Update runs but says your device is up to date, that result can be consistent with Windows 10’s ended free-support period.
- Use an administrator account for service changes and for resetting the update cache.
Before changing anything
- Save open work and connect the PC to reliable power and internet access.
- Sign in with an account that can approve administrator prompts. A standard account may be able to view Services but cannot always change startup settings.
- Record the current Windows Update startup setting if you are troubleshooting a managed or shared computer. A workplace policy may intentionally control it.
- If third-party antivirus or security software is installed, note how to pause and re-enable it. Microsoft lists temporarily disabling such software as a possible troubleshooting step when it interferes with an update or installation; restore protection immediately after the test.
Fix 0x80070422 in Services
This is the primary repair for the ordinary “service disabled or stopped” case.
- Press Win+R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
services.mscand press Enter. Approve the User Account Control prompt if Windows displays one. - In the Services list, find Windows Update. The list is alphabetical, so scrolling to the W section can be quicker than searching.
- 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, select Start.
- Select Apply, then OK to close Properties.
- Restart the PC, even if the service appeared to start successfully.
- After signing in again, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
If the Start button is unavailable, the startup type cannot be changed, or Windows displays an access-denied message, the account may lack administrator rights or a policy may be managing the service. On a work or school computer, contact the administrator rather than changing policy settings on your own.
What to do if Windows Update stops again
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Microsoft recommends the Windows Update troubleshooter when enabling the service does not resolve the error. In Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters, choose Windows Update, select Run the troubleshooter, and follow the prompts. The exact wording can vary by Windows 10 build, so use the Windows Update troubleshooter entry shown on your PC.
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Allow the troubleshooter to complete its checks. Apply any repair it offers, restart when prompted, and try Check for updates again. If it reports that the service is disabled, return to services.msc and verify that Windows Update is still set to Automatic and running.
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Reset the Windows Update cache
A damaged or incomplete update cache can cause the service to fail during an update attempt. Microsoft documents resetting that cache by stopping Windows Update, removing the contents of its cache folder, and starting the service again. This procedure requires an administrator account.
- Press Win+R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - Find Windows Update, open its Properties, and select Stop. Leave the Services window open.
- Open File Explorer and go to
C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution. - Delete the files and folders inside
SoftwareDistribution. Do not delete theSoftwareDistributionfolder itself. - Return to the Windows Update Properties window and select Start.
- Select Apply and OK, restart the PC, and select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
Windows may recreate cache contents after the service starts. If a file says it is in use, confirm that Windows Update is stopped before trying again. If you cannot stop the service or delete the contents, restart Windows and repeat the sequence with administrator approval rather than deleting unrelated folders elsewhere in C:Windows.
When security software or policy is involved
Microsoft’s upgrade-error guidance notes that third-party antivirus or security software can interfere with updates. If the service is set to Automatic but an update repeatedly fails, temporarily pause that software only long enough to test Windows Update, then re-enable it before normal browsing. Do not leave the PC unprotected, and do not uninstall security software as a first step.
A service that changes back to Disabled after every restart can also be controlled by organizational policy or another installed security product. Check whether the PC belongs to an employer or school. The administrator who manages it may need to allow Windows Update; repeatedly forcing a local setting can be undone by policy and can conflict with the organization’s update process.
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Choose the repair route that fits the symptom
| Route | Best fit | Difficulty | Privileges | Reversibility | What it changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services console | Windows Update is disabled or stopped and stays that way | Low; graphical setting | Administrator access may be required | High; the startup type can be changed back | Sets Windows Update to Automatic and starts it |
| Windows Update troubleshooter | The service is enabled but updates still report an error | Low; guided checks | Administrator approval may be requested | Generally reversible; review each suggested repair | Checks common Windows Update conditions and applies offered fixes |
| SoftwareDistribution cache reset | The service will not complete an update or the error returns after a restart | Moderate; stop service and remove cache contents | Administrator account required | Reversible in effect; Windows recreates cache data | Removes cached update files so Windows can build a fresh cache |
| Security or policy review | The service is repeatedly disabled or immediately stops | Moderate to high; depends on who controls the PC | Administrator or organization administrator | Depends on the controlling policy or product | Addresses an external block rather than repairing the service locally |
Diagnose the result after each attempt
The error disappears and updates check normally
No additional repair is needed. Leave Windows Update at the startup setting required for normal operation and allow the update check to finish. Restarting before the final check is useful because it confirms that the setting persists across a boot.
The service starts, but 0x80070422 returns after reboot
Open services.msc again and verify both values: Startup type: Automatic and Service status: Running. If either value reverted, investigate policy or security software instead of repeatedly clearing the cache. On a managed PC, ask the administrator to check the update policy.
The service starts, but the cache reset does not help
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter and follow any repair it reports. If a third-party antivirus or security product is active, perform the temporary pause test described above and then restore protection. A persistent failure after those steps may require Microsoft’s current Windows Update component-reset instructions or support for the specific Windows 10 build.
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The service will not start at all
Confirm that you selected Automatic, clicked Apply, and approved administrator prompts. If Windows reports that the setting is controlled, access is denied, or the service stops immediately, treat that as a policy, permissions or software-interference problem. Do not delete registry entries or unrelated service files based only on this error code; those actions are outside the documented first-line repair and can create new startup problems.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Changing the wrong service: select the entry named exactly Windows Update, not a similarly named updater belonging to another application.
- Starting without changing Startup type: a one-time Start action may not survive a restart if the service remains Disabled. Set Automatic first.
- Deleting the parent cache folder: remove the contents of
C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution, not the folder itself. - Skipping the restart: reboot after changing the service or resetting the cache before checking again.
- Leaving security software paused: use a temporary test only, then turn protection back on.
- Expecting the repair to extend Windows 10 support: fixing 0x80070422 restores the service path; it does not change Microsoft’s October 14, 2025 support end date.
Why the repair may succeed but no update may appear
There are two separate outcomes. First, the service can be healthy: it is set to Automatic, running after a restart, and able to perform an update check. Second, Microsoft may have no further free Windows 10 updates to offer after October 14, 2025. A successful service repair therefore does not guarantee that Windows 10 will download a new feature or security update. Check the service state and the Windows Update result separately.
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