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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If Windows shows 0x80070422 while checking for updates or downloading an app, the Windows Update service is disabled or stopped. The code in the original title, 0X800704022, has an extra trailing “2”; Microsoft documents the condition as 0x80070422 (ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED). Restore that service first, then use the cache, troubleshooter and Microsoft Store steps below if the error remains.
What error 0x80070422 means
Microsoft Support describes this message as “Windows Update service is disabled or stopped.” Microsoft Learn identifies the underlying system condition as ERROR_SERVICE_DISABLED. In practical terms, Windows cannot reach the update service that downloads and installs update files. The same dependency can affect Microsoft Store downloads, because Store installation and updating require access to Windows Update endpoints.
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The code alone does not tell you why the service is unavailable. A user may have changed its startup setting, an administrator policy may have disabled it, or another security or configuration utility may have stopped it. Treat the service state as the first thing to repair rather than assuming malware or a damaged Windows installation.
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Before changing anything
- Save open work and connect the computer to a stable network.
- Sign in with an administrator account. Starting a Windows service and changing files under
C:Windowscan require elevation. - If the PC belongs to an employer, school or managed organization, check with its administrator before changing service startup settings. A policy may intentionally control Windows Update.
- Note where the message appears: Windows Update, Microsoft Store, or both. This determines which branch of the repair sequence matters most.
Repair the Windows Update service first
This is the primary fix for the documented condition and does not require downloading another utility.
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- 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, locate Windows Update. The list can be sorted by clicking the Name column.
- Double-click Windows Update to open its Properties dialog.
- Set Startup type to Automatic. If your organization requires a different setting, follow its policy instead of overriding it.
- Look at Service status. If it says Stopped, select Start.
- Select Apply, then OK.
- Restart the PC. After Windows starts again, open Settings > Windows Update (in Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update (in Windows 10), then choose Check for updates.
If the service starts and Windows Update completes normally, no cache reset is necessary. If Start is unavailable, an error appears, or the service stops again immediately, continue with the diagnostic sections rather than repeatedly clicking Start.
Run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter
Windows includes an automated troubleshooter that checks common update components and applies repairs it is allowed to make. Run it after confirming the service startup setting.
- Open Settings.
- In Windows 11, go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. In Windows 10, go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update and select Run (or Run the troubleshooter).
- Follow the prompts, allow any recommended repair, and restart when requested.
- Return to the Windows Update page and select Check for updates.
The troubleshooter can report that it found no problem even when a service or cache issue remains. That result does not prevent you from using the manual cache reset below.
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Reset the Windows Update download cache
A damaged or incomplete local download can keep producing an update error after the service is enabled. Resetting the SoftwareDistribution contents makes Windows create a fresh cache. Do not delete those files while Windows Update is running.
Stop the service and clear its files
- Open Services with
Win + R, enterservices.msc, and press Enter. - Right-click Windows Update and choose Stop. Leave the Services window open or remember to return to it.
- Open File Explorer and enter
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionin the address bar. - Select the contents of that folder and delete them. Delete the contents, not the
SoftwareDistributionfolder itself. Windows will rebuild what it needs. - If Windows says a file is in use, return to Services and confirm that Windows Update is stopped. Do not force-delete a locked file.
- Return to Services, right-click Windows Update, choose Properties, set Startup type to Automatic if necessary, select Start, then choose Apply and OK.
- Restart the computer and check for updates again.
Clearing this cache removes locally downloaded update packages; it does not uninstall updates that are already installed. The next check may take longer because Windows must download files again.
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If Services or File Explorer is inaccessible, an administrator can perform the same operation from an elevated Command Prompt. Open Start, type Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, and run each line separately:
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net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
del /f /s /q C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution*
net start bits
net start wuauservThe del command removes files and subfolders under the cache path. If a command reports that a service was not started or a file could not be removed, note the exact message, restart the PC, and reassess rather than repeating the deletion indefinitely.
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If the error appears in Microsoft Store
The Store can show 0x80070422 even when the immediate symptom is an app download. Work through the Windows Update service and cache steps first, then check the Store-specific dependencies.
Confirm the Store account and basic operation
- Open Microsoft Store from Start and confirm that it launches without an error.
- Select your profile icon and sign in with the account that should own or use the app.
- Install any pending Windows updates, restart, then open Library > Get updates in the Store.
- Retry the app download.
If the Store itself will not open, or the affected app remains stuck after updates are current, use the app repair controls in the next section.
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Repair or reset Microsoft Store and the affected app
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10.
- Find Microsoft Store, select its menu (or Advanced options), and choose Repair. Repair keeps the app’s data where Windows supports that option.
- Open the same page again and choose Reset only if Repair does not solve the problem. Reset can remove the Store app’s local data and may require you to sign in again.
- Repeat the Repair, then Reset sequence for the specific app that will not download or update.
- Restart Windows and try Library > Get updates once more.
The labels vary slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the controls are in the affected app’s advanced settings.
Check registration, endpoints and policy controls
Microsoft says Store app installation and updating requires the relevant Windows Update and Store endpoints to be reachable. A service can be correctly set to Automatic yet still fail when a firewall, proxy, VPN, DNS filter or organizational policy blocks those endpoints.
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- Look under Settings > Accounts > Access work or school for a connected organization account.
- Check whether Windows displays “Some settings are managed by your organization” on update pages.
- Ask the administrator whether Windows Update or Microsoft Store is disabled by Group Policy, mobile-device management or a network security appliance.
Do not remove a management profile or change Group Policy merely to make one download work. The administrator must permit the required services and endpoints.
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Check firewall and proxy reachability
- Temporarily disconnect a third-party VPN or filtering proxy only if your organization’s rules allow it, then retry on a trusted connection.
- In Settings > Network & internet > Proxy, verify that an unexpected manual proxy is not enabled.
- Ensure the Windows firewall allows Windows Update and Microsoft Store traffic. If a corporate firewall is present, ask its administrator to verify Microsoft’s current endpoint requirements rather than guessing domains.
- Try another permitted network, such as a phone hotspot, to distinguish a local service problem from network policy blocking. A different network is a diagnostic comparison, not a permanent workaround for a managed device.
Verify Store registration
The Store must be registered for the signed-in user. If it opens normally but downloads fail after service and network checks, an administrator can inspect the Store package registration with PowerShell. Open Windows PowerShell as administrator and use:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStoreThe command should return package information. If it returns nothing or reports a deployment error, stop and record that error for an administrator or Microsoft support; package re-registration commands differ by Windows build and account context, and an indiscriminate command can affect other users.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use WinGet only when the package is available
If the desired application is published through the supported Windows Package Manager sources, WinGet can provide an alternative installation path while the Store issue is being investigated. This does not repair a disabled Windows Update service.
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- Search for the package:
winget search <app name>. - Review the results and identify the correct publisher and package.
- Install only a package that appears in the search results:
winget install <app name>.
Use these commands only when the package is available through that supported path. Do not substitute an unrelated download site for the Store, especially on a managed computer.
When Windows Update will not stay enabled
If Windows Update cannot be started, immediately switches back to Disabled, or fails with an access or dependency error, the documented code has reached its limit as a diagnosis. It confirms a disabled-service condition, not the cause of that condition.
Collect useful evidence
- Write down the exact error text and number shown when selecting Start.
- In Services, note the Startup type and Service status for Windows Update.
- Open Event Viewer by pressing
Win + R, enteringeventvwr.msc, and reviewing Windows Logs > System around the time of the failure. - Record whether the PC is managed, whether a security product or tuning utility recently changed settings, and whether another network changes the result.
Give those details to the device administrator or Microsoft support. Repeatedly changing the startup setting without checking policy, permissions and event logs can conceal the real cause and may conflict with organizational controls.
Quick Recap
Decision guide: which branch fits?
| Where you see 0x80070422 | First action | Next branch if it persists |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Update settings | Set Windows Update to Automatic and start it in services.msc, then restart. |
Run the troubleshooter and reset C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution. |
| Microsoft Store download, while Windows Update is also failing | Repair the Windows Update service first. | Reset the cache, then check Store sign-in, updates and endpoints. |
| Microsoft Store only, Windows Update works | Sign in, install pending updates and choose Library > Get updates. | Repair or reset Microsoft Store and the affected app; check registration and policy. |
| Service starts then disables itself | Stop changing settings and collect the service error and event details. | Escalate to an administrator or support team to inspect policy, permissions and logs. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Searching for “0x800704022” as though it were a separate documented code. Use 0x80070422; the extra digit is a title typo.
- Deleting
SoftwareDistributionwhile Windows Update is running. Stop the service first. - Resetting the Store before restoring a disabled Windows Update service when both symptoms are present.
- Assuming the code proves infection, hardware failure or a permanently damaged Windows installation. It identifies the service state, not those causes.
- Disabling firewall protection broadly instead of checking the required endpoints or asking a network administrator.
- Using an unofficial app installer when the package is not available through the Store or WinGet.
Final checklist
- Confirm the corrected code is 0x80070422.
- Set Windows Update to Automatic and start it in
services.msc. - Restart and run Windows Update.
- Run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter.
- Stop Windows Update, clear the contents of
C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution, restart the service and reboot. - For Store failures, sign in, install pending updates, select Library > Get updates, and repair or reset the Store or affected app.
- Check Store registration, firewall/proxy access and organizational policy.
- Use
winget searchandwinget installonly for packages available through that supported path. - Escalate with event and service details if Windows Update cannot remain enabled.
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