What is 0x80070422-3?
Windows Defender service disabled (0x80070422) is a high-severity fault affecting the Windows operating system. The Windows Defender service cannot start, leaving the system vulnerable. It's also often linked to third-party antivirus interference. Work through the steps below in order.
Common Causes
- Third-party antivirus interference
- Malware disabled the service
Step-by-Step Fix Guide
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1
Uninstall conflicting AV
Uninstall conflicting AV is the first thing worth trying, since it resolves 0x80070422 for most affected systems.
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2
Run malware scan in Safe Mode
For cases that don't clear up right away, the remaining steps target less typical windows instability problems.
Commands & Diagnostics
sc start WinDefend
Frequently Asked Questions
The leading cause of 0x80070422-3 is third-party antivirus interference, though malware disabled the service also show up in our reports.
Most 0x80070422-3 reports resolve after "Uninstall conflicting AV". The rest of the guide above is there for the cases that don't.
Rated high severity — 0x80070422-3 isn't immediately destructive, but recurring instances are a sign to fix it sooner rather than later.
In most cases, yes — the guide above resolves 0x80070422-3 without a clean install. Treat a reinstall as the last resort, not the first move.
Sometimes. Microsoft regularly releases patches that fix known BSOD triggers including 0x80070422-3. Make sure Windows is fully up to date via Settings → Windows Update before attempting more advanced fixes.
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