What is 0x80070422?
This medium-severity issue affects the Windows operating system. Windows Update has been disabled or is not working properly. Unable to download updates. This usually traces back to missing permission and conflict with antivirus. Use the steps below to track down and fix the cause.
Common Causes
- Service disabled manually or by malware
- Missing permission
- Conflict with antivirus
Step-by-Step Fix Guide
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1
Change the Windows Update startup type to Automatic
Change the Windows Update startup type to Automatic tends to be the quickest win here, addressing the most typical cause of 0x80070422.
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2
Enable all dependent services
Should the issue continue afterward, the remaining steps are there to cover the less common windows instability scenarios.
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3
Scan your PC for malware
This step, "Scan your PC for malware", specifically rules out service disabled manually or by malware.
Commands & Diagnostics
net start wuauserv
sc config wuauserv start= auto
Frequently Asked Questions
The leading cause of 0x80070422 is service disabled manually or by malware, though missing permission and conflict with antivirus also show up in our reports.
"Change the Windows Update startup type to Automatic" clears up most 0x80070422 reports by itself. The remaining steps above cover what's left.
As a medium-severity issue, 0x80070422 is more of a stability annoyance than a hardware risk — the steps above should clear it up.
In most cases, yes — the guide above resolves 0x80070422 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. Make sure Windows is fully up to date via Settings → Windows Update before attempting more advanced fixes.
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