How to Fix Update Error 0x80070490 in Windows 11/10

This post will discuss the possible culprits causing the update error 0x80070490 along with seven proper ways to address them. This bug typically occurs when you are signed in using a corrupted user profile. To fix this, create a new user account and delete the existing ones via the registry. 

Note: Before proceeding to the solutions listed below, disable third-party antivirus software, and check whether this solves the error 0x80070490. If the issue gets resolved, remove this program on your computer and instead start using the default security application i.e. Microsoft Defender. If not, try the following suggestions sequentially –

1] Create a New User Account

The update error 0x80070490 typically occurs when corruption is associated with the signed-in user profile. To fix this, you should create a new user account using the following steps – 

• First of all, navigate to the below path –

Settings (Win + I) > Accounts > Your Info

• Switch to the right side and click “Sign in with a local account instead“.

• Follow the on-screen instructions and sign in using the newly created user ID and password.

Now that you have logged in using a new user account, there should not appear any error while updating Windows. 

2] Delete User Profiles via Registry

If the error prevails even after logging in with a new user account, delete the old user profiles via the registry. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
• Type “regedit” and click OK.
• On the registry, navigate to the below path –

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore

• Look for the folder that resembles “S-1-5-21” like – S-1-5-21-3105168380-3071851799-381973337-1001.

• Right-click on this folder and choose Delete. If there are more than one key identical to the above format, delete all of them.
• Once over, close the registry and restart Windows. 

From the next logon, try updating your operating system again. 

3] Run the Update Troubleshooter

If creating a new user profile and deleting the existing ones don’t solve the 0x80070490 issue, update the troubleshooter. This tool will tackle the reasons leading to update-related bugs and errors. Here’s how to troubleshoot Windows update –

• Press Win + I to open the Settings menu.
• Navigate Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
• Click Windows Update, then Run the troubleshooter.

• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the remaining process. 
• When the troubleshooting finishes, Restart your computer.

While on Windows 11 PC, you will not get the troubleshooter setting by following the above steps. You need to follow an alternate path which is as follows –

Settings (Win + I) > System > Troubleshooter > Other Troubleshooters

After reaching the path above, you may find Windows updates under the section – Most frequent. Click the Run button available beside Windows update.

4] Perform SFC/DISM scans

The presence of corrupted system files may also cause the 0x80070490 error during the Windows update. To fix this, you should fully scan your PC using the System File Checker utility program. Here are the essential steps to work on –

• Launch Command Prompt having administrative privileges.
• Type “sfc/scannow” near the blinking cursor and press Enter.

• Usually, this takes 15-20 minutes to finish the scanning/repairing process.

Note: In certain cases, this may take even more time depending upon the level of corruption.

• Once over, restart your computer so that the changes made come into effect. 

Now that you have successfully repaired the damaged core files, use the DISM tool to find any corruption inside the Windows 10 image. All you require is to execute the below code on an elevated console with Admin rights –

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

5] Reset Windows Update Services

Many a time, you may address this issue simply by resetting the Windows Update Services. To do so, use these steps –

• Press WinKey + S to launch the Search window.
• Type services in the text bar and hit Enter. Doing so will invoke the Services window.
• Here, scroll down and check if the following services are running or not. 
  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service
  • Cryptographic Services
  • MSI Installer
  • Windows Update
• The above services should be running for an error-free update process. However, if you find any of these services not running, make a right-click, and hit Start using the context menu. 

• Reboot your PC to incorporate the recent changes.

When Windows reloads, check if the error 0x80070490 still occurs or has been resolved. 

6] Rename the SoftwareDistribution Folder

The update process may also fail when the SoftwareDistribution folder gets corrupted somehow. So, if you are still struggling with the 0x80070490 error, try renaming this folder to something SD.old.

However, as this folder contains all the information that a Windows update requires, make sure to disable the update services first. To do so, use these steps –

• Use Win + R shortcut to open Run.
• Type services.msc in the text field and hit OK.
• On the Services window, locate and right-click on Windows Update and click “Stop“. 
• Now, go to the below location and rename the folder – SoftwareDistribution. 

C:\Windows

• Next, go to the location C:\Windows\System32 and look for the catroot2 folder. Once found, right-click on the same and rename this to catroot2.old. 
• After renaming folders, go back to the Services window and restart the services you stopped earlier. 
• Restart your computer after completing the above steps. 

7] Manually Install the Latest Cumulative Update

If you are still getting the 0x80070490 error while updating Windows 10 OS, better attempt this manually. Here’s how to manually download and install the Standalone package on your computer –

• Visit the Windows 10 Update History website and click the specific Build version that you currently have on your PC. If you are getting this error code on Windows 11, navigate to the Windows 11 Update history page instead. 
• Scroll down to “In this release” and select the top link. Head over to the right pane and copy the number that starts with “KB” like – KB4577063.

• Now that you have copied the cumulative update number, go to the Update Catalog page, and type this number accurately. Press Enter to view a list of well-matching results.
• If you do know your system architecture, click the Download button next to it. You may get this information by reaching out to the path – Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > OS Build Info.
• After the download completes, click twice on the setup file to start the installation. Windows may reboot several times during this process, so wait patiently.
• Once over, you won’t get this 0x80070490 error anymore during the Windows Update process.

I hope this article resolves the issue that you were looking for. Please let us know in the comments section what was your issue and which solution worked for you so that it could be useful for other users as well.