The error code 0x80070006 is quite a general error and may appear while updating Windows, opening Microsoft Store, or sometimes when you are entering your PIN. As each process differs from others quite certainly, you can’t apply the solutions in general. Instead, what you can do is go to a particular section where you are facing difficulty and apply the available fixes.
As of now, we are aware of three different types of this error code and they are as follows –
- PIN isn’t available, code: 0x80070006
- Windows Update Error 0x80070006
- Microsoft Store Error 0x80070006
Check where your problem lies, reach out to the most probable section out there, and apply the enlisted solutions. I hope you are able to resolve this error code on Windows 11 or 10 PC.
PIN isn’t available, Error code: 0x80070006
Several users reported this problem when they were trying to log into their PC using their PINs. The system forces them to use their passwords again and again. Even in cases where you reset your PIN, the error code returns. When it occurs, you may get the following error message –
Something went wrong and your PIN isn’t available (code: 0x80070006)
To overcome this issue, you may apply the below fixes and check if they help in addressing this problem. The known fixes to this problem are as follows.
1] Delete the NGC folder
Several users reported that they were able to solve this error code simply by deleting the NGC folder. So, try this as your first workaround and see if this works in your case as well. Here’s how to perform this task –
- Press Win + E to launch File Explorer and navigate to the below path –
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\
- Reaching out to the LocalService in the above path is easy as the patch is clearly visible. However, beyond that, you can’t find any relevant terms as all of them are hidden. Unhide them first, and reach out to the Microsoft folder.
- When you are there, locate and select NGC. Press the delete button next.
- Restart your PC and check if the problem resolves after the next login.
Note:
- To unhide a folder, go to View > Show on File Explorer and select Hidden items. All hidden files and folders will start displaying on the display screen.
- Deleting NGC: NGC is basically a system built-in app, so you can’t delete this folder normally. You need to first take ownership of this folder and then delete it.
2] Remove third-party antivirus
As you are not able to log into your device even after resetting your PIN, this is not a PIN-related issue. This must be occurring due to some third-party apps running in the background like antivirus. Check the same over Task Manager and locate the ones that are consuming huge spaces and RAM. Right-click on each one of them and hit End task.
If there is an external security app running on your device like Kaspersky or Avast, uninstall or at least disable them temporarily. Reboot your PC and check if the PIN starts working.
3] Run SFC/DISM tools
Due to the presence of an interacting software, the system files or folders may also become corrupted. If that’s the case, you must repair them using the System File Checker Utility program. Here’s how to do this –
- Launch CMD as administrator.
- On the elevated console, type the following and press Enter –
sfc /scannow
- Usually, this takes 10-15 minutes to find and repair the underlying causes, so wait patiently.
- After the SFC scan completes, execute the DISM health restore code. The code is provided below –
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Just like SFC, DISM will also take 10-15 minutes to find and repair any corruption inside your System Image. Once this is over, restart your PC and check if the problem resolves.
Windows Update Error 0x80070006
As stated above, the error code 0x80070006 also appears when you are trying to update Windows or install pending updates on your computer. In case you are getting this error code while installing Windows updates, consider applying the below fixes in the same order as they were put in.
1] Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
The first solution to this problem is via troubleshooting Windows Update. Doing this will force the system to find the actual culprits and auto-correct them. Here’s how to run this utility program in Windows 11 –
- Launch Settings (Win + I), and reach out to the below path –
System (left navigation) > Troubleshoot (right pane) > Other troubleshooters
- Under Most frequent, you may find Windows Update.
- Click the Run button available on it and wait while the troubleshooting completes.
- You might need to press Next and follow some other instructions in the subsequent window. Do the same and the error 0x80070006 will resolve in no time.
Windows 10 users can’t troubleshoot Windows Update by following the above guide. Instead, they can follow their old ways to troubleshoot update-related issues and have this problem resolved. For the sake of our user’s convenience, we are putting the old steps below –
- Go to Settings > Update & Security first.
- Click Troubleshoot on the left navigation and select Additional troubleshooters.
- The system will redirect you to the troubleshooting window.
- Locate Windows Update under the section – “Most frequent”, and click on it.
- When it expands, hit the button – Run the troubleshooter.
- Click Next on the upcoming troubleshooting window and follow the on-screen instructions,
By the time, this tool finishes doing the troubleshooting, the error 0x80070006 will definitely resolve. If not, you may follow the next set of solutions.
2] Reset Windows Update Components
Troubleshooting Windows Update doesn’t work only when there is some corruption inside the Update Components. This means disabling and then re-enabling update-related services and purging the two cache folders on Windows 11 or 10 PC. The two folders that require cleaning are as follows –
- SoftwareDistribution: C:\Windows\
- Catroot2: C:\Windows\System32\
Make a note that you can’t simply go to the above destinations and delete all the contents inside SoftwareDistribution or Catroot2. Before you do so, you must ensure disabling all update services. Re-enable them only when you have purged the above-said folders. Here’s a quick guide on how to reset the Update components in Windows 11/10.
3] Manually install pending updates
If for any reason, the update error 0x80070006 is still persisting, you may go for the manual method. In this, you need to visit the Microsoft Update Catalog site and search for the update that is continuously failing on your PC.
When the searched-in query pops up, choose your setup file based on your system architecture and hit the Download button next to it. Click the top link on the subsequent window, and the standalone package (.msu file format) will start downloading. Once the download completes, you may double-click on the setup file to begin its installation. Here’s a quick guide on how to download and install pending updates manually on the following versions of Windows –
Microsoft Store Error 0x80070006
This error may also appear when you are trying to open Microsoft Store or installing apps from it. Sometimes, this may occur when you are upgrading the existing apps on Windows Store. To overcome this error in Windows 11/10, go through the below solutions and apply them –
1] Run Windows Store Apps troubleshooter
The first way to resolve Store error code 0x80070006 is by running the in-built troubleshooter. Follow the steps below to locate this tool and run it on Windows 11 or 10 PC –
Windows 11:
- First of all, reach out to the below path in Windows 11 –
Settings (Win + I) > System > Troubleshoot
- When the troubleshoot setting expands, click Other troubleshooters.
- Scroll down to the bottom next and hit the Run button available beside Windows Store Apps.
- Now, follow the on-screen instructions to complete troubleshooting Microsoft Store.
Windows 10:
- First of all, navigate to the below path –
Settings (Win + I) > Update & Security > Troubleshoot (left navigation pane)
- Head over to the right panel and click Additional troubleshooters.
- Scroll down to the bottom and locate Windows Store Apps.
- When located, click on it and hit Run the troubleshooter.
- Now, follow the on-screen instructions and the error 0x80070006 will resolve automatically.
2] Clear stored cache on Microsoft Store via WSReset
The stored cache inside Microsoft Store, when not cleared, may also trigger an error code 0x80070006 in Windows 11/10. If you haven’t cleared any data on it for a long time, consider doing so using WSReset. Follow the steps below on how to clear the accumulated cache in Windows Store –
- Press Win + R to launch Run.
- Type “WSReset.exe” and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys altogether.
- Using the three keys hotkey will launch CMD as administrator and execute the typed-in code.
- After this is over, Microsoft Store will launch automatically.
3] Reinstall Microsoft Store
If for any reason, the error 0x80070006 is still occurring, your Store app must have been corrupted beyond repair. In such cases, you should definitely reinstall Microsoft Store.
However, as there is no direct way to remove built-in apps on Windows 11/10, you may launch Windows PowerShell (Admin) and run the below code –
Get-AppxPackage *windowsstore* | Remove-AppxPackage
- After this code runs successfully, copy/paste the below cmdlet and press Enter –
Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
- Your Store app will uninstall and then reinstall successfully on your Windows 11/10 PC.
- Restart your PC and check if the Store app is now functioning properly.
Hopefully, you find this article useful and easy to follow. Let’s know in the comment section if you face any difficulty following any fix discussed in it.
