How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070422

Several users reported getting an update error 0x80070422 while installing new cumulative updates on their devices. If you are also getting this error code while installing pending updates, read this article till the end. In this post, we have discussed what possibly could have triggered this issue and the ten fixes that can resolve this issue on Windows 11/10 PC. 

Note: This error also occurs when you are installing new apps from Microsoft Store or during Windows activation. In case you are getting the same error code on Microsoft Store or while activating Windows, follow these guides –

• Fix – Microsoft Store Error code 0x80070422 Windows 11/10
• How to Fix Windows Activation Error 0x80070422

[Solved] Windows Update Error 0x80070422

If you are facing problems installing new updates on your Windows 11/10 PC, try out these workarounds and have this error sorted out. You may apply the solutions in any order, however, we recommend following the below fixes in the same order as they are put in. This way, you will get a clear picture of what actually went wrong on your device. Let’s explore the solutions in detail –

1] Enable Windows Update Services

Windows update errors mainly occur when the required services are either set to manual or have been disabled on your PC. Re-enable all such services and check if you can update Windows normally. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Press Win + R to launch the Run dialog.
• Type “CMD”, and press the ctrl + shift + enter keys altogether.
• Command Prompt will launch next having administrative privileges.
• Run these codes one after another followed by the Enter key separately.

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

• Following this way, you will set all update-related services to start automatically. 
• After you execute all these commands successfully, close CMD and restart your PC.

Sign back into your device again and visit Settings (Win + I) > Windows Update, and hit Check for updates. Check if the error 0x80070422 resolves this way. If not, follow the next set of solutions discussed below. 

2] Restart Windows License Manager Service

Windows License Manager service must be running to automatically download and install the available updates on your computer. So, check if this service is running in the background or not. In case you find this service turned off, follow the below steps to restart it on your Windows PC. 

• Press Win + R to launch the Run dialog.
• Type “services.msc” on it and hit OK.
• When the Services window launches, scroll down to Windows License Manager Service.
• Once found, right-click on it and select Properties.
• Use the Startup drop-down menu and change it to Automatic.
• Click Apply then OK to confirm the recent changes. 

Reboot your PC next and check if the update error 0x80070422 resolves afterward. 

3] Ensure Windows is not set as Metered Connection

Though this is not a solution, having set your device as a Metered connection also prohibits installing new updates on your computer. If you had configured one of your WiFi devices as a metered connection, change it back to its original setting. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Right-click on the network icon (Ethernet or WiFi) and select Network and Internet settings.
• On the subsequent screen, click on your mode of network. For example, we have chosen WiFi here.
• Locate your router name on the next screen, and click on it.
• On its properties window, scroll down a bit and disable the Metered connection feature. 
• Restart your PC and check if you can update Windows normally. 

4] Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows 11/10 includes an in-built tool that can look out for possible reasons behind a failing update and fix that on its own. Here’s how to troubleshoot Windows 11 failing update using this tool –

• Press Win + I to launch Settings.
• Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
• Locate Windows update under Most frequent, and hit the Run button available on it.

• When the troubleshooter launches, click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.

Wait while this tool is diagnosing and repairing the underlying causes on your Windows 11 PC. When this provides a fix, click on Apply this fix. 

Note: Windows 10 users may find this troubleshooting tool at the below location –

Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters

• Locate Windows Update under Most frequent, and click on it once.
• When it expands, hit Run the troubleshooter.

Click Next on the opened troubleshooting window, and follow the on-screen instructions. Even in cases where it doesn’t solve the update error code 0x80070422, this tool will provide additional information. Click on the View detailed Information link and know about the same. 

5] Disable Third-party Antivirus

Antiviruses are known to interact with the system files and folders and make them corrupt. In certain cases, you might even notice updates failing on this constant interference by security apps. Disable your default antivirus, and check if the update process happens with no anomaly. 

Note: If you are using free antivirus, we suggest disabling that permanently. Windows provides an in-built tool to tackle such problems under the name – “Windows Security“. This software provides additional security features that you can’t get using the free antivirus program. 

6] Run SFC/DISM Scans

After you have successfully disabled or uninstalled the external antivirus, it’s time to repair the files that have either gone missing or have corrupted. SFC and DISM are two great in-built tools that can help you to recover all such files. Here’s how to run both these tools on Windows 11/10 PC –

• Press Win + X, and choose Windows Terminal (Admin). 
• When the terminal launches, press ctrl + shift + 2 to start CMD.
• On the elevated console, copy/paste the below code, and press Enter –

sfc /scannow

• Wait for this tool to diagnose and repair corrupt files automatically. 
• After this tool completes troubleshooting, execute the below DISM command.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• This command will check for any corruption inside the System Image and when found, repair the same.
• Wait again for this tool to finish its task. After this also completes troubleshooting, you may restart your PC.

Sign back into your device and check if you can update Windows normally. 

7] Reset Windows Update Components

Update errors may also occur when the update-related components get corrupted somehow. The corruption mainly lies within the Windows Cache folders thus you should purge these folders. Before you purge Windows Cache folders, you must ensure all update-related services are turned off. To do so, launch the Services window, and stop all services that are somehow responsible for Windows updates. 

The best way to perform this action is by opening Command Prompt as administrator and running these codes –

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

• The first four commands will stop the services – Windows Update, Cryptographic Services, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, and Windows Installer Service.
• The fifth and Sixth commands will ensure renaming the existing SotwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. This is done to make sure nothing goes out of sync and causes a system crash out of nowhere. The moment you restart your PC, the original folders will re-appear at their specified locations.
• Activate all the services that you have stopped before. 

I hope the update error 0x80070422 resolves now on your computer. 

8] Configure the registry

Windows updates may also fail when the related settings are turned off inside the registry. Open the Registry Editor and make the necessary changes there. Here’s how to perform this task –

• Press Win + X, and hit Run on the Power Menu.
• Type “regedit” and hit OK next.
• When the registry launches, navigate to the below path – 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Windows Update/Auto Update

• Jump to the right pane and locate a DWORD entry there named “EnableFeaturedSoftware”. 
• Its default value must be set to “1” to auto-download and install pending updates.
• Double-click on this entry and change its Value Data Field to “1”.

Note: In case you didn’t find such an entry out there inside the registry, create a new DWORD 32 entry and name this one as EnableFeaturedSoftware. The remaining steps would be the same as explained above. 

• Go to Settings > Windows Update, and hit Check for updates.

9] Use System Restore Point

I hope the update error 0x80070422 has been resolved by now. If not, this can’t be solved using the regular steps. In case you do remember creating a system restore point before this error occurred, you may revert back your Windows PC to its default state. Otherwise, go for manually downloading and updating pending updates on your computer. 

10] Manually install pending updates

Microsoft releases the standalone package of all its security or non-security updates at its Update Catalog site. Since you are facing issues upgrading your Windows version, you may manually download the required setup file and install it on your computer. 

For this, you require the pending update KB number which you may get from Windows 11 Update History or Windows 10 Update history. Use the left-side navigation to select the installed Windows version on your computer. Go to the top link under this version, and note down the KB number. Now, visit Microsoft Update Catalog and search for the same copied cumulative update number starting with “KB”. 

Pick the update that best matches your system configuration and hit the Download button. Click over the top link to begin downloading the .msu file format update. After the downloading completes, browse to the folder where you have saved the standalone package and double-click on it. The system will check for the chosen update Genuity and begin upgrading your Windows 11/10 version to the next OS Build update. 

Note: We have also written separate topics on how to install updates manually on Windows 11 or Windows 10. Follow these guides if you still have some confusion. 

How to perform an In-place upgrade on your Windows PC

The last workaround i.e. manually downloading and installing cumulative updates often resolves any update-related issue on Windows 11 or 10 PC. However, the possibility of the same error appearance simply increases when a new update becomes available. 

In case you don’t want to go through the above resolutions time and again, it’s better to perform an in-place upgrade on your Windows PC. Here’s how to perform this task – 

• First of all, visit Windows 11 official page and download the latest ISO from there. In case you want to reinstall Windows 10 on your PC, visit this site. 
• Scroll down to Create Windows 11/10 Installation Media, and hit Download Now.
• This will download the Media Creation Tool setup file on your computer. Double-click on it to begin its installation. 
• A new window will pop up and take you through the necessary actions while downloading the chosen Windows version. Make sure to opt for “ISO file” when prompted. This way, you have the required Windows ISO file and you may use it whenever the need arises. 
• Make this file bootable using the Rufus tool next. Now, plug in the USB drive in one of your device’s ports and press the boot key. 
• Go for the upgrade option when prompted otherwise all your previous data will be lost permanently. If there aren’t many files that require saving, you may put them inside OneDrive as well. This way, you can also perform a clean installation of Windows 11/10 on your computer. 

I hope the update issue resolves automatically after you apply this workaround. Let’s know in the comment section if you face any difficulty following this article.