Medium Operating Systems ✓ Solution Verified by Community (0+ upvotes)

How to fix error 0x80070422 in Windows 11

Windows Update service not running or disabled.

✅ 65% success rate
👥 0+ users verified
📅 Updated: 2026-08-12
⏱️ 10 min read
Fix based on community reports and expert analysis. Last verified: 2026-08-12 · How we verify fixes
Error Code0x80070422
Affected SystemWindows 11 (Microsoft)
DifficultyMedium
Estimated Time10 min
Requires Admin Rights⚠️ Yes
Requires Reboot🔄 Yes

Solution Steps

  1. 1 Press Windows key + R, type 'services.msc', and press Enter. This opens the Services window.
  2. 2 Scroll down to 'Windows Update'. Right-click it and select 'Properties'.
  3. 3 In the 'General' tab, find 'Startup type'. Change it to 'Automatic' using the dropdown menu. This ensures Windows Update starts automatically when your PC boots.
  4. 4 Click the 'Start' button under 'Service status' to start the service immediately. If it's already started, you can skip this.
  5. 5 Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save changes.
  6. 6 Also check 'Background Intelligent Transfer Service' (BITS) — right-click it, select 'Properties', set startup type to 'Automatic', and start it. BITS helps download updates in the background.
  7. 7 Restart your PC to ensure all changes take effect. After reboot, go to Settings → Windows Update and try checking for updates.

Alternative Solutions

Method 2 (0 upvotes)

  1. Press Windows key + R, type 'services.msc', and press Enter. This opens the Services window where you can manage all Windows services.
  2. Scroll down to 'Windows Update'. Double-click it to open its properties. In the 'General' tab, look at 'Startup type'. It should be 'Automatic' (or 'Manual' for some versions). If it's 'Disabled', change it to 'Automatic'.
  3. If the service status is 'Stopped', click 'Start' to start it. If you get an error, note the error message—it might indicate a deeper issue.
  4. Also check the following services and ensure they are set to 'Automatic' and running: 'Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)', 'Cryptographic Services', and 'Windows Installer'. Right-click each and select 'Properties' to adjust startup type, then start them if stopped.
  5. After making changes, restart your PC to ensure all services start correctly. Then go to Settings → Windows Update and check for updates.
  6. If the services keep stopping, run a full antivirus scan to rule out malware. Also, check if any third-party 'tweaking' software is re-disabling them.

Method 3 (0 upvotes)

  1. Press Windows key + R, type 'services.msc', and press Enter. This opens the Services window where you can manage system services.
  2. Scroll down to 'Windows Update'. Right-click it and select 'Properties'. In the 'General' tab, look at the 'Startup type' dropdown. It should be set to 'Automatic' (or 'Automatic (Delayed Start)' is also fine). If it's set to 'Disabled', change it to 'Automatic'.
  3. If the service is not running, click the 'Start' button under 'Service status'. If it's already running, you can stop and start it again to refresh.
  4. Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save changes.
  5. Now, also check the 'Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)' and 'Cryptographic Services' in the same list. Set their startup type to 'Automatic' as well, and start them if they are stopped. These services work together with Windows Update.
  6. Press Windows key + I to open Settings, go to 'Windows Update', and click 'Check for updates'. The error should be gone.
  7. If the service keeps stopping, you may need to run the System File Checker. Open Command Prompt as administrator (Win+R, type 'cmd', press Ctrl+Shift+Enter) and run 'sfc /scannow'. This repairs corrupted system files that might be causing the service to fail.

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