Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070005 – Windows 10, Windows 11 2026

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter specifically designed to resolve update issues automatically.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Navigate to System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters
3. Locate Windows Update and click Run
4. Wait for the troubleshooter to scan and detect issues
5. Follow any recommended actions presented by the troubleshooter
6. Restart your computer when prompted
7. Test Windows Update by checking for updates manually

Verification: Open Settings → Windows Update and click Check for updates. The error should no longer appear.

This method manually resets all Windows Update services and clears cached update files.

1. Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin)
2. Stop Windows Update services by running these commands one by one:

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

3. Clear Windows Update cache by deleting temporary files:

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

4. Restart the Windows Update services:

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

5. Reset Windows Update policies:

gpupdate /force

6. Restart your computer
7. Test Windows Update functionality

Verification: Run sc query wuauserv to confirm the Windows Update service is running, then check for updates.

System file corruption can cause permission errors during updates. These tools repair corrupted system files.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Run System File Checker to scan for corrupted files:

sfc /scannow

3. Wait for the scan to complete (this may take 15-30 minutes)
4. If SFC finds issues, run DISM to repair the Windows image:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

5. After DISM completes, run SFC again to ensure all files are repaired:

sfc /scannow

6. Restart your computer
7. Attempt Windows Update again

Verification: Check the SFC log at C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log to confirm repairs were successful.

Incorrect registry permissions can prevent Windows Update from accessing necessary keys.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter
2. Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate

3. Right-click on the WindowsUpdate key and select Permissions
4. Click Advanced button
5. Click Change next to Owner
6. Type Administrators and click Check Names, then OK
7. Check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects
8. Click OK to apply ownership changes
9. In the Permissions dialog, select Administrators and ensure Full Control is checked
10. Click Advanced → Enable inheritance → Replace all child object permissions
11. Repeat steps 2-10 for this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv

11. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer

Verification: Open Registry Editor and confirm you can access the WindowsUpdate keys without permission errors.

If the error persists, the issue may be with your user profile permissions. Creating a new administrator account can resolve deep-seated permission problems.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Navigate to Accounts → Family & other users
3. Click Add someone else to this PC
4. Select I don't have this person's sign-in information
5. Choose Add a user without a Microsoft account
6. Create a username and password for the new account
7. After creation, click on the new account and select Change account type
8. Change the account type to Administrator
9. Sign out of your current account and log into the new administrator account
10. Test Windows Update from the new account
11. If updates work, transfer your files from the old profile:

robocopy "C:\Users\[OldUsername]" "C:\Users\[NewUsername]" /E /XD "AppData" "Application Data" "Local Settings" "My Documents" "NetHood" "PrintHood" "Recent" "SendTo" "Start Menu" "Templates"

12. Install your applications on the new account
13. Once everything is working, you can delete the old user account

Verification: Log into the new account and successfully install Windows Updates without encountering error 0x80070005.