How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070005 in Windows 10

• The blog article explains how to fix the Windows update error 0x80070005, which means “access denied” and can occur for various reasons, such as corrupted system files, incorrect registry settings, or malware infection.
• The blog article provides several methods to fix the error, such as repairing corrupted system files using SFC and DISM tools, modifying registry settings to grant full control to Windows update components, resetting Windows update components by renaming SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders, or running Windows Update troubleshooter.
• The blog article also provides some FAQs and tips on how to prevent the error from happening again, such as keeping your PC updated, avoiding modifying registry settings without backup, using a reliable antivirus software and firewall, and creating a system restore point before making any major changes to your PC.

Windows updates are essential for keeping your PC secure and up to date with the latest features and improvements. However, sometimes you may encounter errors that prevent you from installing or downloading updates. One of these errors is 0x80070005, which usually indicates a problem with permissions or access rights.

In this article, we will explain what causes the Windows update error 0x80070005, how to troubleshoot it, and how to fix it using various methods. We will also provide some tips on how to prevent this error from happening again in the future.

What Causes the Windows Update Error 0x80070005?

The Windows update error 0x80070005 is a generic error code that means “access denied”. It can occur for various reasons, such as:

• Corrupted or missing system files
• Incorrect registry settings
• Malware infection
• Firewall or antivirus interference
• User account control (UAC) issues
• Insufficient disk space or memory

The error can affect different components of Windows update, such as the Windows Update service, the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), the Component-Based Servicing (CBS), or the TrustedInstaller service. Depending on which component is affected, you may see different error messages, such as:

• There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80070005)
• Some update files are missing or have problems. We’ll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x80070005)
• An error occurred while checking for new updates for your computer. Error(s) found: Code 80070005 Windows Update encountered an unknown error.

How to Troubleshoot the Windows Update Error 0x80070005?

Before you try any of the solutions below, you should first perform some basic troubleshooting steps to identify and resolve any potential issues that may cause the Windows update error 0x80070005. Here are some things you can do:

• Restart your PC and try to run Windows update again.
• Run the Windows Update troubleshooter, which can automatically detect and fix common problems with Windows update. To do this, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update and select Run the troubleshooter.
• Run a full system scan with your antivirus software and remove any malware or viruses that may interfere with Windows update.
• Disable your firewall and antivirus software temporarily and see if that helps. If it does, you may need to add an exception for Windows update in your firewall or antivirus settings.
• Make sure you have enough disk space and memory to install the updates. You can use the Disk Cleanup tool to free up some space by deleting unnecessary files. To do this, type disk cleanup in the search box and select Disk Cleanup from the results. Then, select the drive where Windows is installed and click OK. Check the boxes for the files you want to delete and click OK.
• Make sure your date and time settings are correct, as they can affect the communication between your PC and the Windows update servers. To do this, go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & time and turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.

If none of these steps work, you can proceed to the solutions below.

How to Fix the Windows Update Error 0x80070005?

There are several methods you can try to fix the Windows update error 0x80070005, depending on what causes it. Here are some of them:

Method 1: Repair Corrupted System Files

One of the possible causes of the Windows update error 0x80070005 is corrupted or missing system files that are required for Windows update to function properly. To fix this, you can use the System File Checker (SFC) tool, which can scan and repair any corrupted system files automatically. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open a command prompt as an administrator by typing cmd in the search box and selecting Run as administrator from the right pane.
• In the command prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
• Wait for the scan to complete. If any corrupted files are found, they will be replaced with a cached copy from a backup folder.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is resolved.

If SFC fails to fix the corrupted files, you can use another tool called Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM), which can restore the health of your system image. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open a command prompt as an administrator as before.
• In the command prompt window, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
• Wait for the process to finish. It may take some time, so be patient.
• Restart your PC and run SFC again to repair any remaining corrupted files.

Method 2: Modify Registry Settings

Another possible cause of the Windows update error 0x80070005 is incorrect registry settings that prevent Windows update from accessing or modifying certain keys or values. To fix this, you can modify the registry settings manually and grant full control to the Windows update components. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit in the search box and selecting Registry Editor from the results.
• In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing
• Right-click on the Component Based Servicing key and select Permissions.
• In the Permissions for Component Based Servicing window, click on Advanced.
• In the Advanced Security Settings for Component Based Servicing window, click on Change next to Owner.
• In the Select User or Group window, type NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller in the Enter the object name to select box and click OK.
• Check the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects and click OK.
• Back in the Permissions for Component Based Servicing window, click on Add.
• In the Permission Entry for Component Based Servicing window, click on Select a principal.
• In the Select User or Group window, type NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller in the Enter the object name to select box and click OK.
• Check the box for Full control under Basic permissions and click OK.
• Repeat steps 8 to 11 for SYSTEM, Administrators, and Users groups.
• Click OK to close all windows and exit the Registry Editor.

Method 3: Reset Windows Update Components

Sometimes, the Windows update error 0x80070005 can be caused by corrupted or malfunctioning Windows update components, such as the Windows Update service, the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), or the SoftwareDistribution folder. To fix this, you can reset these components by following these steps:

1. Open a command prompt as an administrator as before.
2. In the command prompt window, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each one. These commands will stop the Windows Update service, BITS, and Cryptographic service.

   net stop wuauserv 
   net stop bits 
   net stop cryptsvc

3. Next, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each one. These commands will rename the SoftwareDistribution folder and the Catroot2 folder, which store temporary files related to Windows update.

   ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

4. Finally, type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each one. These commands will restart the Windows Update service, BITS, and Cryptographic service.

   net start wuauserv 
   net start bits 
   net start cryptsvc

5. Restart your PC and try to run Windows update again.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Windows update error 0x80070005:

Question: What does error code 0x80070005 mean?

Answer: Error code 0x80070005 is a generic error code that means “access denied”. It can occur when you try to perform certain tasks that require permissions or access rights that you don’t have.

Question: How do I fix error code 0x80070005?

Answer: There are several methods you can try to fix error code 0x80070005, depending on what causes it. Some of them are:

• Repair corrupted system files using SFC and DISM tools
• Modify registry settings to grant full control to Windows update components
• Reset Windows update components by renaming SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders
• Run Windows Update troubleshooter
• Scan your PC for malware and viruses
• Disable firewall and antivirus software temporarily
• Make sure you have enough disk space and memory
• Make sure your date and time settings are correct

Question: How do I prevent error code 0x80070005 from happening again?

Answer: To prevent error code 0x80070005 from happening again, you should:

• Keep your PC updated with the latest security patches and drivers
• Avoid modifying registry settings without proper knowledge or backup
• Use a reliable antivirus software and firewall
• Avoid downloading or installing suspicious or untrusted programs or files
• Create a system restore point before making any major changes to your PC

Summary

The Windows update error 0x80070005 is a common issue that can prevent you from installing or downloading updates. It usually indicates a problem with permissions or access rights. To fix it, you can try various methods, such as repairing corrupted system files, modifying registry settings, resetting Windows update components, or running Windows Update troubleshooter.