Fix Windows Store Error 0x80070422

This error usually appears when you try to open or download from the Microsoft Store, and it points to a problem with the Windows Update service or related background services. The fix involves restarting those services, adjusting their startup type, and sometimes checking your network and firewall settings. Below are the steps that resolve this issue for most users.

What You’ll Need

• Administrator access to your Windows PC (you’ll need to confirm a UAC prompt).
• A stable internet connection (optional but recommended).
• About 10–15 minutes of time.

Step-by-Step

1. Restart the Windows Update service. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. In the Services window, scroll down to Windows Update. Right-click it and select Restart. If Restart is grayed out, right-click and choose Start if it’s stopped, or Stop then Start.
2. Set Windows Update to Automatic. Still in Services, double-click Windows Update. In the Startup type dropdown, select Automatic (or Automatic (Delayed Start) if you prefer). Click Apply, then OK.
3. Enable the Windows Update Medic Service (if present). Look for Windows Update Medic Service in the same list. Double-click it, set the startup type to Automatic, and click Start if it isn’t running. This service helps repair the main Windows Update service.
4. Restart the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). Find Background Intelligent Transfer Service in the Services list. Right-click it and choose Restart. If it’s not running, start it. Double-click it to ensure its startup type is Automatic (not Manual, unless your system uses that by default).
5. Restart the Cryptographic Services. Look for Cryptographic Services (often listed as CryptSvc). Right-click and restart it, and set its startup type to Automatic if it isn’t already.
6. Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter. Open Settings (Win + I) → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters (or Additional troubleshooters). Find Windows Store Apps and click Run. Follow the prompts – it may ask you to select the specific app (Microsoft Store) and then apply fixes.
7. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter. In the same Troubleshoot menu, scroll to Windows Update and run it. This can fix corrupted update components that might be causing the error.
8. Check your date and time settings. Right-click the clock in the taskbar, select Adjust date and time, and ensure Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically are both toggled on. If they are, toggle them off, restart your PC, then turn them back on.
9. Re-register the Microsoft Store app. Press Win + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin). Type the following command and press Enter:
   Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
   Wait for it to finish, then restart your PC.
10. Check firewall or VPN interference. Temporarily disable any third-party firewall or VPN software. If the Store works after disabling, add an exception for the Store or re-enable the service. If you’re using Windows Defender Firewall, make sure it’s not blocking the Store – you can temporarily turn it off to test, but remember to turn it back on.
11. Clear the Store cache. Press Win + R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter. A blank Command Prompt window will open, and after a few seconds the Store will open. This clears the cache but doesn’t remove your apps or data.
12. Restart your PC. After all the above steps, a full restart is often necessary for the service changes to take effect.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to restart after changing services. Service changes often don’t apply immediately; a reboot is required.
• Setting Windows Update to “Disabledâ€� to fix it. That will cause more errors, not fewer.
• Running the PowerShell command without admin rights. The re-registration command must be run as administrator, or it will fail silently.
• Skipping the troubleshooter. The built-in troubleshooters can fix issues that manual steps miss, especially with update components.
• Ignoring date/time settings. Many Store errors stem from incorrect system time, which breaks SSL certificates.

Tips

• If you have a third-party antivirus, temporarily disable its real-time protection while testing the Store – some security suites block the Store’s background services.
• Ensure your Windows is fully updated. Go to Settings → Windows Update and check for updates. Sometimes the error is a symptom of a pending update that failed.
• Use a wired connection or switch to a different Wi-Fi network to rule out network issues.
• If you recently changed your Microsoft account password, sign out of the Store and sign back in – this can refresh the authentication.

Troubleshooting

If the error persists after the steps above, try these additional checks:

• Check the Windows Update service dependencies. In Services, double-click Windows Update, go to the Dependencies tab. Ensure that all listed services (like RPC Endpoint Mapper, DCOM Server Process Launcher) are running. If any are stopped, start them manually.
• Run the System File Checker. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run sfc /scannow. This checks for corrupted system files. If it finds issues, restart and run it again.
• Use DISM to repair the system image. In the same admin Command Prompt, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. This can fix underlying Windows corruption that might be causing the service error.
• Check if the Windows Update service is being blocked by a policy. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc (if available), and navigate to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update. Ensure “Configure Automatic Updatesâ€� is set to Enabled and not “Disabledâ€�.
• Create a new user account. Sometimes the error is tied to your user profile. Create a new local admin account and try the Store from there. If it works, you can migrate your files.
• Reset Windows Update components manually. If all else fails, you can stop the Windows Update, BITS, and Cryptographic services, delete the SoftwareDistribution folder (in C:\Windows), and restart the services. This forces a clean update cache.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does error 0x80070422 happen?

It usually happens because the Windows Update service is disabled, stopped, or set to Manual. The Store relies on this service to check for app updates and licenses.

Will I lose my apps or data if I run wsreset.exe?

No. The wsreset.exe command only clears the Store’s cache. Your installed apps and their data are untouched.

Is it safe to set Windows Update to Automatic?

Yes, that’s the recommended setting. It allows Windows to install security updates automatically, which is important for system health.

Can a VPN cause this error?

Yes, a VPN can interfere with the Store’s connection to Microsoft servers. Try disconnecting your VPN and then opening the Store.

How long does the fix take?

Most of the steps take a few minutes each. The entire process, including a restart, usually takes under 30 minutes.

What if I don’t have the Windows Update Medic Service?

That service is only present on newer versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. If it’s missing, skip that step – it’s not essential for the fix.

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