Windows Update Error 0x80070005 — Access Denied Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

The 0x80070005 error means Windows Update was denied permission to access a file or folder it needs. This is an 'access denied' error. Windows Update needs to write files to protected system locations. When something blocks those writes, the update fails with this code. It is usually caused by a third-party security tool, incorrect file permissions, or a corrupted Windows user account.

Affected Models

Windows 10
Windows 11
Windows 8.1

Common Causes

A third-party antivirus or security software is blocking Windows Update from writing to system folders
File or folder permissions on the Windows system drive have become corrupted or incorrectly set
A Group Policy or registry setting is restricting access to Windows Update components
The Windows Update service is running under an account with insufficient permissions
Malware has modified system folder permissions to prevent Windows from being updated

How to Fix It

Temporarily disable your third-party antivirus or security software, then try running Windows Update again.

Many security programs intercept file operations and can incorrectly block Windows Update. Re-enable your antivirus as soon as the update completes.
Make sure you are running Windows Update from an administrator account. Go to Settings > Accounts and confirm your account type says 'Administrator.'

Standard or limited user accounts do not have permission to install system updates. Only administrator accounts can install Windows updates.
Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters and click 'Run' next to Windows Update.

The troubleshooter automatically detects permission problems and other common update failures and attempts to repair them.
Reset Windows Update components. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands one at a time: net stop wuauserv — net stop cryptsvc — net stop bits — then: net start bits — net start cryptsvc — net start wuauserv

Restarting these services refreshes their permissions and can clear the access denied state.
Run System File Checker to repair any corrupted system files. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type: sfc /scannow — wait for it to complete, then try Windows Update again.

Corrupted system files can include the Windows Update components themselves, leading to permission failures.

When to Call a Professional

If the error persists after trying all steps, a technician may need to manually reset file permissions across your Windows installation. This is a complex task involving the icacls command and registry edits. An in-place Windows repair install is also an option that fixes permissions without deleting your files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows Update need special permissions?

Windows Update installs files into protected system folders like C:\Windows and C:\Program Files. These folders are restricted by design to prevent malware from changing system files. Windows Update has a special trusted process that should always have access. When something interferes with those permissions, the update fails with this access denied error.

Could malware be causing this error?

Yes, it is possible. Some malware deliberately changes folder permissions to prevent Windows from being updated. Updates often include security patches that would remove the malware. If you see this error along with other strange behavior, run a full Windows Defender scan before trying to fix the update error.

Will a Windows reset fix this error?

Yes, a Windows reset restores all system permissions and files to their default state. Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC. Choose 'Keep my files' to preserve your personal data while resetting the system. This is a last resort option but it is very effective for stubborn permission errors.