Windows Update Error 0x80070715 — Fix Guide

What Does This Error Mean?

The 0x80070715 error means Windows Update cannot proceed because a required service account — typically the 'NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller' account — does not exist or has been damaged. The TrustedInstaller account is the gatekeeper that controls permissions for Windows system files. Without it, updates cannot modify the core system files they need to replace. This usually happens after aggressive manual cleanup of Windows accounts, third-party system optimization tools, or a corrupted Windows component store.

Affected Models

Windows 10
Windows 11
Windows 8.1

Common Causes

A third-party PC cleanup or optimization tool removed or disabled the TrustedInstaller service account
The Windows Modules Installer service has been manually disabled or has failed to start
The Windows component store is corrupted, causing the TrustedInstaller service to fail
A previous failed update left the service account in a broken or partially removed state
Manual registry edits or security policy changes accidentally removed the TrustedInstaller account

How to Fix It

Check that the Windows Modules Installer service is running. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, find 'Windows Modules Installer,' double-click it, set startup type to 'Manual,' and click Start.

The Windows Modules Installer service manages the TrustedInstaller account and handles system file changes during updates. If it is disabled, updates cannot run.
Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters and run 'Windows Update.' This can automatically detect and fix service account issues.

The built-in troubleshooter checks for common update problems including missing or broken service accounts and often fixes them automatically.
Run DISM to repair the Windows component store. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth — let it complete, then restart.

DISM repairs the component store that TrustedInstaller uses. This step frequently resolves the 0x80070715 error by restoring the service account infrastructure.
After DISM finishes, run System File Checker: sfc /scannow — let it complete, then restart the computer and try Windows Update again.

SFC finds and replaces individual corrupted system files. Running it after DISM gives the best results because DISM first repairs the repair tool's own source files.
Reset Windows Update components manually. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands one by one: net stop wuauserv — net stop cryptsvc — net stop bits — net stop msiserver — ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old — net start wuauserv — net start cryptsvc — net start bits — net start msiserver

This sequence stops all update-related services, renames the corrupted download cache, then restarts everything fresh. It forces Windows Update to rebuild its working files from scratch.

When to Call a Professional

If the steps below do not resolve this error, you may need to perform an in-place upgrade repair of Windows. This reinstalls all Windows system components — including service accounts — without deleting your personal files or programs. Download the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website and choose the 'Upgrade this PC now' option to perform the repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TrustedInstaller and why does Windows need it?

TrustedInstaller is a built-in Windows service account that owns the majority of core Windows system files. This means only TrustedInstaller has permission to modify, replace, or delete those files. This design prevents unauthorized programs — including malware — from changing critical Windows files. Windows updates use TrustedInstaller's permissions to replace old system files with updated versions. Without it, no system file changes are possible.

Did a PC cleanup tool cause this error?

Possibly. Some aggressive third-party PC optimizer tools — the kind that promise to 'speed up' your PC — can disable or delete Windows service accounts and services. If you recently ran a PC optimizer before this error appeared, that tool is the likely culprit. Uninstall the optimizer and use DISM and SFC to repair the damage it caused.

Is it safe to manually reset Windows Update components?

Yes — the reset procedure in Step 5 is a well-known and documented Microsoft troubleshooting method. Stopping the services, renaming the cache folder, and restarting everything is completely safe. Your personal files, installed programs, and existing Windows settings are not affected. Windows Update will simply re-download any update files it needs on the next attempt.