Error 0x80070426: how to fix it in Windows Update and Microsoft Store

Applies to: Windows 11 and Windows 10, when 0x80070426 appears in Windows Update, Microsoft Store, the Xbox app or a Microsoft account sign-in.

What 0x80070426 means

The code is Windows error 1062, ERROR_SERVICE_NOT_ACTIVE, wrapped as an HRESULT (the 0x8007 prefix marks a Windows error and 0426 is 1062 in hex). It doesn’t point at a broken file. It means something asked a service for help and the service wasn’t running.

The usual causes are a service that was disabled by an “update blocker” or tuning tool, a debloat script, malware, or a service that crashed and didn’t restart. These are the services involved most often:

Service (display name)	Name	What needs it
Windows Update	wuauserv	Windows Update, Store downloads
Background Intelligent Transfer Service	BITS	Windows Update, Store downloads
Cryptographic Services	CryptSvc	Windows Update, app installs
Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant	wlidsvc	Signing in to the Store, Xbox app, Mail and other apps
Microsoft Store Install Service	InstallService	Installing and updating Store apps
Windows License Manager Service	LicenseManager	Opening and installing Store apps
Delivery Optimization	DoSvc	Downloading updates and Store apps

Fix 1: Start the stopped service

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
2. Double-click Windows Update.
3. If Startup type says Disabled, change it to Manual and select Apply.
4. Select Start, then OK.
5. Do the same for the other services in the table above, especially Background Intelligent Transfer Service and, for Store or sign-in errors, Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant. Set Cryptographic Services to Automatic.
6. Restart the PC and try the update, download or sign-in again.

Many of these services show Manual (Trigger Start) by default and stop on their own when idle. That’s normal; the problem is Disabled, which stops Windows from starting them when needed.

Fix 2: Start the services from the command line

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these lines. The space after start= is required.

sc config wuauserv start= demand
sc config bits start= demand
sc config wlidsvc start= demand
sc config cryptsvc start= auto
net start wuauserv
net start bits
net start cryptsvc

If a line says Access is denied, the window isn’t elevated. If a service refuses to start with another error, note it, since that error is the real problem to fix.

Fix 3: Run the troubleshooter

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and select Run next to Windows Update, or next to Windows Store Apps for Store errors. On Windows 10 the path is Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. On recent Windows 11 builds the button opens the Get Help app, which runs the same checks. The troubleshooter can re-enable services that are switched off.

Fix 4: Reset Windows Update components

If the services start but updates still fail, clear the Windows Update cache. In an administrator Command Prompt:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
net stop cryptsvc
ren %windir%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren %windir%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start wuauserv

Windows rebuilds both folders the next time it checks for updates, so the first check can take longer. Your update history list may be cleared; installed updates are not removed. More update commands are in Windows Update from the command line.

Fix 5: Reset Microsoft Store

1. Press Win + R, type wsreset.exe and press Enter. A blank window opens, then the Store starts with its cache cleared.
2. If that doesn’t help, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the three dots next to Microsoft Store, choose Advanced options and select Reset. On Windows 10, use Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
3. Sign out of the Store and back in with your Microsoft account.

Fix 6: Undo update blockers and repair system files

• Update blocker or tuning tools: if you installed a tool that stops Windows Update, turn its blocking off or uninstall it. It may keep disabling the services after you start them.
• Malware: some malware disables update and security services so it can’t be removed. Run a full scan as described in how to scan for malware on Windows.
• Corrupted system files: in an administrator Command Prompt, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then sfc /scannow, and restart.
• Microsoft Defender: if the error comes from Windows Security and you use another antivirus, Defender’s service is switched off on purpose. Remove the other antivirus fully if you want Defender back.

If Windows Update then fails with a different code, see we couldn’t connect to the update service or error 0x800f081f.

Related guides

• “We couldn’t connect to the update service”: 7 fixes for Windows 11/10
• Windows Update from the command line: CMD and PowerShell commands
• Error 0x800f081f: how to fix it in Windows 11 and 10
• How to scan for malware on Windows 11 and 10
• Microsoft Store missing in Windows 11 or 10: how to get it back

Official sources: for more detail, see Microsoft’s own pages:

• Microsoft Learn: System error codes 1000-1299 (ERROR_SERVICE_NOT_ACTIVE)
• Microsoft Support: I can’t find or install an app from Microsoft Store

Frequently asked questions

Is 0x80070426 a virus?

No, it’s a Windows error code. But malware is one of the things that can disable the services behind it, so a scan is worth running if you didn’t change any services yourself.

Why does the service stop again after a restart?

Something is disabling it, usually an update blocker, an optimiser or a group policy at work. Find and remove that tool, or ask IT if the PC is managed.

Should I set the services to Automatic?

Not all of them. Cryptographic Services normally runs as Automatic and Delivery Optimization as Automatic (Delayed Start). The others are Manual by default, and Windows starts them when they’re needed.

Does 0x80070426 mean my Windows isn’t activated?

Not by itself. It can appear during activation if a required service is off, but once the services run, activation normally completes.