Fix Windows Update 0x80080005 Error in 7 Effective Methods

User Case

What Causes Windows 10 0x80080005 Error?

Windows 0x80080005 is an error code reported by many users when trying to run Windows Update. It will prevent your operating system from downloading and applying the latest updates, which may cause serious problems in the long run. Before we discuss the 0x80080005 fix, it is also important to understand the cause of this error. Here are the main possible reasons:

◑ The computer cannot access the System Volume Information folder. -- Antivirus or some security software are blocking the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). As a result, the system security descriptors are then unable to access the System Volume Information folder.
◑ The Windows Update components are not functioning properly – When you perform a Windows Update, certain services will be triggered in the system, and if they are not working properly, a 0x80080005 error will be displayed.
◑ The Windows Update service is not working – Although this is one of the most unlikely reasons, it has been reported by users.
◑ Missing or corrupt system files – System files are essential to the smooth operation of the device. If any one or part of these files is damaged or deleted for some reason, Windows Update may fail.

How to Fix Error Code 0x80080005 on Windows

Fortunately, there are several ways to help fix the 0x80080005 error:

• Method 1. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
• Method 2. Reset Windows Update Components Manually
• Method 3. Take Ownership of System Volume Information Directory
• Methos 4. Scan Your System for Issues
• Method 5. Turn off Your Firewall Temporarily
• Method 6. Uninstall Third-party Software
• Method 7. Upgrade with the Media Creation Tool

Method 1. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

You should start repairing Windows Update 0x80080005 error by running the Windows Update Troubleshooter specifically designed to resolve all update-related issues.

1. Press Win + I key together to open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to the Update & Security section.

3. Now select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left and click Additional troubleshooters.

4. Find Windows Update on the list and click Run the troubleshooter.

5. Then the program will automatically detect the problem and follow the instructions to repair it. When complete the troubleshooter, restart your PC and try to run Windows Update immediately.

Method 2. Reset Windows Update Components Manually

The Windows 10 0x80080005 error appears often due to issues with Windows Update components. You can quickly reset Windows Update components to clear the cache and fix common issues that may cause this error.

1. Type command in the search box. Select the first search result and click Run as administrator.

2. Now type or paste the following commands one by one and press Enter after each to run them. Running the first 4 commands will stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and the Windows Update Services, the last 2 commands will rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder:

• net stop wuauserv
• net stop cryptSvc
• net stop bits
• net stop msiserver
• ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
• ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

3. Then run these commands to start the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and the Windows Update Services that you have disabled:

• net start wuauserv
• net start cryptSvc
• net start bits
• net start msiserver

4. Exit Command Prompt and restart your PC. Try to run Windows Update.

Method 3. Take Ownership of System Volume Information Directory

Some users receive error 0x80080005 when Windows tries to access the System Volume Information Directory. For some reason, Windows seems to be unable to access this directory, but you can solve this problem by changing the system permissions.

1. Press the Win + X together and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list of options.

2. Then type the following command and press Enter:

• cmd.exe /c takeown /f "C:System Volume Information*" /R /D Y && icacls "C:System Volume Information*" /grant:R SYSTEM:F /T /C /L

3. Then reboot your computer and try Windows Update again.

Methos 4. Scan Your System for Issues

Data corruption in the hard disk or operating system can have a devastating effect on all system utilities (including Windows Update). If you have a missing or damaged file that is essential for updating program components, it is no wonder that you will receive an error code similar to Windows Update 0x80080005.

When it comes to damaged system files, use SFC (System File Checker). To fix HDD errors, you can use CHKDSK (Check Disk). For more serious problems with the component store of the Windows image, turn to DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management).

#1. Run SFC Scan

1. Type command in the search box. Select the first search result and click Run as administrator.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

• sfc /scannow

3. Wait patiently for the SFC command to perform a system scan and fix any problems. Once the scan has been completed, restart your PC and run Windows Update to check if you still get error 0x80080005.

#2. Run a CHKDSK Scan

1. Type command in the search box. Select the first search result and click Run as administrator.
2. Type chkdsk c: /f if your operating system is installed on the C: drive. If it’s not, replace c: with the correct partition letter. Then press Enter to run the command.

#3. Run the DISM Scan

1. Type command in the search box. Select the first search result and click Run as administrator.
2. In the Comand Prompt window, type in the following command and press Enter:

• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

3. Then, if DISM finds any issues, type the following command and press Enter:

• DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

4. Reboot your PC after the process is complete and try Windows Update. If the issue is still present, repeat the SFC scan and check if that solves the issue.

Method 5. Turn off Your Firewall Temporarily

Windows Update may be blocked by a firewall. This usually happens when you change the default firewall settings or install a third-party firewall application. For security, you can temporarily turn off the firewall to perform the Windows Update. Just make sure to restart it afterwards. Otherwise, your computer will be exposed to malware.

1. Type control panel in the search box and click on the first search result.

2. Click on System and Security.

3. Find and click Windows Defender Firewall.

4. Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off on the left panel.

5. Select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) at Private network settings and Public network settings. Then click OK to confirm.

6. Try running Windows Update again. After the update is complete, go back to Control Panel -> Windows Defender Firewall -> Restore defaults to restart Windows Defender Firewall.

Method 6. Uninstall Third-party Software

In the previous solution, we mentioned that incorrect third-party firewall settings may prevent Windows updates and subsequently trigger error codes such as 0x80080005. It may not only be because of a third-party firewall application, but also because of any program that can access the Internet.

If you start to encounter Windows Update 0x80080005 error after adding new software to your PC, then this new software may be the culprit. But you should be able to solve this problem by uninstalling it.

1. Press Win + I key together to open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Apps section.

3. In the Apps & features section, set Sort by to Install date (newest first).

4. Pick the first program in the list and click Uninstall. If you have installed multiple suspicious programs recently, be sure to delete them all.
5. Then reboot your PC and try running Windows Update.

Method 7. Upgrade with the Media Creation Tool

In addition to completely reinstalling the operating system, Media Creation Tool can also be used for updates. You can preserve your files, apps, and settings this way.

1. Download the Media Creation Tool.

2. After Windows 10 is downloaded, accept the license agreement.

3. Run the tool and select Upgrade this PC now and then click on Next.

4. Wait while the update downloads the necessary files. Follow the instructions until you reach Ready to install screen. Click Change what to keep.

5. Select Keep personal files and apps option and click on Next.

6. The installation will now start. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete it. Once the installation process is finished, you’ll have the latest version of Windows installed, and the issue should be resolved.

Create a System Backup to Avoid Future Windows Update Errors

I hope you can fix Windows 10 update 0x80080005 error by using one of the methods above. This error is just one of the common problems in Windows updates. Many users also encounter other problems, such as file missing after Windows 10 update, Windows 10 upgrade stuck at 0% or 99%, Windows Mark of the Web Security Feature Bypass public vulnerability, blue screen after installing KB5021233, etc.

In such cases, having a system backup is the fastest way to help you solve these problems. Here, I recommend a free system backup software to protect your system and files. AOMEI Backupper Standard is designed for Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP. The software is easy to operate and the page is concise. You can first understand its backup function briefly.

❆ You can backup files, system, partitions and disks on your computer.
❆ You can create a backup to a local disk, an external device (USB, HDD, SSD, etc.), a cloud disk, NAS or a network shared folder.
❆ You can schedule automatic backup. The software provides 5 schedule modes: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event triggers, USB plug in (the last 2 are available after upgrade).
❆ You can choose different backup methods, including full backup, incremental and differential backup (Differential backup is available in Professional edition).

In order to back up your system, you only need a few clicks. First, download this freeware and install it on your computer. Launch it, click Backup and System Backup. By default, this software selects all the boot-related partitions for you. Then you can select the backup destination according to the operation prompt. It is recommended that you back up to an external disk.

Other Useful Settings:
✭ You can click Options to compress and split the backup file, and add comments to the backup after you select the backup destination. You can enable email notifications to get email alerts and upgrade to advanced versions to enjoy encryption.
✭ You can click Scheme to select the backup method according to your needs. You can also delete old backups to free up disk space while keep the latest backup versions (available on AOMEI Backupper Professional at least).

Conclusion

We hope you can solve the Window Update 0x80080005 error with the methods provided in this article. We don't know yet what will be the problem with update 22H2 update. To protect your system and data, it is extremely important to make a habit of backup. Finding a trustworthy backup software can save you a lot of trouble. AOMEI Backupper stands out from the crowd and does a better job than the Windows built-in backup tool.

When you encounter some other Windows Update errors other than Windows 10 0x80080005 mentioned in this article, such as the 0xc0000005 error in Windows 10, if you have used this software to create a system backup, you can immediately restore your computer to a working state. Try it now to protect your data and system!