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First check where error 0x80080005 appears: Windows Update, Microsoft Store, or both. Microsoft lists the code in its Windows Update guidance and associates it with possible corrupted files, permission issues, or incorrect system configurations—not one confirmed cause. Start with the Windows Update troubleshooter and System File Checker (SFC); if Windows Update still fails, move to the more advanced repair steps below. Store-only failures need additional checks.

Identify where the error occurs

Note whether 0x80080005 appears while checking for Windows updates, downloading or updating a Microsoft Store app, or in both places. Also record your Windows version and build and any recent changes that might matter, such as a policy change or network configuration change. Microsoft’s code-specific guidance covers Windows Update; a Store symptom calls for separate Store checks.

Microsoft groups this code with possible corrupted files, permission issues, or incorrect system configurations. That list does not identify the cause on an individual PC. A Microsoft Q&A user has reported seeing the code during a Store download, but an individual report is not proof that all instances have the same cause.

Try the built-in Windows Update checks first

Back up important personal files before attempting repairs. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter if it is available on your Windows 10 build, then run SFC from an administrator Command Prompt.

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  1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update, then run the troubleshooter. Labels and availability can differ by Windows 10 build. Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooting guidance lists this troubleshooter for the error.
  2. Open Command Prompt as an administrator, enter sfc /scannow, and press Enter. Wait for the scan to finish; it can take time.
  3. Restart the PC and check for updates again.

SFC and the troubleshooter are Microsoft’s direct recommendations for this code, but neither guarantees a fix because the code has multiple possible causes. Microsoft’s general Windows Update troubleshooting steps advise backing up personal files; its advanced procedures require administrator permissions. Microsoft Support cautions: “Microsoft only recommends trying the procedures in this section if you’re comfortable working in the command line.”

Reset Windows Update components if updates still fail

This is an advanced command-line step for a continuing Windows Update failure. Renaming the update folders preserves them under backup names rather than deleting their contents. Use an administrator Command Prompt, enter each command separately, and wait for it to complete before entering the next.

  1. net stop bits
  2. net stop wuauserv
  3. ren %systemroot%softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak
  4. ren %systemroot%system32catroot2 catroot2.bak
  5. net start bits
  6. net start wuauserv

Close Command Prompt and restart the PC, then check Windows Update again. If a command fails or you are unsure how to proceed, stop rather than improvising; consult an administrator or technician. Microsoft’s advanced Windows Update instructions document resetting these components.

Repair the Windows image if corruption remains a concern

If the built-in checks and component reset have not resolved a Windows Update failure, Microsoft also documents repairing the Windows image with DISM and then running SFC. Back up important files first. In an administrator Command Prompt, run the following commands one at a time and wait for each to finish:

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  1. DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  2. sfc /scannow

Restart the computer after the scans and check for updates. This sequence is a repair attempt, not a guaranteed solution; if you are not comfortable with elevated command-line work, get help from an administrator or technician. See Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooting guidance.

If the failure is in Microsoft Store

For Store-only failures, first check whether Store is registered for the affected user, whether a policy blocks Store access, and whether firewall or proxy rules allow the required Microsoft endpoints. Microsoft Learn notes that Store needs Windows Update endpoints accessible to install and update apps. Its Microsoft Store for Business and Education connectivity guidance documents checking Store registration and network access.

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Check Store registration for the affected user

Open a regular, non-elevated PowerShell prompt for the affected user and run:

Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.WindowsStore*

If the package exists but is not registered for that user, Microsoft documents this registration command:

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Add-AppxPackage -RegisterByFamilyName -MainPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore_8wekyb3d8bbwe

Use a non-elevated prompt when registering Store for the affected user. An elevated prompt registers the app for the administrator instead. Microsoft says completely uninstalling Microsoft Store is unsupported.

Try the Store reset only as an additional troubleshooting step

If Store opens but is misbehaving, you can try wsreset.exe. Microsoft includes this command in guidance for a different Store error, 0x80131500, and a Microsoft Q&A reply recommends it for a report of 0x80080005 during a Store update. The Q&A suggestion is community advice, and neither source establishes that this reset fixes every 0x80080005 Store failure. See Microsoft’s Store error guidance and the matching Microsoft Q&A discussion.

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When to stop troubleshooting

If these steps do not resolve the problem, the code alone does not show which cause applies. Further diagnosis may depend on Windows build, update history, permissions, policy settings, network configuration, and whether the failure is in Store or Windows Update. Avoid unsupported Store removal and paid “repair” utilities; the documented remedies here are Windows tools and configuration checks. If command-line steps are outside your comfort level, ask an administrator or qualified technician to review the device.

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