Windows Update and Windows Store are inter-dependable services on Windows 11/10. So, many times when an error like 0x80070424, ERROR SERVICE DOES NOT EXIST occurs for one, the other service is prone or affected by it too. However, this error can occur to both Windows Update Standalone Installer as well as to the Windows Update section in the Windows Settings App too.
The Windows Update Standalone Installer states:
Installer encountered an error: 0x80070424, The specified service does not exist as an installed service.
The Windows Store error states:
The were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80070424).
This error code has been known to appear while updating Windows Defender too.
Fix Error 0x80070424 for Windows Update or Microsoft Store
We will be discussing how to fix this error for Windows Update and Microsoft Store on Windows 11 or Windows 10:
- Re-register Background Intelligent Transfer Service DLL file
- Run Windows Update & Store apps Troubleshooters.
- Reset Windows Update related folders.
- Use the Registry Editor.
- Check Windows Services.
- Reset the Microsoft Store.
- Fix Windows Update files using DISM
- Restore via Registry.
See which of these suggestions apply in your case.
1] Re-register Background Intelligent Transfer Service DLL file
Open Command Prompt with Administrator level privileges.
Type in the following commands and hit the Enter key to re-register the dll files–
regsvr32 Qmgr.dll /s regsvr32 Qmgrprxy.dll /s
Reboot and check if your issues are fixed.
2] Run Windows Update & Windows Store Apps Troubleshooters
You can run the Windows Update Troubleshooter and also Microsoft’s Online Windows Update Troubleshooter and check if that is any help in fixing any of your issues. You may want to also run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter.
3] Reset Windows Update related folders
You need to delete the contents of the SoftwareDistribution folder & reset the Catroot2 folder.
4] Check the WU setting in Registry
Type regedit in Windows Search box and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. Locate the registry key:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
Select and Double-click on the DWORD named as DisableWindowsUpdateAccess set its Value Data as 0.
Restart your computer and check if this has fixed your issues.
5] Check on some Windows Services
Open the Windows Services Manager and locate the following services:
- Windows Update Service – Manual (Triggered)
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual.
- Workstation Service – Automatic.
Open their Properties and ensure that their Startup type is as mentioned above against their name and that the Services are running. If not click on the Start button.
Related: The specified service does not exist as an installed service, 0x80070424
6] Reset the Microsoft Store
To Reset the Microsoft Store Run CMD as Administrator and execute the following command:
wsreset
Wait for the process to complete and then try to install your App or Windows Update again.
7] Fix Windows Update files using DISM
You may need to fix Windows Update files using DISM.
8] Restore via Registry
If you have managed to delete Windows Update Service (sc delete wuauserv), then it must have also removed registry entries under HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv.
Some Windows Home users have reportedly deleted the service to stop Windows Update from downloading any future updates.
So you need to follow two steps here to fix the error:
Restore Windows Update Service
Sadly, there is no simple way to do this. While you can use the DISM and SFC command, but they cannot fix which is not there. Especially DISM, which uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruption.
The alternate way is to use DISM with Windows installation as the repair source. It can be Windows side-by-side folder from a network share or a removable media. To do this, run the following command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess
In the command, replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows placeholder with the location of your repair source. Read more about Repair Source here. If you cannot get this done, you need to Refresh your Windows 10 PC, but you will need Windows 10 Bootable media as it will copy the service file from the image, and reregister it.
Once you fix the Windows Update Service issue, make sure to run it. If there is no error, and you can download the update, then you are done. If not, follow the next step.
Import Registry Entries from a different computer
Since Windows Update service will need its registry entries to work as expected, you need to place them manually. The best way is to find a laptop which is running the same version as yours, and then export all entries related to the Windows Update service.
Open Registry Editor and navigate to:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv
- Right-click on wuauserv key, and select export
- Save as a REG file on the computer.
- Copy the file to the computer where you need to fix the issue.
- Double click on the file, and agree to import.
We have also linked to the exported version of the file in this post. Download the 0x80070424 Fix, extract the contents and double-click on the reg file. Now when you run the Windows Update service, you will not receive error 0x80070424.
I hope something helps!
