How to Fix the ‘Access Denied’ Error in Windows – 0x80070005

While we are all told that automatically installing Windows updates is critical to the performance and security of our machines, we rarely know what to do when these updates cause errors to crop up or the installation of these data patches are abruptly stopped. Generally, if you have your computer set to proceed with automatic updates, these will be done during the computer’s downtime and it will be a seamless process; however, sometimes there can be issues with the updates. When this happens, you may see the error code 0x80070005 pop up. If this isn’t fixed, your system can become fraught with security holes, may become slow, and may experience abrupt system restarts. In today’s article, we are going to look at what this error code means, why it pops up, when it can occur and outline 6 methods you can use to fix the issue.

What Does the 0x80070005 Error Mean?

The 0x80070005 error code is also known as an ‘Access Denied’ error which is related specifically to the Windows update system. It indicates that the system user, so you in this instance, do not have the required permissions to open up a file or a part of the registry that is needed to apply the operating system updates. It can also mean that the system update is missing critical files needed for installing the update or indicate that there is an underlying issue with your hard drive that is corrupting the system or update files that you have or are downloading onto your hard drive.  It is known as an “Access Denied” error code because it is almost always accompanied by this language.

When Does the 0x80070005 Error Occur & Why Does it Occur?

The 0x80070005 error code will usually appear during a Windows update cycle or when you are trying to update specific applications/software that have had their DLL file permissions denied. A DLL file is a compiled library that contains a set of drivers or procedures that are references and executed by your Windows machine, giving access to shared function to multiple programs. They are only in use when a program is loaded and running. When you a specific file, application, or software has had its DLL file permission denied, it often results in the program not running at all or in this instance, not being able to update at all.

Other causes of the ‘Access Denied’ error code include having malware or a virus infection on your Windows machine, having issues with administrative rights, having firewall software that blocks the update, or having Windows update settings configured wrong. While getting this error may be frustrating, especially if you are unsure as to why you are getting it, there are several ways that you can fix the issue with relative ease.

6 Methods for Fixing the Access Denied Error in Windows

1. Configure Your Windows Update Settings by Using an Administrator Account

If you get the 0x80070005 error code when you are trying to update your Windows operating system, the first step you should try is configuring the Windows update settings to allow for automatic updates. This will require you to login as an administrator though, so you will need to do this first. Here is how to make the switch.

1. Click on your Windows key on your taskbar or on your keyboard. Search for, find, and click on the Control Panel.
2. In your control panel, make sure you are viewing by category and not by large/small icons. Click on the User Accounts link and then select “change your account type”.
3. Select administrator and then click your start button and log off your computer. Immediately log back in and move forward with trying to install your Windows update.

Once you have switched to the administrator mode, it is recommended that you change your Windows update settings to update automatically. To do this, use the following steps.

1. Click on your start menu, type in Update and select Windows Update Settings.
2. Click on change settings and look for an option that states “install updates automatically”.
3. You will be asked to choose a time period in which updates will be installed within. Choose the best times that suit your schedule and hit the okay button.

Now your computer is set to install updates automatically and you have given yourself full control by using the administrator account.

2. Check to See if Your Firewall Settings Are Blocking Updates

Even if you have your settings reflecting automatic updates, your firewall can block them. To allow the automatic updates to go through, you need to allow the Host Process for Windows Services. Here is how to do this.

1. Click on your start menu and search Firewall.
2. Select Windows Firewall from the results list. On Windows 10 machines, this is called Windows Defender Firewall (and comes built into the operating system).
3. Select the Allow a Program, App, or Feature Through Windows Defender Firewall. This can be found on the left-hand side of the Windows Firewall Screen.
4. In the list that comes up, look for svchost.exe – if it is there and does not have a checkmark beside it, checkmark it and hit okay. If you do not find it in the list, click on the “Allow Another App” button and hit browse.
5. This will take you to the hard drive where your operating system is located in your File Explorer. In the top right-hand corner, in the search bar, type in svchost.exe and click on it.
6. Add it to the list. To confirm, you will either see svchost.exe in your list now or a program called Host Process for Windows Services. Hit okay!

3. Update Your Windows Drivers

Faulty drivers can be the cause of the problem, especially if you have the wrong or outdated network driver installed. To update your drivers, you are either going to have to manually do it, which involves going to Microsoft Windows and getting the appropriate drivers, downloading them, and installing them, or you can do it automatically with a driver update software. There are plenty of these types of software available, so make sure you do your research on which one is reputable. A driver update software will scan your system, tell you which drivers are out of date and then update all of the flagged drivers.

4. If It Is Incorrect File Permissions, Use Microsoft’s SubInACL Command Line Tool

5. Scan for Malware and Viruses

You can do this by using Windows Defender or any other antivirus software, just make sure to do a full system scan. For Windows Defender, make sure the application is up to date and then do the following.

1. Type Windows Security into your computer’s search bar.
2. In the new window that pops up, click on the shield icon that says Virus and Threat Protection.
3. You will see when the last scan was and a button to do a quick scan. What you want is the scan options button underneath. Click it.
4. Choose the full scan option and hit the scan now button.

6. Manually Update Windows

You can manually update Windows with the Windows Update Catalog (Win 10). This is a repository where you can download the latest updates manually like you would any other program and install them. Before you visit the repository, you will need to head to your settings, update and security, windows update section to find your Windows Update version code. Make note of this as you will need to search for it in the repository. Download the latest update from the repository, install it onto your Windows PC and then restart your system.

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If none of these work, you will need to perform a clean install of your Windows operating system (backup before doing so!). You will need access to either a bootable USB drive that has Windows on it or the Windows disk that came with your computer. Permitting that you have this, head into your settings, click on Update and Security, and click on the recovery option. This will bring up a window that will allow you to reset your personal computer.