0x80070005 — Access denied – How to Fix
Error code 0x80070005, known as “Access denied,” is one of the most frequent Windows problems. It appears when the operating system or an application lacks the permissions it needs to perform a task. The error often comes up during Windows Updates, Microsoft Store app installations, or when copying files to certain locations. While it may look alarming, the root cause usually comes down to permission conflicts, antivirus interference, or corrupted system components.
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Causes
Several situations can trigger error 0x80070005:
- Insufficient user or administrator permissions for the requested task
- Overly strict or malfunctioning third-party antivirus software
- Corrupted Microsoft Store cache or broken app settings
- Incorrect folder or registry permissions
- Damaged system files preventing normal operations
Fixes
Run the app or installer as administrator
If the error happens while running an installer or opening an app, try running it with elevated privileges. Right-click the executable and select Run as administrator. This bypasses standard permission restrictions.
Disable or adjust antivirus software
Third-party antivirus tools can mistakenly block update or install operations. Temporarily disable your antivirus, rerun the update or installer, and see if the error clears. If so, consider adjusting the antivirus settings or switching to Windows Defender for a test.
Reset the Microsoft Store or affected app
If the issue involves downloading or updating apps from the Microsoft Store:
- Press Win + R, type
wsreset, and hit Enter. This clears the Store cache. - Alternatively, go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps, select the problematic app, then choose Advanced options → Repair or Reset.
Check and fix folder permissions
When the error prevents file operations, it may be a permissions problem on the target folder.
- Right-click the folder, select Properties → Security tab.
- Click Edit, then ensure your account (or the Administrators group) has Full Control.
- Apply changes and retry the operation.
This is especially important for update-related directories like C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.
Run system file and image repairs
Corrupted system files can block updates and app installs. Run these commands in an elevated terminal:
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
SFC checks for integrity issues, while DISM repairs the underlying Windows image.
Additional checks
- Windows Update troubleshooter: Navigate to Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters and run the update tool.
- New local administrator account: If permissions are deeply corrupted, creating and using a fresh administrator account can sidestep the issue.
- Group Policy or registry adjustments: In enterprise setups, 0x80070005 may result from policy restrictions. Check with system administrators if applying fixes doesn’t work.
Conclusion
The 0x80070005 — Access denied error is ultimately a permissions problem. In most cases, running the process as administrator, temporarily disabling third-party antivirus, or resetting the Microsoft Store resolves the issue. For deeper corruption, adjusting folder permissions and running SFC/DISM scans usually restores proper functionality. If these steps fail, creating a fresh user profile or performing a repair install of Windows ensures the system has a clean environment to work from.
Have a different error code? Figure out how to fix it with our free Windows error code decoder.