Error Code 0x80070020: Complete Fix Guide for Windows 10 & Windows 11 Users

Last Updated: June 9, 2026

Error code 0x80070020 is one of the most frustrating Windows Update errors you’ll encounter on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Technically classified as ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION, it means Windows Update is trying to modify or replace a file that another process has locked open — and it refuses to proceed until that lock is released.

I’ve seen this error spike across Microsoft’s own Q&A forums in 2025–2026, most recently appearing on the KB5060841 cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2.

The most common culprit is your antivirus software — but OneDrive, GPU management tools, and even a stuck BITS service can all trigger the same error.

Error code 0x80070020 is the error encountered when Windows users attempt to download updates from the Windows Update website or attempt to upgrade to Windows 10. Error code 0x80070020 can also manifest in cases where a computer already has Windows 10 installed.

When encountered, error code 0x80070020 tells the user that the update files cannot be accessed because they’re currently being used by another process. While error code 0x80070020 may appear in the subsequent formats:

0x80070020

OR

“The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.”

In this guide, I’ll walk you through 8 confirmed fixes for error 0x80070020—from a 30-second antivirus toggle that resolves it 70–80% of the time to a full Windows Update component reset that handles the stubborn cases. These methods work on Windows 10 and Windows 11, including 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2.

What Is Error Code 0x80070020?

The Technical Meaning: ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION

Windows internally labels 0x80070020 as ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION. It means the update process is attempting to access, replace, or write to a file—but that file is already open and locked by another running process. Windows refuses to overwrite a locked file, so the update fails and rolls back.

When Does Download Error 0x80070020 Appear?

You’ll typically see it in one of these forms:

• “Download error — 0x80070020” in Windows Update settings
• “Install error — 0x80070020” mid-installation
• “The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.”

It affects Windows 10 (all versions) and Windows 11 (22H2, 23H2, and 24H2) and has been confirmed on cumulative updates as recently as June 2026.

What Causes Windows Update Error 0x80070020?

Antivirus Real-Time Scanning

This issue is the #1 cause. Products like Malwarebytes, Kaspersky, Bitdefender, Norton, and ESET lock system files during real-time scans. If a scan runs during a Windows Update download or install, the update process hits a locked file and throws 0x80070020.

BITS or wuauserv Service Stuck

Sometimes, the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and the Windows Update service (wuauserv) hold file handles open from a previous failed update. Even after restarting your PC, these services can resume in a broken state.

Corrupted SoftwareDistribution Folder

Windows stores update files in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. If a previous update failed mid-download, those partial files stay locked, blocking new updates from writing to the same location.

OneDrive, Backup Software, or GPU Tools Interfering

Less commonly known: OneDrive syncing at exactly the wrong moment, backup software like Acronis or Macrium Reflect, and GPU management tools like NVIDIA GeForce Experience can all lock system files and trigger this error.

How to Fix Error Code 0x80070020 (8 Methods)

Work through these in order. Most users resolve it by Method 2 or 3.

Method 1 — Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft’s built-in troubleshooter resolves common WU conflicts automatically and is the safest starting point.

Windows 11:

1. Press Win + I → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters
2. Find Windows Update → click Run
3. Follow prompts and restart when complete

Windows 10:

1. Press Win + I → Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional troubleshooters
2. Select Windows Update → Run the troubleshooter

Restart your PC and retry the update.

Method 2 — Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus (Fixes 70–80% of Cases)

This is the fastest fix with the highest success rate.

1. Right-click your antivirus icon in the system tray (bottom-right)
2. Choose Disable, Pause protection, or Snooze — most AV products offer a 15–30 minute option
3. Immediately run Windows Update (Win + I → Windows Update → Check for updates)
4. Once the update completes, re-enable your antivirus

Important: Do not browse the web or open downloads while your AV is paused.

Method 3 — Restart BITS and Windows Update Services

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter
2. Find Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) → right-click → Restart
3. Find Windows Update → right-click → Restart
4. Close the window and retry Windows Update

Method 4—Clear the SoftwareDistribution Folder

This deletes corrupted cached update files so Windows can download fresh copies.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search CMD → right-click → Run as administrator)
2. Run these commands one at a time:

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits

3. Open File Explorer → navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
4. Select all files and folders inside → Delete them all
5. Return to Command Prompt and run:

net start wuauserv
net start bits

6. Restart your PC and run Windows Update again

Method 5 — Full Windows Update Component Reset via CMD (Most Reliable)

This method resets all WU components and management folders and is confirmed working on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 in 2026.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run each command in order:

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
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Restart your PC. The renamed .old folders are safe to delete after a successful update.

Method 6 — Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot disables all non-Microsoft startup services, isolating which third-party program is causing the file lock.

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, press Enter
2. Click the Services tab → check Hide all Microsoft services → click Disable All
3. Click the Startup tab → click Open Task Manager → disable all startup items
4. Restart your PC and run Windows Update
5. If it works, re-enable services one by one to find the culprit

Method 7 — Run SFC and DISM Scans

Open the Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

sfc /scannow

Wait for it to complete, then run:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Restart and retry Windows Update.

Method 8 — Install the Update Manually from Microsoft Catalog

1. Go to Settings → Windows Update and note the KB number of the failing update
2. Visit catalog.update.microsoft.com
3. Search the KB number → download the version matching your OS (x64 or ARM64)
4. Double-click the downloaded .msu file and install manually

0x80070020 Error on Windows 11 — Additional Notes

As of June 2026, error 0x80070020 is actively appearing on KB5060841 (Windows 11 24H2 cumulative update) on Dell laptops and other hardware. The fix is identical—Method 2 (antivirus disable) or Method 5 (full component reset) resolves it in most cases.

If you are on Windows 11 using Microsoft Defender as your only AV, the culprit is more likely BITS or SoftwareDistribution corruption—go straight to Method 4 or 5.

Real Users Who Fixed Error 0x80070020

1. Microsoft Q&A — KB5060841 on Dell Laptop (June 2026)

“Getting download error -0x80070020 on my Dell Pro laptop with KB5060841. Turned off antivirus, ran the update troubleshooter, restarted BITS — update went through on second attempt.” — Microsoft Q&A community, June 2026

2. Microsoft Answers — Clean Boot Fix

“0x80070020 occurs if a program is interfering with the automatic update process. Performing a clean boot to determine if there are any third-party applications causing the issue resolved it for me.” — Microsoft Q&A Volunteer Moderator, verified answer

3. Appuals Community — WU Component Reset

“Resetting all WU components and management folders using the CMD sequence fixed it permanently. Confirmed working on both Windows 11 and older versions.” — Appuals.com community, 2026

4. VividRepairs Forum — Antivirus + SoftwareDistribution

“Disabling antivirus got the update going but it failed again the next month. Clearing SoftwareDistribution and renaming catroot2 completely solved it. Haven’t seen the error since.” — VividRepairs reader comment, February 2026

5. TheWindowsClub Community — CBS Corruption Scenario

“In my case it was CBS corruption. Clearing SoftwareDistribution contents and running SFC fixed the CBS files and the update installed cleanly.” — TheWindowsClub community verified fix

Note: Leaving update errors unresolved might slow down your computer’s performance or lead to other error messages, including error code 0x80070057.

How to Fix Error Code 0x80070020

Execute the update troubleshooter for Windows.

Windows has its own process of fixing error codes when encountered. Using the built-in troubleshooting mechanism, users have been able to determine the underlined cause of an error. Subsequent to using troubleshooting, some errors were rectified. Therefore, the following steps will help you access the update troubleshooter:

1. Hold the Windows key and ‘X’ to access the menu. This menu will appear on the bottom left corner of your screen.
2. Click the Control Panel
3. Use the View by option to change the appearance of the files. Choose large or small icons. The view by option is located in the upper right-hand corner of your computer screen.
4. After modifying the appearance of the files onscreen, select the troubleshooting
5. Execute the Windows update troubleshooter.
6. Restart your computer system and check whether the issue is solved.

Perform a clean boot

A clean boot is often carried out to boot Windows using fewer resources—startup programs and drivers.

This ensures that conflicts are minimized and that software does not clash whenever it receives updates.

With a clean boot, you can then assess or pinpoint what’s actually causing the occurrence of error code 0x80070020. To learn how to execute a clean boot, follow the procedures underscored on Microsoft’s Support website.

Reset Windows update components

This process is actually risky and should be a last resort. The steps underscored in this process will change your computer’s registry, so be sure to accurately proceed.

If a mistake occurs, you might modify the registry incorrectly, which will give way to other error messages. To reset Windows update components, follow closely the steps highlighted on Microsoft’s website.

You can complete the above process in the following simple steps.

1. First, open the Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
2. Stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer and the Windows Update Services
3. Now rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders to something like <foldername>.old.
4. Now restart the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update services.
5. Exit the command prompt and restart the computer. Now try to install the updates.

Bitdefender can be a hindrance.

Sometimes third-party antivirus applications like Bitdefender may see the Windows updates as a threat.

This happens because the new updates of Windows 10 may not still be registered with the antivirus vendor. The solution to this kind of problem is to temporarily disable the antivirus and do the update. Then you can update the Bit Defender anti-virus engine.

Using DISM Tool to Resolve the Problem

There is a nifty command-line utility known as Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM).

It comes installed by default in Windows 10. This small program can be used to repair and prepare Windows images, etc.

The main purpose of this program in the resolution of the 0x80070020 error code is that it can fix the recovery image of the Windows 10 OS and service a virtual hard disk.

Scan Files to Check for Errors

You can follow these simple steps to fix the 0x80070020 issue:

1. Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
2. Then type the following command in the command prompt.

sfc /scannow

Note: It can take up to 3 tries for SFC to fix the above issue.

You can still use the DISM tool deeply with the following three options—CheckHealth, ScanHealth, and RestoreHealth.

Using the /CheckHealth switch, you can verify whether any corruption occurred to the Windows files or components.

The /ScanHealth can scan the Windows image for any corruption and may take up to 10 minutes to give the results.

The /RestoreHealth switch can scan the Windows image for any corruption and also repair automatically. This process can take nearly 20 to 30 minutes.

But sometimes, you may not know where good files are located on your PC. The system image files might have been corrupted.

So, in this case, you need a copy of the install.wim file from a reliable Windows 10 computer or the Windows 10 ISO file. It’s also a prerequisite that the source of the required good files matches the same language, edition, and version of the OS you are using.

Usage of DISM Utility to Clean Corrupted files

You can use the following commands, one by one, to use the /RestoreHealth switch with the source path location of good files.

1. First Command – DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:repairSource\install.wim
2. Next Try—DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source: repairSource\install.wim /LimitAccess
3. Next—DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:repairSource\install.wim:1 /LimitAccess

The “repairSource” is the source of the known- good files. For example, F:\Windows10Restore\install.wim.

The above video talks about the common Windows 10 update errors and how to resolve them. As you might have observed by now, the 0x80070020 error code also belongs to this class. So, the above guide should be useful in fixing the above error.

Conclusion

If you’re unable to fix error code 0x80070020 after attempting the aforementioned methods, you may want to contact a certified technician to help fix the error message or simply download a powerful automated system optimizer to resolve the issue.

Error code 0x80070020 is annoying, but it is completely fixable. In most cases, temporarily disabling your antivirus and restarting the update resolves it within minutes.

In most remaining cases, either restarting the BITS service or clearing the SoftwareDistribution folder will resolve the issue if the previous steps do not work. If you’re among the stubborn 5%, the full CMD-based WU component reset is your best option.

If you found this guide helpful, drop a comment below with which method worked for you—it helps other Windows users in the US, UK, and India find the right fix faster. Bookmark this page, as I update it with every major Windows cumulative update cycle.