Error: 0x80070490 
Error ID: ERROR_NOT_FOUND
Error Description: Windows could not search for new updates.

Windows Update error code 0x80070490 is pointing to a corruption in Windows Update component store. But it is unclear what exactly caused this error. In order to fix “0x80070490 Windows could not search for new updates” error, you need to patiently follow these troubleshooting steps one by one. You may have to try Windows Update after each step.

How to rectify 0x80070490 Windows could not search for new updates ?

Before you begin, check these points

  • Login to user account with administrator privilege /power. For Windows Home editions, use the default account.
  • Reboot your PC
  • Ensure Internet is accessible
  • Make sure Windows Update Servers/Websites are accessible. See Windows update URL list.
  • In some scenarios Windows update may take unusually long time to complete the updating process. So it will be better to leave PC on (overnight) and let Windows to complete the update download process.
  • Close all programs
  • Disable Anti-Virus program temporarily (optional).
  • Make sure Date and time of your computer/laptop is accurate – Change it if is wrong – Important.
  • Make sure Region and Keyboard layout settings is correct.
  • Backup your files to an external hard disk.

Lets start the troubleshooting.

1. Windows Update Troubleshooting tool

Microsoft has released Windows Update troubleshooting tool to automatically fix most of the issues related to Windows update. So Download and run update fix tool to repair Windows Update components.

Windows 10 has built in Windows Update Troubleshooter.

This Windows 10 troubleshooter will check and repair almost all components related to Windows Update. For eg: Windows Update Folder, Data store, Registry entries, System File Corruption etc.

How to run Windows 10 troubleshooter?

Press Windows start menu ->Go to Settings -> Click Update & Security -> Troubleshooter -> Click Windows Update-> “Run the troubleshooter”.

Windows Settings Update Security
Windows Settings Update Security
Windows 10 Update Troubleshooter
Windows 10 Update Troubleshooter

Upon completion, restart your PC. After reboot try Windows update now. if it failed with same error code, then please follow the next step.

2. System Update Readiness tool to fix update error 0x80070490.

Download appropriate System Update Readiness tool package from “Microsoft Update Catalogue” for your operating system. Make sure you select the right version and architecture suitable for your OS. Install the downloaded package to repair the Windows Update components.

Download URL: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=947821

System Update Readiness Tool To repair Windows Update Corruption Error

Click “Yes” and complete the installation process. Restart the PC and update Windows.

3. Anti-Malware Scan

Malwares like viruses can cause havoc in your PC. Download Microsoft Safety Scanner and run a complete through scan. Run it in safe mode for more efficient check. Restart your PC.

4. Run DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool

Open Command prompt (cmd.exe) as administrator, type this DISM command given below and press enter key. 

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

DISM will scan and identify the corrupted files, then it will try to replace the corrupted files by downloading new files through Windows Update process. It will take several minutes to complete the whole process. If the Windows update client is already corrupted then you may have to download the latest System Update Readiness Tool and install it to fix corrupted files. Make sure you have internet connection.

Try to update Windows now. If it failed again, you may have to consider System Restore.

5. Scan and repair Windows system files using SFC

Run System File Checker tool (SFC) command will help you scan and repair missing or corrupted system files.

Open command prompt as administrator and run SFC /scannow command

C:\Windows\system32>sfc /scannow
Scan your system files for corruption- Fix Corrupted System Files
SFC Scan

6. System restore.

Restore your system to an earlier restore point created before this problem has started. This step is more critical one, applications installed and settings configures after that restore point may loose after this process.

Read this article to see How to restore Windows 10 to an earlier restore point ?

Try Windows update after the restore process. Follow the next step if the same error appears again.

7. Last and final resort – Reset this PC

Windows 10 has built in tool called “Reset this PC“, this tool can reinstall Windows 10 without loosing your files and settings to factory settings. Windows Reset this PC tool can solve System file corruptions and wipe out malicious and unwanted applications existing on the computer. It will remove applications you installed.

  1. Go to Windows Start menu and click “Settings”
Open Windows Settings
Windows Settings
  1. Select “Update & Security“
Windows Update & Security
Windows Update & Security
  1. Select Recovery option from left pane.
Window 10 Recovery Settings
Window 10 Recovery Settings
  1. In Recovery window you can see “Reset this PC”.
  2. Click “Reset this PC” button.
Reset this PC - Save or remove files
Reset this PC – Save or remove files

6. Reset this PC have two options

  • Keep my files – This option will remove “Apps and settings” only, it keeps your personal files safe (even though we reccomend you to back up your personal files to an external hard disk).
  • Remove everything – Removes all of your personal files, apps and settings
Windows 10 – Ready to reset this PC
  1. Click “Keep my files” option to start Windows 10 rest this PC process.
  2. In newer versions , you may prompt to select the installation source , “Cloud download” or “Local reinstall”.

Cloud Download

If you choose this option, Windows will download all its necessary installation files from the cloud.
I will recommend this option if you have a high speed internet connection and because it will download latest files from Microsoft’s server for Windows installation, this will be around 4GB of data. This is the more reliable method, local files might have chance for corruption.

Local reinstall

If you choose this option, Windows will source files from your device.

  1. Choose your option and continue
  2. if you have upgraded from an older Windows OS (7 or 8), Windows will warns you that you won’t be able to roll back to a prior version of the OS. Click “Next” to continue.
  3. In next screen you can see “Reset” button, click this button to start the Reset process. The Reset this PC process will take several minutes to complete. Usually the whole process will complete without any issues.

Try Windows Update again. The error should be gone by now, otherwise it is a hardware issue, its time to change the storage device.

Windows Update Troubleshooting Guides and Tools

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