Error 0x80070005
Access is denied
Windows refused the operation on permission grounds. Running as administrator solves most cases, and when it does not, something else is actively blocking the file.
What it actually means
This is the Win32 access-denied code surfaced through COM. It means the account, or the process, did not have rights to the file, folder or registry key involved, which is a very different situation from a corrupt or missing file.
How to fix it, in order
Ordered by how often each one is the answer, not by how clever it sounds.
- 01Right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator. This is the fix in the large majority of cases.
- 02Check the destination folder is not read-only and that your account has Modify rights on it.
- 03Temporarily disable antivirus. Security software blocking writes to Program Files or the registry produces this exact code.
- 04If it happens during Windows Update, run the Update troubleshooter, which resets the permissions Update relies on.
- 05Confirm the file is not marked as blocked: right-click, Properties, and tick Unblock if the option is shown. Windows applies that to files downloaded from the internet.
The Unblock checkbox catches people out
Windows marks downloaded files with a zone identifier, and some installers refuse to run with it present. The tickbox only appears in file properties when the mark is there, so its absence means this is not your problem.
Common questions
- How do I fix access denied error 0x80070005?
- Run the installer as administrator first. If that fails, check permissions on the destination folder, temporarily disable antivirus, and use the Unblock option in the file properties if it is offered.
Before you retry the installer
If the package came from anywhere other than the publisher, confirm it is the file they actually shipped. Check its SHA-256 against our index, which settles in seconds whether you are debugging an installer or a damaged download.