Windows 11 has been out for a few months now, and users have been able to upgrade for some time. While this process is relatively straightforward for some, others who have been less fortunate. One such example is Windows 11 error code 0x80070070. Not to be confused with the incredibly similar named Error Code 0x8007007f. Even more confusingly, this also occurs when trying to update from Windows 10. We're focussed on the former in this article, and will tell you what you need to know, should you encounter it.
How To Fix Windows 11 Error Code 0x80070070
Error Code 0x80070070 happens when you need to free up available storage space, so that the installation can complete. In order to free up some storage space, you can try the following steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on System.
- Click on Storage.
- Under the "Storage" section, click the Temporary files option for the system drive.
- Check the items you want to remove. Make sure you do not remove the items labelled "Windows ESD installation files" or "Windows Setup temporary files". These are the upgrade files that you need to complete the installation of Windows 11.
- Click the Remove files button.
You can also empty your recycle bin, which can hold data indefinitely. So if you aren't in the habit of regularly emptying your bin, you may find a lot of unwanted files that are needlessly taking up space in your hard drive.
Read More: Windows 11 Move Taskbar Left: How To Change The Windows 11 Taskbar
Your next option is to uninstall any unused apps that may be taking up space:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Apps.
- Select the Apps & Features tab.
- Go through the list to see which apps you do not use.
- Select any app that you don't use. You can sort the apps in size order, and remove the largest ones first.
- Click Uninstall.
- Repeat for any apps that you do not use, or don't want on your computer.
If you are still struggling for space, then you do have the option of connecting an external storage device, such as an external HDD. It needs to have a minimum of 16GB of available storage that setup can use as temporary storage.
What Is Error Code 0x80070070?
There are a few variants of the same error code - 0x80070070 – 0x50011, 0x80070070 – 0x50012, and 0x80070070 – 0x60000. But whichever one you may be faced with, they all point to a similar underlying issue. Namely, that the computer lacks sufficient space to complete the installation process.
According to Microsoft, Windows 11 requires a minimum of 16GB of storage space for the 32-bit OS, and 20GB for the 64-bit OS in order to complete the installation successfully. Anything less than that, and you are extremely likely to encounter issues during the installation process.
Read More: Should I Upgrade To Windows 11?
If this is the situation in which you find yourself, try the suggestions we've outlined above. And hopefully, you'll be able to complete your Windows 11 upgrade soon. But a quick word of caution: if your computer doesn't meet the minimum specs for Windows 11, then we strongly advise that you don't even attempt to upgrade. If you do, you could end up with even more issues. And it simply isn't worth it.
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