Moderate Severity
0x80070020 Error: Process Cannot Access the File (Sharing Violation)
Error 0x80070020 means a file is locked by another process and cannot be accessed. In the context of Windows Update, it typically means an update file is being held open by another program such as antivirus software. This is a sharing violation at the file system level.
Common Causes
- Antivirus scanning Windows Update files
- Another program has the file open
- Windows service holding a file lock
- Previous update process did not release files
- Backup software locking system files
- Indexing service accessing the file
- Application crash left file handles open
Symptoms
- Windows Update fails during installation
- Cannot delete, move, or rename a file
- Application updates fail
- File copy operations fail for specific files
- Error appears intermittently
How to Fix 0x80070020
- Temporarily disable antivirus and retry
- Restart the computer to release all file locks
- Use Process Explorer to find which process holds the lock
- Stop unnecessary services and retry
- Boot into Safe Mode and retry the operation
- Disable Windows Search indexing temporarily
- Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
What Is Error
Error code 0x80070020 is a Windows HRESULT error code that translates to "Process Cannot Access the File (Sharing Violation)". HRESULT codes are hexadecimal values used throughout the Windows operating system to indicate specific error conditions. When you see this error, it means Windows or an application encountered the condition described above and could not continue the operation.
The error code format breaks down as follows: the leading 0x8 indicates a failure, the next digits identify the facility (the Windows subsystem that generated the error), and the remaining digits specify the exact error condition.
How Serious Is
Error 0x80070020 is not typically an emergency, but it will prevent certain operations from completing. You can continue using your computer for other tasks while troubleshooting. Work through the fixes below in order, starting with the simplest solutions.