Error 0x80070490 means “element not found”: Windows went looking for a file, registry entry or component it expected and couldn’t find it. On Windows Update it almost always points to a damaged component store, so run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and then sfc /scannow from an admin Command Prompt, clear the update cache and try again. If the code shows up in the Microsoft Store or Xbox app instead, run wsreset.exe first, or install the game through the Xbox app.
The fix depends on where you saw the code, so find your situation below and start there.
Where people hit 0x80070490, and what fixed it
Microsoft Q&A is full of this code, and the threads split into three groups: Windows Update, Store and Xbox game downloads, and the old Mail app. Here’s what those threads actually show.
“Something went wrong” while downloading a Store game
Someone who’d just bought Microsoft Flight Simulator couldn’t download it from the Microsoft Store; every attempt ended in 0x80070490, and rebooting changed nothing. In that Microsoft Q&A thread about the Store error, the asker confirmed that clearing the Store cache with wsreset.exe did the trick and the download went through. It’s a ten-second fix, so it’s always the first thing to try for Store errors.
Forza Horizon 5 won’t install on a new PC
A thread from a Windows 11 Home user describes the same “try again later” loop with Forza Horizon 5, retried every few days for weeks. What worked wasn’t a cache reset. The asker reported that “Installing from Xbox app helped.” If the Store keeps failing on a game, open the Xbox app, sign in with the same Microsoft account, and start the install from your library.
Gaming Services itself throws the error
Sometimes the error appears while installing Gaming Services, the background component Xbox games on PC need. In one Q&A thread about a brand-new PC, a volunteer moderator pointed to the Gaming Services Repair Tool on Xbox Support. The thread never confirmed a fix, so treat that as a lead, not a guaranteed cure. If it doesn’t help, the Windows repair steps further down are the next move, since a broken component store can block Gaming Services too.
Windows Update keeps failing with the same code
The classic version. In a long-running Windows Update thread, a moderator blamed a corrupted Component-Based Servicing (CBS) manifest and suggested a DISM scan. Running SFC and the troubleshooter alone hadn’t been enough for that user, which matches what Microsoft’s own guidance implies: you need DISM to repair the component store, not only SFC.
“I can’t add an account in Mail”
Windows 10’s Mail app used to throw 0x80070490 the moment you tried to add Gmail or Outlook. The most-voted answer on that Q&A thread was to reset Mail in Settings and, failing that, reinstall it. Today there’s a simpler answer, covered near the end.
What does error 0x80070490 mean?
It’s Windows’ generic “not found” error. The last part, 490, is hex for Windows error 1168, which a Microsoft support engineering post shows in a setup log as “Error 1168: Element not found.” In that case, Windows Update failed because a driver file in the driver store couldn’t be matched to a valid signature catalog.
In everyday terms, something Windows needs to finish the job is missing or damaged. The usual suspects:
- Corrupted files in the Windows component store (the folder Windows Update patches from)
- A broken or half-downloaded update in the update cache
- A damaged Microsoft Store cache, or a broken Gaming Services install
- Leftover driver packages that fail verification
How to fix 0x80070490 in Windows Update
Work through these in order. Most people are done by step 3.
1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
On Windows 11, Microsoft’s update troubleshooting page sends you to the Get Help app’s Windows Update troubleshooter. The older route is Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run. Then retry the update.
2. Repair Windows with DISM and SFC
This is the fix that matters most for 0x80070490. DISM repairs the component store, then SFC repairs system files using that store, so run them in this order.
- Search for Command Prompt, right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
- Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press Enter. It can sit at one percentage for a while; let it finish.
- Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Wait for it to reach 100%.
- Restart the PC and run Windows Update again.
DISM can use Windows Update as its source for clean copies of damaged files, so stay connected to the internet while it runs. If you only want a report first, Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth tells you whether the image is healthy, repairable or beyond repair, according to Microsoft’s DISM documentation.
3. Clear the Windows Update cache
A corrupted download will keep failing no matter how many times you click Retry. Microsoft’s steps:
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc and press Enter.
- Right-click Windows Update and choose Stop.
- Open C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution in File Explorer and delete everything inside it (not the folder itself).
- Back in Services, right-click Windows Update and choose Start.
- Check for updates again. The first scan takes longer because Windows rebuilds the cache.
4. Check the boring stuff
Microsoft’s checklist also covers a few things that cause update errors in general. Unplug docks, external drives and other extras you don’t need. Make sure the date and time are set automatically under Settings > Time & language > Date & time. And free up space: the same page asks for at least 20 GB free on 64-bit Windows.
5. Reinstall Windows through Windows Update (keeps your files)
If DISM can’t repair the image, Windows 11 has a repair that rewrites the system without wiping anything. Go to Settings > System > Recovery and, under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now. According to Microsoft, it reinstalls your current Windows version and keeps your apps, files and settings. Keep the PC plugged in and online throughout.
Don’t see the option? Microsoft says it can be missing on work or school PCs and on older Windows 11 builds; it needs the February 2024 optional update or later.
Fixing 0x80070490 in the Microsoft Store or Xbox app
For game and app downloads, start with the Store cache and work outward.
- Reset the Store cache. Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe and press Enter. Retry the download once the Store reopens.
- Update the Store and Windows. In Microsoft Store go to Library > Get updates, then run Windows Update. Both steps are on Microsoft’s Store app troubleshooting page.
- Install from the Xbox app instead. Same account, same purchase, different installer. For games, try this before anything heavier.
- Reset the Store app. On Windows 11 go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, click the three dots next to Microsoft Store, choose Advanced options and click Reset.
- Repair Windows. If Gaming Services itself won’t install, run the DISM and SFC steps from the Windows Update section above.
What about the Mail app?
Stop fighting it. Microsoft ended support for Windows Mail, Calendar and People on December 31, 2024 and points people to the new Outlook for Windows or Outlook.com. Install new Outlook from the Microsoft Store and add your Gmail, Outlook or other account there. If you still want to try the old app, the reset under its Advanced options was the fix most people voted for, but nobody in that thread reported back that it worked.
Frequently asked questions
Is error 0x80070490 a virus?
No. It’s a standard Windows “element not found” error that comes from missing or damaged system files, caches or components. It doesn’t indicate malware on its own.
Will DISM or SFC delete my files?
No. DISM /RestoreHealth and sfc /scannow only repair Windows system files and the component store. Your documents, photos and apps aren’t touched.
Is it safe to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder contents?
Yes, as long as you stop the Windows Update service first. Microsoft lists it as a standard fix; Windows downloads fresh copies of whatever it needs on the next update check.
Can I fix 0x80070490 on Windows 10?
Yes. The troubleshooter, DISM, SFC, cache clearing and wsreset steps all work on Windows 10. Only the “Fix problems using Windows Update” reinstall button is Windows 11-only.
Why does the Xbox app work when the Microsoft Store doesn’t?
Both install through the same account, but they use different front ends. When the Store’s cache or install queue is stuck, starting the same download from the Xbox app’s library often gets around it.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Troubleshoot problems updating Windows
- Microsoft Learn: Repair a Windows image (DISM)
- Microsoft Support: Fix issues by reinstalling the current version of Windows
- Microsoft Learn archive: Error 0x80070490 (Element not found) when installing an update
- Microsoft Support: Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store
- Microsoft Support: The future of Mail, Calendar and People on Windows 11
- Microsoft Q&A: Error 0x80070490 in MS Store
- Microsoft Q&A: 0x80070490 problem (Forza Horizon 5)
Featured image: Artem Podrez / Pexels
