How to fix error 0x80070070 on Windows 10

Getting 0x80070070 error messages as you try to upgrade to a new version of Windows 10, then you're dealing with a storage problem – here's how to fix it.

Free up storage space to fix error 0x80070070 on Windows 10
Free up storage space to fix error 0x80070070 on Windows 10

When upgrading to a new version of Windows 10, such as version 2004 or any other feature update, you may get error code 0x80070070 – 0x50011, 0x50012, or 0x60000 using Windows Update, Media Creation Tool, or the Update Assistant.

Any of the 0x80070070 error messages are known upgrade problems with Windows 10. However, these aren’t significant issues, if you get any of the three error messages (0x80070070 – 0x50011, 0x80070070 – 0x50012, 0x80070070 – 0x60000), then it means that your computer doesn’t have enough space to successfully complete the upgrade.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to fix error 0x80070070 as your device tries to upgrade to a new version of Windows 10.

How to fix error 0x80070070 Windows 10

When you receive error 0x80070070 – 0x50011, 0x80070070 – 0x50012, or 0x80070070 – 0x60000, you only need to free up space on your main storage, or you’ll need to connect an external drive, such as USB flash drive with enough space that Windows 10 can use as a temporary storage.

Freeing up space using Settings

To delete unnecessary and temporary files to free up space on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click on Storage.

  4. Under the “Storage sense” section, click the Configure Storage Sense or run it now option.

    Configure Storage Sense or run it now option
    Configure Storage Sense or run it now option
  5. Under the “Temporary Files” section, check the Delete temporary files that my apps aren’t using option.

    Storage sense free up space deleting junk files
    Storage sense free up space deleting junk files
  6. Use the Delete files in my recycle bin if they have been for over drop-down menu and select the 1 day option.

  7. Use the Delete files in my Downloads folder if they have been there for over drop-down menu and carefully select the how the files have to be to remove them. (If you don’t want to delete files in the Downloads folder, select the Never option.)

  8. Under the “Locally available cloud content” section, use the drop-down menus to select when OneDrive content you want to become online-only to free up space.

  9. Click the Clean now button.

Once you complete the steps, Storage sense will reclaim some space to resolve the 0x80070070 error. If you couldn’t cleanup enough files, then you can try removing temporary files.

Removing temporary files

To delete system temporary files with the Settings app, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click on Storage.

  4. Under the primary drive section, click on the Temporary files option.

  5. Select the files you want to delete. (It should be noted that temporary files include those temporary files from apps, files in the Downloads folder, those in the recycle bin, and previous installation files.)

    Cleanup temporary files on Windows 10 to fix 0x80070070
    Cleanup temporary files on Windows 10 to fix 0x80070070
  6. Click the Remove files to complete the task.

Freeing up space using Disk Cleanup tool

If you still need to free up more space, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool.

  1. Open File Explorer.

  2. Click on This PC.

  3. Right-click the drive with the Windows 10 installation and select the Properties option.

  4. Click the Disk Cleanup button.

    Windows 10 hard drive properties
    Windows 10 hard drive properties
  5. Click the Cleanup system files button.

  6. Check the items you want to delete. For example, Windows upgrade log files, Recycle Bin, Temporary Files, and System created Windows Error Reporting, but don’t select Temporary Windows Installation Files as these are the files to upgrade your system.

    Disk cleanup system files
    Disk cleanup system files
  7. Click the OK button.

  8. Click the Delete Files button.

Once you complete the steps and you have enough space try to upgrade to Windows 10 one more time, and you should no longer see any of the error messages.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.