Skip to main content
Windows error 0x80070002 is one of the most frequently encountered error codes on Windows systems. It corresponds to the Win32 error ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND, which simply means: “The system cannot find the file specified.” You will most often see this error pop up during Windows Update, software installation routines, or system repair operations — situations where Windows actively searches for a specific file and comes up empty. Although the message can look alarming, understanding what the code actually means puts you firmly in control of resolving it.

​
What Does Error 0x80070002 Mean?

The error code itself is written in hexadecimal and carries precise technical meaning when you break it down:
  • 0x8007 — This is the Windows HRESULT facility code that signals a Win32 error. Any error code beginning with 0x8007 is a direct mapping from the classic Win32 error table.
  • 0002 — This is the Win32 error number 2, which is officially defined as ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND.
Put together, 0x80070002 is Windows telling you that a process — whether it’s the Update engine, an installer, or a repair tool — reached out for a file it expected to find at a specific path, and that file was simply not there. The file could be missing because it was never downloaded, because it was deleted, or because a path reference pointing to it has become incorrect.

​
Where Does This Error Appear?

You can encounter error 0x80070002 across a wide range of Windows components and operations:
  • Windows Update — The most common location; appears when update packages or their associated metadata files cannot be located.
  • Windows Installer (MSI) — Triggered during application installs or uninstalls when a required installation file is missing.
  • System File Checker (SFC) — Reported when sfc /scannow detects that protected system files are absent or cannot be accessed.
  • DISM Tool — Surfaces when the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool cannot locate component store files.
  • Backup and Restore Operations — Appears when Windows Backup cannot find source files during a backup job or target files during a restore.
  • Software and Driver Installations — Raised by third-party setup programs that depend on Windows APIs returning valid file handles.

​
How to Identify This Error

In most cases, Windows will surface this error with one of the following messages:
  • “Windows Update encountered an unknown error. Code: 0x80070002”
  • “There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80070002)”
  • “The system cannot find the file specified. Error code: 0x80070002”
Beyond the on-screen message, you can dig deeper by using Event Viewer:
1

Open Event Viewer

Press Win + R, type eventvwr.msc, and press Enter.
2

Navigate to Windows Logs

In the left panel, expand Windows Logs and select Application or System.
3

Filter for the Error

Click Filter Current Log in the right panel, and search for Event ID 20 (Windows Update) or look for entries tagged with source WindowsUpdateClient.
4

Review the Details Tab

Click any flagged event and open the Details tab to see the full HRESULT code 0x80070002 alongside the exact file path that could not be found.
This approach tells you not just that the error occurred, but which file was missing — giving you a much more targeted path to a fix.

​
Is It Serious?

While the 0x80070002 error can interrupt critical processes like Windows Update, it is not a sign of catastrophic system failure and does not mean you have lost any personal data. In the vast majority of cases, it is fully fixable using built-in Windows tools without reinstalling the operating system.
The error is best thought of as a broken signpost: Windows knows where it should go, but the destination has moved or disappeared. Restoring or regenerating the missing file — or correcting the path reference — resolves the issue entirely.

​
Quick Summary

​
Explore More

Causes of Error 0x80070002

Learn the most common root causes behind this error — from corrupted update caches to registry issues — so you can target the right fix.

How to Fix Error 0x80070002

Follow step-by-step instructions to resolve error 0x80070002 on Windows Update, SFC, and other affected components.