5 Ways to Fix the Minecraft Launcher Error Code 0x80070005 on a Windows PC

Error code 0x80070005 can feasibly occur for numerous Windows PC game apps. However, some players report that an error occurs when they try to install Minecraft Launcher via the MS Store or Xbox app. For example, one user said, “Minecraft Launcher installation error 0x80070005… I press install, and the launcher is installed; however, the actual game does not, and it displays Error code 0x80070005.” This is how to resolve the Minecraft Launcher error code 0x80070005 on a Windows PC.

Reset Microsoft Store

Error code 0x80070005 can occur because of issues with the Microsoft Store. Resetting the Microsoft Store might address such issues. This is how you can reset the MS Store with a WSReset command:

1. Open Run by pressing the Windows logo key + R.
2. Input wsreset.exe inside Run.
   
   

   The wsreset.exe Run command

3. Click OK to execute the command reset Microsoft Store.

Rename the WPSystem Folder

Some players say they’ve fixed the Minecraft Launcher error code 0x80070005 by renaming the WPSystem folder. However, you’ll also need to take ownership of that folder to change its name. I recommend adding a Take Ownership option to the context menu with the freeware Winaero Tweaker. This is how you can take ownership of and rename the WPSystem folder to apply this possible fix.

1. Go to this Winaero Tweaker page and click Download there.
2. Open whatever folder includes the winaero.zip archive.
3. Unzip the archive as instructed on this Microsoft page.
4. Double-click the Winaero setup file in the extracted folder.
5. Go through the setup wizard to install Winaero Tweaker.
6. Open Winaero Tweaker to view its window.
7. Click Context Menu > Take Ownership in Winaero Tweaker.
8. Select the Add “Take Ownership” context menu to files and folder option.
   
   

   The Add “Take ownership” option

9. Open File Explorer and select the Hidden Items checkbox on the View tab in Windows 10. Or click the Show More menu to select Options > View > Show hidden files, folders, and drivers in Windows 11 File Explorer.
   
   

   The Hidden items box

10. Right-click the WPSystem folder in the root C: directory to select Take Ownership on the context menu.
11. Then, right-click on the WPSystem folder to select Rename.
    
    

    The WPSystem option

12. Input WPSystem.old for the new folder name and press Enter.

Take Ownership of the Packages Folder

Taking ownership of the Packages folder can also fix error code 0x80070005. You can easily do this if you’ve added a new Take Ownership option to Explorer’s context menu with Winaero Tweaker, as instructed in the previous resolution. These are the steps for taking ownership of the Packages folder:

1. Go through steps one to eight of the previous resolution to select the Add “Take Ownership” option in Winaero Tweaker.
2. Open Explorer and the C:\Users\<user name folder>\AppData\Local folder path.
3. Right-click the Packages folder to select Take Ownership.
   
   

   The Take Ownership option

Reinstall Minecraft Launcher

Players also confirm that reinstalling the Minecraft Launcher can resolve the error code 0x80070005. You should be able to apply this fix so long as you can select to uninstall that app via Settings. Try reinstalling Minecraft Launcher like this:

1. Open the Windows search box from your taskbar.
2. Input Apps & features and select the result that matches.
3. Find Minecraft Launcher in Apps & features and select its Uninstall option.
   
   

   The Uninstall option in Apps & features

4. Go to the C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\ folder path in File Explorer.
5. Right-click the .minecraft folder to select Delete.
6. Restart your PC.
7. Reinstall the Minecraft Launcher app via the MS Store or the Xbox app.

Delete and Restore the Xbox Games Folder App

If you need to fix error code 0x80070005 when trying to install Minecraft Launcher via the Xbox app, try deleting the Xbox games folder and recreating it. Players confirm they’ve resolved error code 0x80070005 by doing that. This is how you can delete and recreate the Xbox games folder:

1. Open Local Disk in File Explorer.
2. If you already have games installed in the Xbox games folder, move them out by dragging and dropping them into another location.
3. Right-click the Xbox games folder to select Delete.
4. Then, right-click inside the Local Disk to select New > Folder.
   
   

   The xbox games folder

5. Input xbox games (don’t include any capitals) to be the new folder’s name.
6. Move the content you moved out of the deleted folder back into the newly created Xbox games directory.

The fixes above are among the most widely confirmed troubleshooting methods for the Minecraft Launcher error code 0x80070005. Note that applying those potential resolutions can also fix the same error code when it occurs for other game apps. So, it’s more of an MS Store and Xbox app issue than a Minecraft one.

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