Error 80070020, which can appear on mobile devices running Windows systems, is a fairly common phenomenon. As practice shows, usually such a malfunction appears on Lumia smartphones (although other models are not safe from this). Many simply cannot imagine how to deal with this. Meanwhile, there is nothing complicated here. But first, find out what, in fact, means error code 80070020 in the message. After that, it will be possible to choose the most suitable method to eliminate the failure.
Error 80070020: the essence of the failure
Initially, oddly enough, the problem is the inability to synchronize an officially registered Microsoft account on the device.
The error code 80070020 for Windows devices that appears in the message indicates this indirectly, although the main text says that it is not possible to update the smartphone. Actually, such a problem is inherent not only to mobile, but also to many stationary Windows systems.
Error 80070020 Windows Phone: setting the correct time and date
Now consider how to fix the situation. By analogy with stationary systems, error 80070020 of mobile-type Windows devices can appear only because the date and time are incorrectly set on the device.
But if in ordinary PCs and laptops you need to change the parameters exclusively in the BIOS, it’s enough to enter the settings menu, turn off the automatic time setting, select the region that matches your location, fix the date and time, then save the settings and completely reboot the mobile device (without of this, the changed parameters simply will not take effect).
Replacing a removable memory card
Another misunderstanding when error 80070020 appears is due to the fact that some mobile gadgets refuse to recognize removable memory cards. For example, the same Lumia models very often “spit out” SanDisk cards.
It is not known what this is connected with, but even the usual replacement of the drive with a card from another manufacturer in some cases fixes the problem. Here are just cards of the above production, even if formatted as expected, it is not worth using, because the system can again begin to "swear." And you should not understand that absolutely all Windows devices react to such situations in such a negative way. It is worth repeating that this applies exclusively to the Lumia model line.
Domain change
Another reason that the Windows Phone error 80070020 appears is the mismatch of the registration account defined on the domain.
The fact is that, for some time now, Microsoft began to transfer all accounts to the outlook.com domain, while ignoring old registrations like live.com and hotmail.com. As one of the easiest remedies, you can use the usual record change with the addition of the old outlook.com domain name instead.
Again, the data after the change must be saved, and then reboot the device. It is believed that all updates available for Windows-based mobile devices are “tailored” just for the registration data entered using the newly announced domain name. It is argued that this is one of the surest ways to resolve the problem.
In general, that in stationary versions, that in mobile systems, if they work stably even without installing updates, why install these updates at all? Indeed, if you look at them, besides additions to the security system or connecting some new functions, which, by the way, few people use in practice, there is nothing particularly critical and important. And therefore, you can refuse to install them altogether.
By the way, as one of the additional recommendations, you can use the advice on disabling any antivirus software, similar to how it is done during an update attempt on stationary systems. At least, the user can be sure that he will not catch any virus when downloading packages from the official resource.
Full reset
If nothing helps at all, and error 80070020 appears again and again, despite all the operations done, there is nothing left but to reset the settings to factory settings.
In many ways, this method may seem barbaric, but there is nothing wrong with that. You just need to copy the necessary information to a removable drive or computer, and then apply the Reset function. After performing this operation, for example, when connected to a stationary PC or laptop (in case you save the same contacts on your hard drive), it will not be difficult to return everything that is called back to square one. And if there is still some management utility, this generally turns out to be a completely elementary procedure.
You can use the operating system environment itself, specialized programs, and even the simplest utilities like MyPhone Explorer, which allow you to copy the necessary data in seconds. True, the same contact list can only be saved in the format of office documents Word or Excel. To export from your phone and import contacts on a computer, so to speak, in a universal format like vCard, which can be recognized by any device, you will have to use more advanced clients. However, this is already a matter of technology and the ability to use the appropriate software.
Summary
By the way, judging by user reviews, sometimes even after replacing a flash card it may be necessary to reconfigure the date and time. This option looks somewhat inconvenient, but does not require a reset. But the reset can be used as a final means, although, it seems, even a change in the registration domain with restarting the device can give tangible results. This seems all the more acceptable in terms of the fact that all update packages are tied to such records. It is not clear, however, why Microsoft decided to do this, but as they say, we, ordinary inhabitants, are not given a decree.
In general, the procedure for applying the above methods, we assume, is understandable. As for the difficulties, with all the desire to highlight something supernatural, it does not even seem possible, since any of the proposed methods is extremely simple.