System Restore Error 0x80070003 persists

Question

System Restore Error 0x80070003 persists

Sean Beatty 0

I have a problem attempting to backtrack to a backed-up version of Windows 10 (which has a 1-year extension)...

The last System Restore checkpoint I created in Backup was 12/14/25, and I have the backup on an external hard drive. I had since created a checkpoint 12/29/25 before installing new software. I have tried switching on the Volume Shadow Copy in Services; I have tried sfc/scannow and chkdsk /f /r /x and I have even turned off my antivirus software. I tried System Restore in Troubleshooting and Safe Mode (12/14 was not available in Safe Mode; 12/29 was the earliest).

I tried performing System Restore back to 12/29 and 12/14. Both failed. Is there a brute-force solution that I need to try to remove or bypass Error 0x80070003 and successfully complete the System Restore?

By the way, access to my folders WindowsApps and WindowsApps.tmp is denied. Would I gain access if I run Windows in Safe Mode?

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Answer 1

Hi Sean Beatty,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum. The error 0x80070003 means System Restore can’t replace files inside WindowsApps or WindowsApps.tmp. These folders are locked by system permissions and by AppX package integrity, so normal restore points often fail. Please try following steps:

1, Try System Restore from WinRE with AppX repair disabled

Boot to Advanced Startup > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt

Run:

  dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

Restart
Try System Restore again from Advanced Startup, not from inside Windows.

2, Rename WindowsApps.tmp to bypass the failing package

Also boot to Advanced Startup > Command Prompt
Run:

takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps.tmp" /r /d y 
icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps.tmp" /grant administrators:F /t 
ren "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps.tmp" WindowsApps_backup

Try System Restore again.

3, Restore using your full external backup instead of System Restore

Boot from your backup software recovery media
Restore the entire image from 12/14/25 or 12/29/25

4, If none of the above work: Reset Windows while keeping files

Go to Advanced Startup > Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Keep my files
Reinstall apps after reset

About access to WindowsApps / WindowsApps.tmp

These folders are always restricted, even in Safe Mode
You can only access them in WinRE Command Prompt using takeown and icacls
Safe Mode does not grant full access

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Sin-D 9,665 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-01-07T06:10:59.6933333+00:00

Hi,

I just wanted to check in and see if the steps worked for you. If you need any further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out by clicking "Add Comment" or "Post Answer" (If you cannot add comment)! This helps me can read your follow up! Thank you.
Alister Poklemba 60 Reputation points

2026-04-26T05:00:20.7033333+00:00

Not OP, but what would I do for D: drive? I tried doing "dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions" but replacing the C with D and that did nothing. My D: Drive doesn't have a WindowsApps.tmp folder, not a hidden one either. It has a WindowsApps folder, though.

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System Restore Error 0x80070003 persists

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