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Quick Fix Summary
Visual Studio error 0x80070643 is most commonly caused by corrupted installation cache or installation metadata conflicts. Follow these steps in order to resolve the issue in most cases:
Solution Order: Repair Installer → Clear Cache → Verify Installation Files → Complete Removal → Fresh Install
Identifying Error Symptoms
During Visual Studio installation or updates, the following error message appears and stops the process:
Setup Failed Error: 0x80070643 - Fatal error during installation Package failed to install
Installation logs repeatedly show "package failed" and "installation interrupted" messages along with the 0x80070643 error code.
Root Cause Analysis
- Corrupted Installation Cache: Incomplete or damaged .msi and .cab files in C:\ProgramData\Package Cache
- Installation Media Issues: Corrupted or incomplete offline layout. Visual Studio 2022 doesn’t ship official ISOs—create a layout with the bootstrapper instead. (Official guide)
- Installer Metadata Conflicts: Registry and configuration corruption from previous failed installations
- Permission/Security Issues: Installation without administrator privileges or antivirus interference
- WebView2 Runtime Blocked: Network policies or restrictions preventing essential runtime installation
Method 1: Repair Visual Studio Installer
- Close all running Visual Studio-related programs
- Check Task Manager for
VisualStudioSetup.exeorvs_installer.exeprocesses and end them - Delete the
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installerfolder - Download the bootstrapper (e.g.,
VisualStudioSetup.exe,vs_community.exe) from Microsoft's official website - Run as administrator to reinstall the Installer
Additional tip: After running the Installer, use More → Repair to repair the existing installation. (Repair instructions)
Method 2: Clear Package Cache
When Package Cache is corrupted, you can configure the Installer to bypass the cache entirely:
vs_community.exe --nocache
(Use the bootstrapper you downloaded, e.g., vs_community.exe or vs_enterprise.exe.)
Note: Using this option prevents cache file storage and automatically re-downloads required payloads as needed.
Method 3: Verify Installation Files and Offline Layout
Creating and verifying an offline layout is more reliable than using ISO files:
vs_community.exe --layout C:\VS2022_Offline --lang en-US vs_community.exe --layout C:\VS2022_Offline --verify vs_community.exe --layout C:\VS2022_Offline --fix C:\VS2022_Offline\vs_community.exe --noWeb
(Parameters are case-insensitive, but docs use --noWeb.)
Method 4: Complete Visual Studio Removal (Last Resort)
If the above methods don't work, use InstallCleanup.exe as a last resort (usage guide):
"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\InstallCleanup.exe" -i 17
Warning: -i 17 removes VS2022 while preserving shared components. The -f flag removes everything including shared components—only use this if you don't plan to reinstall.
Method 5: Fresh Visual Studio Installation
- Download the latest bootstrapper from Microsoft's official website
- Delete the Installer folder and run the new bootstrapper
- Temporarily disable antivirus during installation, then re-enable after completion
- Run as administrator and prefer online installation when possible
Preventing Error 0x80070643
- Regularly clean temporary files and system cache
- Ensure at least 1GB for base install, and 20–50GB free disk space if adding larger workloads (per Microsoft requirements)
- Prefer online installation; keep offline layout paths under 80 characters
- Verify WebView2 runtime installation isn't blocked by corporate policies
- Keep Windows and Visual Studio updated to the latest versions
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does error 0x80070643 mean?
It's a fatal installation error (1603 series) from Windows Installer, typically caused by package corruption, permission issues, or media integrity problems.
Where can I find installation logs?
Run Microsoft’s log collection tool (Collect.exe) to generate %TEMP%\vslogs.zip, then attach it via “Report a problem” in the Installer.
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