The error code 0x80070490 is one such issue that pops up when the users try to add their Gmail account in the Mail app. Below, we take a look at the reasons that might be resulting in the issue and solutions to fix it once and for all.
Understanding the Causes Behind the 0x80070490 Error
You might be encountering the error 0x80070490 because of one or more of the following reasons:
Privacy settings - your privacy settings might not be configured to allow the applications to access the email. This option can be modified via the Settings app as we have shown below. Outdated Mail app - your Mail app might be outdated, which is causing some of its features to act up. The solution, in this case, is simple, as all that you need to do is update the application to get it up and running again. Corruption issue - the Mail app can also be dealing with a corruption error, which results in problems like the one at hand. In such a situation, you can use the built-in repair or reset feature of the application to fix it.
Now that we know about the potential causes of the issue let’s have a look at the troubleshooting methods that can help you fix the problem.
1. Modify the Privacy Settings
The first thing that we recommend you do is check if the applications installed on Windows are allowed to access your email. If the Mail and Calendar app is not allowed to access the email, you are likely to face the problem at hand.
In this method, we will be providing the Mail and Calendar app with sufficient permissions to access the email, which will, hopefully, fix the ‘We couldn’t find your settings’ problem.
Here is how you can proceed:
Press the Win + I keys together to open the Settings app. Choose Privacy & security from the left pane. Now, move to the right side of the window and enable the toggle for Email access. Turn the toggle on for Let apps access your email as well, and then make sure that the Mail and Calendar option is enabled.
Once done, close the Settings app and check if you can now add your Gmail account without any problems.
2. Update the Mail and Calendar App
Another fix that worked for users was updating the Mail and Calendar application via Microsoft Store. In several cases, users encountered the ‘Update failed’ error, but after clicking on the Try again button, the update was successfully installed and fixed the problem at hand as well.
Follow these steps to proceed:
Click on the Microsoft Store icon in the taskbar. Alternatively, you can type Microsoft Store in the search area of the taskbar and click Open. Inside the Microsoft Store, click on the Library icon in the bottom left. In the following window, click on the Get updates button and wait for the update process to start. All the outdated applications will now begin updating. Wait for the process Mail and Calendar app to complete its update and then check if the problem is resolved.
3. Repair the App
You might also be facing the issue if the Mail app itself is dealing with a corruption error or bug which is causing certain features to act up.
The best course of action here would be to use the built-in repair feature to repair the application. If an error within the app is causing the problem, this should fix it.
Here is how you can repair the application:
Press Win + I to open the Settings app. Choose Apps from the left pane. Scroll down the Apps window to locate the Mail and Calendar app. Click on the three dots associated with it and choose Advanced options. In the following window, head over to the Reset section and click on the Repair button. Wait for the repair process to complete, and then check if the issue is resolved.
You can also try to reset the Mail application if repairing does not do the trick for you. However, since resetting the Mail application reverts it to its default state, you will lose the app’s data and other custom preferences.
4. Run System Scans
In this method, we will try to eliminate any corruption errors and issues within the system that might be preventing you from adding your Gmail account to the Mail app.
We will use the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM.exe) for this process. The former scans the protected system files for issues and replaces the corrupt files with their healthy counterparts. DISM, on the other hand, repairs a corrupt system image.
Follow the steps below to run the system scans:
Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Inside the Command Prompt, type the command mentioned below and press Enter to execute it: sfc /scannow Once the command is executed, execute the following two commands one by one: DISM. exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth DISM. exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Finally, exit Command Prompt and check if the issue is resolved.
Add Your Gmail Account With Ease
By now, you should have been able to add your Gmail account successfully. To avoid such issues in the future, make sure you regularly update the installed apps as well as the system.
You can also reach out to the official Microsoft team and report the issue to them. They will help you identify the actual cause of the issue and suggest relevant fixes accordingly. In case the issue is at their end, wait for them to launch an official fix.
