If you tried installing the March 26 preview update for Windows 11 and got slapped with error 0x80073712, you're not alone. Microsoft pulled KB5079391 within days of releasing it, and yesterday dropped an emergency replacement: KB5086672.

Here's what happened and what you need to do.

What Broke

KB5079391 was an optional "preview" cumulative update released March 26, 2026 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. It packed 29 improvements, including Narrator image descriptions on Copilot+ PCs, Smart App Control toggling without a reinstall, and display support for refresh rates above 1000 Hz.

The problem: on many devices, the update failed mid-install with this error:

Some update files are missing or have problems.
We'll try to download the update again later.
Error code: (0x80073712)

Error 0x80073712 points to corrupted or missing update payloads in the servicing stack. The update would start downloading, partially install, then roll back. Microsoft acknowledged the issue and pulled KB5079391 from Windows Update by March 29.

Who's Affected

  • Windows 11 25H2 (Build 26200.8116)
  • Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100.8116)

If you never attempted to install KB5079391, you're fine. This was an optional preview update, so skipping it had zero security impact. Your system kept running on the previous build without issues.

The Fix: Install KB5086672

Microsoft released KB5086672 on March 31, 2026 as an out-of-band emergency update. It completely replaces the broken KB5079391 and bundles everything from the March update cycle:

  • All fixes from KB5079473 (March 10 security update)
  • All fixes from KB5085516 (March 21 OOB update)
  • All improvements from KB5079391 (now pulled)
  • The 0x80073712 installation fix itself

New build numbers after installing:

  • 25H2: 26200.8117
  • 24H2: 26100.8117
  1. Open Settings > Windows Update
  2. Click Check for updates
  3. If you have "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" turned on, it should appear automatically
  4. Otherwise, check Advanced options > Optional updates

Option 2: Manual Download

Download directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Grab the package matching your architecture (x64 or ARM64).

Install with DISM if needed:

DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:c:\packages\Windows11.0-KB5086672-x64.msu

Verify the Update Installed

winver

You should see Build 26200.8117 (25H2) or 26100.8117 (24H2).

Or check via PowerShell:

Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -eq "KB5086672" }

What If KB5086672 Also Fails?

Microsoft reports no known issues with KB5086672 so far. If you're still hitting 0x80073712 or other install errors, try these steps:

# Reset Windows Update components
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits

Then run Windows Update again. If that doesn't work, try the manual DISM install from the Update Catalog.

Timeline

Date What Happened
March 10 KB5079473 released (monthly security update)
March 21 KB5085516 released (OOB update)
March 26 KB5079391 released (preview, 29 improvements)
March 28-29 Users report widespread 0x80073712 failures
March 29-30 Microsoft pulls KB5079391 from Windows Update
March 31 KB5086672 released as emergency replacement

Prerequisite

Your device needs KB5079473 (March 10 security update) or later already installed before KB5086672 will apply. If you're behind on updates, run a full Windows Update check first.

Windows updates causing problems for your team? Rain City Techworks handles patch management and update troubleshooting for businesses across the Seattle-Tacoma area. Get in touch if you need help.