Windows update failed windows 11

Question

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

Answer 1

Hi Mr Percy B Davis Jr,
Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum. I'm happy to help.

Your system may have corrupt files, please scan your system by following commands using Command Prompt (Run as administrator):

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Please reboot your computer after the task has completed.

Then you may follow this article to troubleshoot the Windows update: Windows Update Troubleshooter - Microsoft Support.

Alternatively, you may manually download the update package to install through Microsoft Update Catalog. Just enter the KB you need to Search form then choose the package right for your system.

I hope that above information is helpful to you.

---

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

Error code 0x80073712 indicates that Windows Update is failing because system files are corrupted or missing.

Follow these steps on Windows 11:

1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
   1. Select Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
   2. Under Most frequent, select Windows Update > Run.
   3. When it finishes, restart the device.
   4. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates and try installing updates again.
2. Repair system files (DISM and SFC)
   1. In the search box on the taskbar, type command prompt.
   2. Select Run as administrator.
   3. Run this command and wait for it to complete:

            DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
      

   4. After it reports "The operation completed successfully", run:

            sfc /scannow
      

   5. Wait until the verification reaches 100%, then close Command Prompt.
   6. Try Windows Update again from Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
3. Reset Windows Update components (if still failing)
   1. Open Command Prompt as administrator again.
   2. Run these commands one by one, pressing Enter after each and waiting for completion:

            net stop bits
            net stop wuauserv
            ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak
            ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
            net start bits
            net start wuauserv
      

   3. Restart the PC and check for updates again.
4. Advanced options If updates still fail after these steps, use the general guidance in the Windows Update troubleshooting article (including performing a clean restart, checking disk space, and, as a last resort, a clean installation of Windows 11) to fully repair the update environment.

---

References:

• Troubleshoot problems updating Windows
• Windows Update Troubleshooter