cant`t update window

Question

cant`t update windows 8 showing this error code Code 80072EFE

Answer 1

Install the December 2014 update rollup for Windows RT, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/december-2014-update-rollup-for-windows-rt-windows-8-and-windows-server-2012-f379ce82-ae16-83e9-601f-867c9aa95264

Obviously you cannot apply Method 1.

Answer 2

Error code 80072EFE indicates that Windows Update cannot connect to Microsoft’s update servers because of a TLS (Transport Layer Security) cipher issue or another network-related problem.

Try these steps:

1. Check basic connectivity
   • Make sure the device has working internet access (open a few non-Microsoft websites in a browser).
   • If using a proxy, VPN, or custom firewall, temporarily disable or remove it and test Windows Update again.
2. Check Windows Update logs
   • Open File Explorer and go to:
     • %windir%\logs\windowsupdate
   • Look for entries showing 0x80072EFE to confirm it is a connection/TLS-related failure.
3. Verify TLS cipher suite configuration (advanced)
   • On systems where cipher suites have been customized (for example by security hardening tools or Group Policy), incorrect or missing TLS ciphers can cause 0x80072EFE.
   • Open Registry Editor (Win+R → regedit).
   • Navigate to:
     • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Cryptography\Configuration\SSL\00010002
   • If this key exists and contains a custom cipher list, ensure at least one of these cipher suites is present:
     • TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384
     • TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA256
4. Adjust cipher suite order (if needed)
   • In the same registry value, if the required cipher suites are present but low in the list, move them higher (or to the top) of the cipher string.
   • If any required suite is missing, add it exactly as named.
   • Close Registry Editor and restart the computer so changes take effect.
5. Test Windows Update again
   • After restart, go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and select Check for updates.

If the error persists after confirming internet access and correcting cipher suites, the issue is likely with a network device (proxy, firewall, or inspection appliance) altering or blocking TLS connections to Microsoft update endpoints.

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References:

• Troubleshoot Windows Update download errors
• Troubleshoot Windows Update error 0x80072EFE with cipher suite configuration