Windows Server 2012 R2 Getting Error 80072EFE

Question

Windows Server 2012 R2 getting Error Code 80072EFE when trying to update. Server is without WSUS. C:\Windows|Windows Update Logs:

AU ## START ## AU: Search for updates
2021-11-10 07:29:17:709 504 19fc AU #########
2021-11-10 07:29:17:709 504 19fc SLS Retrieving SLS response from server...
2021-11-10 07:29:17:709 504 19fc SLS Making request with URL HTTPS://sls.update.microsoft.com/SLS/{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}/x64/6.3.9600.0/0?CH=15&L=en-US&P=&PT=0x7&WUA=7.9.9600.19915
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Misc WARNING: Send failed with hr = 80072efe.
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Misc WARNING: Proxy List used: <(null)> Bypass List used : <(null)> Auth Schemes used : <None>
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Misc WARNING: Send request failed, hr:0x80072efe
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestUsingProxy failed for <HTTPS://sls.update.microsoft.com/SLS/{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}/x64/6.3.9600.0/0?CH=15&L=en-US&P=&PT=0x7&WUA=7.9.9600.19915>. error 0x80072efe
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation MakeRequest failed. error 0x80072efe
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Misc WARNING: WinHttp: SendRequestToServerForFileInformation failed with 0x80072efe
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Misc WARNING: WinHttp: ShouldFileBeDownloaded failed with 0x80072efe
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc SLS FATAL: SLS:CSLSDownloader::GetUrlContent: DoFileDownload failed with 0x80072efe.
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc SLS FATAL: GetResponse failed with hresult 0x80072efe...
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc EP FATAL: EP: CSLSEndpointProvider::GetWUClientData - failed to get SLS data, error = 0x80072EFE
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc EP FATAL: EP: CSLSEndpointProvider::GetEndpointFromSLS - Failed to get client data, error = 0x80072EFE
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc EP FATAL: Failed to obtain 9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77 redir SecondaryServiceAuth URL, error = 0x80072EFE
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Agent WARNING: Failed to obtain the authorization cab URL for service 117cab2d-82b1-4b5a-a08c-4d62dbee7782, hr=0
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc Agent FATAL: Caller Service Recovery failed to opt in to service 117cab2d-82b1-4b5a-a08c-4d62dbee7782, hr=0X80072EFE
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc IdleTmr WU operation (CSearchCall::Init ID 1) started; operation # 10; does use network; is not at background priority
2021-11-10 07:29:17:850 504 19fc IdleTmr Incremented idle timer priority operation counter to 2

Answer 1

Hi there,

The error code 80072EFE indicates that the connection with the server was terminated abnormally. Make sure there are no firewall rules or proxies to block Microsoft download URLs.

You could also try the following:

Click on Start, and then click Run.
Type cmd in the Open box
Type "net stop wuauserv" without the quotes at the command prompt, and press Enter.
Delete (or put in recycle bin) the contents of C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution (but not the SoftwareDistribution folder)
Type net start wuauserv at the command prompt, and press Enter.
Now try Windows Update again.

You can also refer to these forums which discuss the same issue with the windows update

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/121519/windows-update-error-80072efe.html
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/277976/server-2012-error-80072efe.html

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Answer 2

When you are trying to update a fresh install on a domain joined machine, try updating using the local Administrator account. After installing Windows Management Framework 5.1 (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=54616) you should be able to check for updates again using your domain account.

Please note that I would not recommend installing Windows Server 2012 R2 in 2023, unless you really have to.

Answer 3

any solutions that work ?

Server still cannot do updates. Very critical now (No updates for many months)