New out-of-band Windows 11 update fixes March's installation errors - how to get it
The out-of-band update replaces KB5079391, which caused widespread '0x80073712' installation errors for many users.
Microsoft has issued an emergency out-of-band update, KB5086672, to resolve widespread installation failures caused by its March 2026 non-security preview update for Windows 11. The previous update, KB5079391, released on March 26, was intended to preview features for the upcoming April Patch Tuesday but instead triggered a '0x80073712' error message stating 'Some update files are missing or have problems' for a significant number of users on versions 24H2 and 25H2. Following numerous reports, Microsoft paused and then pulled the defective update before releasing the replacement fix on March 31.
The new KB5086672 cumulative update supersedes all previous updates and contains all the security and non-security improvements from the March preview, plus the critical installation fix. For users who have 'Get the latest updates as soon as they're available' enabled in Windows Update settings, KB5086672 should download and install automatically. Others can manually check for updates in Settings. This incident highlights the recurring challenges with Microsoft's optional preview updates, which are targeted at IT admins and power users for testing but often reach a broader audience, amplifying the impact of any bugs.
- Microsoft released emergency update KB5086672 on March 31 to fix the broken March preview update (KB5079391) that caused '0x80073712' installation errors.
- The new cumulative update is for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 and includes all previous March features and fixes plus the installation patch.
- The update should install automatically for users with preview updates enabled; others can manually check in Windows Update settings or wait for April's Patch Tuesday.
Why It Matters
This fix resolves a blocking issue for IT admins and power users testing preview builds, ensuring critical updates can be deployed before the official April security release.