In summary:
- PCWorld reports Microsoft released emergency update KB5086672 for Windows 11 after the problematic March update KB5079391 was paused due to installation error code 0x80073712.
- Users who experienced issues with the failed update should install KB5086672 through Windows Update or download it directly from Microsoft Update Catalog.
- The emergency update includes all intended improvements and fixes from the original update, allowing users to access new features while resolving installation problems.
Microsoft has released an emergency update for Windows 11. Update KB5086672 is an out-of-band update intended to resolve issues caused by the optional Windows update KB5079391 from late March.
Just this past weekend, Microsoft paused rollout of the issue-laden update: “This update is no longer being offered to new devices due to an installation issue identified after release.”
It was released for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 and introduced several changes, including updates to Smart App Control (SAC). But mere hours after it started being delivered, the first users reported error messages with error code 0x80073712. Microsoft confirmed the issues and eventually halted the update altogether.
Emergency update KB5086672 addresses the issue and brings all the intended improvements. Microsoft writes:
This out-of-band update for Windows 11, version 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5086672) is cumulative and includes updates from previous security and non-security releases.
This update includes the improvements and features that were introduced in the March 26, 2026 non-security preview update (KB5079391), along with a fix for an installation issue that affected some devices attempting to install that update.
And later, Microsoft continues:
[Setup] Fixed: While installing the March 2026 Windows preview update (KB5079391), some devices running Windows 11, version 25H2 or 24H2, might encounter the following error: “Some update files are missing or have problems. We’ll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x80073712)”
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Who should install KB5086672 and how do you get the update?
You should install the emergency update if you previously installed the optional KB5079391 update and experienced the issue described. If you didn’t install that update but now want to try out the new features and improvements, you can do so by installing this update. If you aren’t interested at all, you can simply skip KB5086672.
Windows will show the out-of-band update KB5086672 via Windows Update for your computer, provided you’ve already installed KB5079473 or a later update. Alternatively, you can also download the emergency update straight from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC-WELT and was translated and localized from German.
Author: Hans-Christian Dirscherl, Managing Editor, PC-WELT
Hans-Christian Dirscherl began his IT life with Autoexec.bat and config.sys, Turbo-Pascal and C, Sinix and Wordperfect. He has been writing on almost all IT topics for around 25 years, covering everything from news to reviews and buying guides.