Fix Windows Update Error 0x80073712

How to Fix Windows Update Error Code 0x80073712 on Windows 10

If you get an error code 0x80073712 while updating Windows 10, it will prevent you from installing specific updates. In this article, we will show you how to fix this error.

Windows can produce various errors during the update process, including an error with code 0x80073712. This usually means that there are missing or damaged files required by Windows Update to perform the update.

When error 0x80073712 appears, Windows Update cannot finish updating the operating system and installing the updates. This error can be caused by an incomplete installation/uninstallation of software.

Many users experience Windows Update error code 0x80073712, and, fortunately, there are several possible ways to solve the problem. In the guide below, we outline several methods.

Video Showing How to Fix Windows Update Error Code 0x80073712:

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
• Run System File Checker
• Run Deployment Image Servicing Tool
• Remove Pending Xml File
• Restart Windows Update Service
• Reset Windows Update Components
• Rename Software Distribution Folder
• Video Showing How to Fix Windows Update Error Code 0x80073712

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Windows includes several troubleshooters designed to quickly diagnose and automatically resolve various computer problems.

Go to Settings, type "troubleshoot", and select "Troubleshoot" from the list to start troubleshooting.

Find "Windows Update" under "Troubleshoot", select it and click "Run the troubleshooter". The troubleshooting process will start. Follow the instructions and see if it finds and fixes any problems.

Restart the computer and see if this resolves the Windows Update error code 0x80073712, preventing you from updating the Windows operating system.

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Run System File Checker

System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore them. The "sfc scannow" option is one of several specific switches available with the SFC command, the Command Prompt command used to run System File Checker.

To run it, first open Command Prompt first by typing "command prompt" in Search, right-click on "Command Prompt", and then select "Run as administrator" from the drop-down menu to run Command Prompt with administrator privileges.

You must run an elevated Command Prompt to be able to perform an SFC scan.

In the Command Prompt window, type "sfc /scannow" and press Enter on the keyboard to execute this command. System File Checker will start and take some time to complete the scan.

Wait for the scanning process to complete and restart the computer. Try to update Windows again and see if this fixes the Windows Update error code 0x80073712 that prevents you from updating the Windows operating system.

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Run Deployment Image Servicing Tool

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a built-in Windows tool that can repair and prepare Windows images, including the Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and Windows PE. It is usually able to fix various problems related to the Windows operating system. If you were unable to run System File Checker, run the Deployment Image Servicing tool and try to run the System File Checker again.

To run a DISM scan, open Command Prompt as administrator and type this command: "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth". Press Enter on the keyboard to execute it. Wait for the process to complete and see if you can now update Windows and remove the Windows Update error code 0x80073712.

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Remove Pending Xml File

If you cannot update the Windows operating system, you might want to remove the pending .xml file and start the Windows Update process again.

Open Command Prompt as administrator and type the following commands (remember to press the Enter key after you type each command):

net stop trustedinstaller
cd %windir%\winsxs
takeown /f pending.xml /a
cacls pending.xml /e /g everyone:f
del pending.xml

NOTE: If you receive a message stating that "The Windows Modules Installer service is not started", simply ignore it and continue executing commands by pressing Enter after each.

Restart the computer and try to update Windows again. See if this fixes the Windows Update error code 0x80073712, preventing you from updating the Windows operating system.

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Restart Windows Update Service

Windows Services (also known as services.msc) are used to modify how Windows services run on your system. You can modify a service's settings for security, troubleshooting, and performance-related reasons. One of these services is Windows Update.

To restart the Windows Update service, press the Windows (Win) key + R, or simply right-click Start and select "Run" from the contextual menu.

Type "services.msc" in the Run dialog box and press Enter or click "OK".

Find the Windows Update service on the services lists by pressing "W" on the keyboard and scrolling a little until you find "Windows Update". Right-click it and select "Stop". Then, right-click again and select "Start".

Try to update Windows and see if you still receive the Windows Update error code 0x80073712.

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Reset Windows Update Components

Faulty or damaged Windows Update components can also cause Windows Update error code 0x80073712.

To fix the problem, reset them manually using Command Prompt and its commands. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type the following commands (press Enter after each):

net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc

Restart the computer and try to update the Windows operating system. See if this solves the problem and fixes Windows Update error code 0x80073712.

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Rename Software Distribution Folder

Software Distribution folder is a temporary folder in which Windows stores the update files until they are completely downloaded. Then, Windows starts the updating process. Renaming this folder might solve the problem and fix the Windows Update error code 0x80073712.

To rename this folder, use Command Prompt. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type the following commands (press Enter after each):

net stop wuauserv
ren c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old
net start wuauserv

Exit Command Prompt and restart the computer. See if this solves the problem, and Windows is now able to complete the updating process.

We hope that one of these solutions fixes the Windows Update error code 0x80073712. If you know of other methods that solve this problem not mentioned in our guide, please share them with us by leaving a comment below.

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