Microsoft Pulls Another Windows 11 Update: Error 0x80073712 Breaks Installation

Microsoft has run into unexpected complications with the release of its monthly update for Windows 11. Update KB5079391, intended for versions 24H2 and 25H2, is no longer available for download just a few days after it was published. The issue has been designated as 0x80073712 — this is the error code users see when the system tries to install the update. The error blocks the installation process from completing, preventing the planned changes from being applied.

Right now, Microsoft hasn't disclosed which system configurations are affected by the glitch or what exactly is causing it. In the official documentation for KB5079391, the company has already added a note about the temporary pause of the update, and the update itself has been pulled from Windows Update.

KB5079391 was positioned as a non-security update containing a number of improvements. Among the changes listed were refinements to how the Narrator screen reader works, changes to how Smart App Control functions (the feature no longer requires reinstalling Windows to reactivate it), as well as improvements for multi-monitor setups, including support for refresh rates above 1,000 Hz.

Even though the update didn't contain any critical security fixes, pulling it just a few days after release is an unusual move for the corporation. Microsoft hasn't provided a specific timeline for re-releasing it. Given that non-security updates like this are traditionally included as part of the mandatory "Patch Tuesday" release, the company has roughly two weeks to roll out a fixed version before the next scheduled security update. Prior to this, updates affected Samsung devices.

For users who have already encountered error 0x80073712 while trying to install the update, there are currently no official recommendations for bypassing the problem other than waiting for a fixed version. This isn't the first time recently that Microsoft has had to pull its own updates. The company has previously stated its intention to rethink its approach to distributing updates and improve their reliability, including by giving users more control over the installation process.

Have you run into error 0x80073712 when installing Windows 11 updates, or did it pass you by? Share in the comments.