How to Fix 0x80073712 Error Code in Windows 11 and 10

There is no doubt that Windows 10 is the greatest operating system from Microsoft, but it still has many issues. Windows 10 is also called buggy OS. Microsoft keeps releasing a new security update to fix Windows 10 bugs, but still, so many users are facing many issues like windows update error, driver issues, DLL errors, etc. The 0x80073712 windows update error is one of them. When you try to download new updates, it throws an error message with 0x80073712 code.

According to Microsoft, the error occurs when one or more files are missing or corrupted in your system. These files are required by the Windows update service to download and install new update files. To solve this issue, you have to fix corrupted windows update files and windows setup.

Here we are going to list down working solutions to fix this Windows update error 0x80073712.

Fix 0x80073712 Error Code in Windows 11 and 10

Before performing any solution, restart your computer first. This step will refresh your operating system and remove any corrupt data that could be causing the problem. After reboot, try to download a new Windows update. If you are still facing a Windows update 0x80073712 error, then follow these troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter Tool

Microsoft has added a new tool called Windows update troubleshooter that allows you to diagnose and fix many issues related to Windows update. The tool will automatically scan your system for any changes or missing files and guide you to fix these issues. To use the Windows troubleshooter tool, follow these steps:

Step 1: In the search bar of your Windows or open the start menu and then type “troubleshooting“.

Step 2: From the results, open the troubleshooting settings.

Step 3: Now in the troubleshooting section, click on “Additional Troubleshooters“. This will open all available troubleshooters to fix various issues on Windows 10.

Step 4: Now click on the “Windows Update” in Get up and running section. Then again click on “Run the troubleshooter“.

Step 5: When you click on Run the troubleshooter, it will start detecting the issue. Wait for some time till it is running. It will start checking all pending restarts and missing files.

Step 6: Once completed, it will list down instructions to fix the issue. All you have to do is, follow these steps and then restart your computer.

Step 7: Now go to Windows Update in Settings and click on check for updates. It should work now.

Method 2: Free up some drive space so you can run updates

You should have enough space for new Windows updates. Whenever you install a new Windows update, it will download new system files, requiring more storage space. Now, if your hard disk or SSD is running out of storage, you see this type of error. So always make sure that your system drive has enough storage space for new Windows updates.

Make sure your system drive has more than 10GB of space before installing a new Windows update.

Solution 3: Run the SFC scan

If you are still facing issues with the Windows update then try another built-in tool called system file checker. Just like Windows troubleshooter, SFC is used to fix various issues like the 0x80073712 error in Windows 10. The tool will check for any missing or damaged files on your system. The utility also detects invalid windows registry entries and helps to clean the system of all these errors. The command prompt also allows users to fix any error that they might have accidentally created. Here are the steps to use the tool.

Step 1: Open the start menu and then search for cmd. Then right-click on Command Prompt from the result and then select Run as Administrator.

Step 2: This will open Command Prompt tool with admin rights so that it can access all system files.

Step 3: In the cmd window, type this sfc /scannow command and press enter.

Step 4: This command will start the file checker tool. The tool will start checking any missing or corrupted files on your system.

Step 5: It will take some time. The tool will replace or repair problematic files.

Step 6: Once finished, you have to restart your PC.

Method 4: Use Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool

Deployment Image Servicing and Management, also called DISM, is an advanced tool with a command-line interface. DISM tool is used to download and install new Windows update files, packages, and security updates. You can also configure Windows image files using this DISM tool. According to some users, this DISM tool will fix this Windows update problem.

Step 1: Open the start menu > search for cmd > right-click on Command Prompt > select Run as Administrator. This will open the cmd tool with administrator permission so that you can access the DISM tool.

Step 2: In the cmd window, type the following commands and press enter after each command.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Step 3: Then type “exit” to close Command Prompt and restart your PC to apply new Deployment Image Servicing and Management changes.

Method 5: Deleting pending.xml file

Many times when you click on download updates, your system refused to install new updates. Sometimes it throws a 0x80073712 error code when you try to download new updates. To fix this problem, you have to delete the pending.xml file. It contains information related to all pending updates and restarts. This action won’t likely solve the underlying cause, but you can try. It will delete pending tasks and fix the endless update loop so that your system will check for new windows update. It is necessary to restart the system every time after installing a new update.t Here are the steps to delete all data in the pending.xml file.

Step 1: Go to C:\Windows\WinSxS\ folder, and then search for pending.xml. If it is not available there, then you can skip this method.

Step 2: Now rename the file and change its name. You can also delete it. This will refresh the Windows update package and fix the issue.

You can also use Command Prompt to delete pending.xml.

Step 1: Press the window button to open the start menu and then search for cmd.

Step 2: Right-click on Command Prompt and then choose Run as Administrator.

Step 3: Type these commands and press enter after each command.

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

Step 4: Now it’s time to restart your PC.

Check if you’re able to Fix Update 0x80073712 or not. If you are still getting this error message, try the next solution.  

Solution 6: Rename the Software Distribution folder

Software Distribution folder stored all files related to old Windows updates. The folder is required by the Microsoft service to install new updates. But if any file is missing or corrupted in the Software Distribution folder, then you will face such errors. Renaming the folder can fix the issue. So here are the steps.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt with Administrator access.

Step 2: Type the following commands one by one and press enter after each command.

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits

Now browse to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution directory and rename it to SoftwareDistribution.bak and save it.

Or use this command rename c:windowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak

Step 3: Again follow these two steps and press enter.

net start wuauserv
net start bits

These commands will rename the Software Distribution folder. Verify the action in your C: > Windows directory.

Method 7: Restart Windows Update

By restarting the Windows update service, many users have fixed the Windows update 0x80073712 error. So let’s try to restart the update service and fix the issue.

To do that, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Run utility tool with Win + R key on your keyboard.

Step 2: Now type services.msc in and press enter. This command will open Windows services.

Step 2: Here, you have to find a Windows update service.

Step 3: Right-click on the service > choose Start if stoped. It will force start the service.

If the service is already running, then stop the service and start again.

Step 4: Then, you can set the Startup Type to Automatic. So that your Windows can check for all pending updates automatically.

Step 5: Restart your system and see if the issue is fixed or not.

Related Posts:

• Fix 0x80070002 Error Code in Windows 10
• Fix 0x800f081f DISM Error Code in Windows 10
• Fix 0xC1900101 Error Code in Windows 10

Conclusion

By now, the issue should be fixed now. We have shared all working solutions to fix the 0x80073712 Windows 10 update error. If you are still facing Windows update errors, try to use system restore if you have a backup. This will restore your system.

Once completed, try to download and install the new Windows 10 update.

Comment below if you still have any doubt.