How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80073712 (Step-by-Step Guide)

If Windows Update keeps failing with error 0x80073712, your system files are likely corrupted or missing. This error usually appears when Windows cannot access required update components.

Don’t worry. You don’t need to reinstall Windows. You can repair the damaged components using built-in tools in just a few steps. This guide walks you through the safest and most effective fixes to get Windows Update working again.

Step 1: Repair Windows System Image Using DISM

The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool repairs core Windows components.

Follow these steps:

1. Press Start
2. Type Command Prompt
3. Right-click it and select Run as administrator

Now paste this command and press Enter:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Wait for the scan to finish. It may take 10–20 minutes.

Restart your PC after it completes.

Step 2: Run System File Checker (SFC)

After restarting, run the SFC scan to repair damaged files.

Open Command Prompt as administrator again.

Type:

sfc /scannow

Press Enter and wait.

The scan will:

• Detect corrupted system files
• Replace damaged files automatically

Restart your PC once it finishes.

Now try Windows Update again.

Step 3: Reset Windows Update Components

If the error still appears, reset the update services manually.

Open Command Prompt as administrator.

Run these commands one by one:

net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
ren %systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
net start bits
net start wuauserv

These commands:

• Stop update services
• Clear corrupted update cache
• Restart update services

Restart your PC and check for updates again.

Step 4: Check Your Windows Version

If updates still fail:

• Press Windows + R
• Type winver
• Check your Windows version

If your version is outdated, use:

• Windows Installation Assistant (Windows 11)
• Media Creation Tool (Windows 10)

An in-place repair upgrade fixes deep component corruption without deleting files.

Why This Error Happens

You usually see error 0x80073712 when:

• Windows update installation was interrupted
• A previous update failed
• Disk corruption damaged system files
• Malware modified core files

DISM and SFC repair most of these issues.

When You Should Perform a Windows Repair Upgrade

If none of the above methods work, perform an in-place upgrade.

This method:

• Keeps your files
• Keeps installed apps
• Reinstalls Windows system files

It resolves severe component store corruption.

Windows Update error 0x80073712 looks serious, but you can fix it in most cases using DISM, SFC, and a Windows Update reset.

Start with system repair tools before considering a reinstall.

If the error continues after all steps, the system image may be heavily corrupted, and a repair upgrade becomes the safest solution.