If your Windows 11 device failed to install the March 2026 preview update and is showing the message “Some update files are missing or have problems. We’ll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x80073712)”, Microsoft has released KB5086672 as the fix. This is an out-of-band (OOB) cumulative update for Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2, released on March 31, 2026.
Microsoft states that KB5086672 specifically fixes the installation issue that affected the March 26, 2026 preview update KB5079391 on some Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 devices. This OOB update is cumulative, so it includes the improvements from KB5079473, released on March 10, 2026; KB5085516, released on March 21, 2026; and KB5079391, which is no longer offered.
For more information, read the notification in Windows message center: Windows message center | Microsoft Learn.
Contents
What issue does KB5086672 fix?
According to Microsoft’s release notes, the main fix in this update is under Setup. It addresses a scenario where devices trying to install the March 2026 Windows preview update could fail with error 0x80073712. Windows message center confirms that KB5086672 was released specifically to resolve that installation issue.
This means KB5086672 is the update you should install if your Windows 11 device is on 24H2 or 25H2 and failed while trying to install KB5079391 with error 0x80073712. It is not a generic fix for every 0x80073712 scenario across all Windows versions. It is the targeted Microsoft fix for this specific March 2026 Windows 11 preview update problem.
KB5086672 Information: March 31, 2026—KB5086672 (OS Builds 26200.8117 and 26100.8117) Out-of-band – Microsoft Support.
Applies to
- Windows 11, version 24H2
- Windows 11, version 25H2
Installing KB5086672 on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2
There are various ways to install the KB5086672 out-of-band (OOB) update on your Windows 11 version 24H2 and version 25H2 systems.
- KB5086672 is offered through Windows Update for devices running Windows 11 that have already installed KB5079473.
- You can download KB5086672 from the Microsoft Update Catalog site and install it manually on the affected devices.
- If the devices are managed via Microsoft Intune, create an expedited update policy in Intune to deploy this patch.
- If you are still managing your devices with WSUS/SCCM, use the respective consoles to sync the software updates to show KB5086672 and deploy to the devices.
Let’s go through all of these options in more details.
Option 1: Install KB5086672 from Windows Update
For most users, the easiest method is Windows Update. Devices running Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 that already have KB5079473 or a later update can receive KB5086672 through Windows Update. Devices with Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available turned on may see it offered automatically, while others can install it manually from Settings > Windows Update > Download & install when available.
Option 2: Download KB5086672 and Install it Manually
If the update is not offered on your device via Windows Update and you are still experiencing the issue, you can download the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog and install it manually.
Steps
- Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog (direct link).
- Click the Download button next to the update that matches your system architecture.
Option 3: Install KB5086672 OOB Update using Intune
If you are managing Windows 11 devices via Intune, the best way to install the KB5086672 patch is by creating an expedite policy. Select this OOB patch and assign the policy to devices running Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2.
For a step-by-step guide on how to create this policy in Intune, refer to the post Expedite Windows Quality Updates using Intune. There is no requirement to create separate policies for 24H2 and 25H2 devices, as the patch will be applied automatically based on the target OS version.
- Sign in to the Intune admin center > Devices > Windows updates > Under the Quality updates tab, click + Create and then select Expedite policy.
- On the Settings tab, configure the following settings and click Next.
- Name: Use a clear naming convention.
- Description: Include the CVE reference or business reason.
- Select the quality update you would like to Expedite: Use the drop-down to select the quality update you want to expedite. In this case, you will select: 03/31/2026 – 2026.03 OOB Update for Windows 10 and later.
- If a reboot is required, select the number of days before it’s enforced: You can choose the number of days before a device is automatically restarted. If you select 0, the device restarts immediately after the expedited updates are installed. However, if users are actively working on the device, an immediate restart can be disruptive. Although users are notified, they have limited time to save their work.
Option 4: Install KB5086672 OOB Update using WSUS/SCCM
You can also use WSUS or Configuration Manager to deploy the KB5086672 patch on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 devices.
Deploy KB5086672 via WSUS
- Search KB5086672 in the Microsoft Update Catalog and copy its UpdateID.
- Use Microsoft’s PowerShell WSUS import script to import the update into WSUS.
- Approve the update for a pilot WSUS computer group.
- Let clients scan, download, and install the update.
- After validation, approve for production. KB5086672 is an OOB update for Windows 11 24H2/25H2.
Important: Do not import the raw .msu directly into WSUS. Use the Catalog UpdateID import method instead.
Deploy KB5086672 via SCCM / ConfigMgr
- First import the update into WSUS if it is not already synced.
- In ConfigMgr, run Software Updates Synchronization.
- Find KB5086672 under All Software Updates.
- Add it to a Software Update Group.
- Download and distribute the content to distribution points.
- Deploy to a pilot collection, then expand to production after testing.
Known Issues
As of the current release notes for KB5086672, Microsoft is currently not aware of any issues with this update. For more information on this, refer to the link: March 31, 2026—KB5086672 (OS Builds 26200.8117 and 26100.8117) Out-of-band – Microsoft Support.
Servicing stack update included
This release includes the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for the supported OS versions for improving the reliability of the Windows update installation process.
Does KB5086672 replace KB5079391?
Yes. Microsoft’s Windows message center says the March 2026 non-security preview update for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 was replaced by KB5086672. This OOB update supersedes all previous updates for that issue path and includes the protections and improvements from the March 2026 security and preview updates, along with the installation fix.
Verify if KB5086672 is installed
Use any of the below options to verify if KB5086672 is installed on your device:
- Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
- Press the Windows key + R and type winver.
- Control Panel > Programs and Features > View installed updates
If the update installed successfully, system should report OS Build 26100.8117 or 26200.8117, depending on your Windows 11 release branch.
What to do if KB5086672 still does not install?
If KB5086672 itself does not install, start with Microsoft’s standard Windows Update troubleshooting steps. Run Windows Update troubleshooter from Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then retry the update.
Disconnect unnecessary external devices and temporarily remove non-Microsoft antivirus software if update installation continues to fail. If Windows Update still does not offer the update, install it manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog instead (one of the above options in this post).
Uninstalling Windows Updates
You can also uninstall an update if it is causing issues. Simply go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, and select the update you want to remove. For more detailed steps, refer to: Uninstall Windows Updates using PowerShell.
Conclusion
KB5086672 is Microsoft’s official fix for the Windows 11 0x80073712 installation problem affecting the March 2026 preview update KB5079391 on Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. Since the update is cumulative, installing it resolves the failed preview-update scenario and brings forward the earlier March 2026 security and non-security improvements for those Windows 11 versions.
