New Out-of-band Windows 11 Update Fixes March's Installation Errors - How To Get It

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• A caller Windows 11 emergency update replaces a surgery preview update.
• The March preview update triggered installation errors connected galore PCs.
• The caller update should automatically download and install.

Microsoft has a bad habit of rolling retired Windows 11 updates that beryllium to beryllium problematic, either beset pinch bugs aliases incapable to instal properly. The second rumor was nan lawsuit pinch nan March non-security preview update, which is why nan institution now has a caller out-of-band update designed to switch nan glitchy one.

Out-of-band update

Released connected March 26, past month's non-security preview update KB5079391 added a smattering of caller features and fixes to Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2. As pinch each month's preview update, this 1 was a preview of nan pursuing month's charismatic Patch Tuesday rollout.

Also: Microsoft relationship vs. section account: How to take and group up your prime successful Windows 11

Such updates aren't designed arsenic mandatory for nan mean Windows user, but alternatively arsenic optional, much for IT admins and powerfulness users who want to trial them. Still, that intends a batch of group apt installed this latest one, aliases astatine slightest tried to instal it.

Many of those who did effort to drawback nan update bumped into installation issues, pinch an correction connection that read: "Some update files are missing aliases person problems. We'll effort to download nan update again later. Error code: (0x80073712)." This glitch didn't impact everyone; I was capable to instal nan KB5079391 update without immoderate hiccups. But it apparently impacted capable group to unit Microsoft to return action.

Following nan reports of installation errors, Microsoft paused and past pulled nan update. This past Tuesday, nan institution yet pushed retired a replacement dubbed KB5086672. This 1 includes each nan caller features and improvements from nan erstwhile preview update, but besides fixes nan installation issues that clobbered that update.

Also: Microsoft whitethorn yet region its frustrating Windows 11 setup requirement

"An out-of-band (OOB) update was released today, March 31, 2026, to reside this installation issue," Microsoft said successful an announcement. "This cumulative OOB update for Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5086672) supersedes each erstwhile updates and includes each protections and improvements from nan March 2026 Windows information and non-security preview updates, arsenic good arsenic this installation fix."

How to get it today

If you're already group to get these preview updates, past nan KB5086672 update should automatically beryllium downloaded and installed connected your Windows 11 PC. If not, caput to Settings, prime Windows Update, and past cheque for nan latest update.

Also: If Microsoft wants Windows 12 to succeed, it can't fto history repetition itself - fto maine explain

Further, you tin power whether aliases not you automatically person these optional preview updates. At nan Windows Update screen, move connected nan move for "Get nan latest updates arsenic soon arsenic they're available." If you'd alternatively not get them, past conscionable make judge that move is turned off. Since these updates are previews of nan adjacent month's Patch Tuesday rollout, you tin simply hold until nan pursuing period to get immoderate included features and fixes.