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Microsoft has released an out-of-band patch for a Windows 11 update issue that caused installation errors and display of error code 0x80073712. This is the second such update fix in less than two weeks, raising concerns about the reliability and stability of Microsoft's flagship operating system.
Microsoft has released an out-of-band update to address a problematic issue with Windows 11 updates. The error code 0x80073712 suggests that the update files have become corrupted or incomplete, resulting in a failure to install properly. This is not the first time Microsoft has encountered issues with its Windows 11 updates, with another out-of-band patch released just days earlier. The company has promised improvements to the operating system's reliability and stability since November 2025, but has yet to deliver. The complexity of supporting a vast ecosystem makes it challenging for Microsoft to implement changes and updates in a timely manner. Recent out-of-band updates have sparked debate about their necessity and impact on user trust and confidence. Users and administrators are awaiting improvements to the operating system's stability and reliability.
Microsoft has once again reached for an out-of-band update to address a problematic update issue affecting Windows 11 users. The latest update, which was initially paused while the company investigated the issue, has proven to be faulty and is now being rectified via a separate, emergency patch.
The problem at hand is an error code of 0x80073712, accompanied by the message "Some update files are missing or have problems. We'll try to download the update again later." This error message suggests that the update files for the latest Windows 11 update have either become corrupted or are incomplete, resulting in a failure to install properly.
This is not the first time Microsoft has encountered issues with its Windows 11 updates. In fact, this is the second out-of-band patch released within a span of less than two weeks. The previous update fix was introduced for a Microsoft account sign-in problem that arose during the March update cycle. This has raised concerns among users and administrators about the reliability and stability of Microsoft's flagship operating system.
Pavan Davuluri, the head of Windows 11 at Microsoft, had previously acknowledged the problems in November 2025 and promised improvements to the operating system's reliability and stability. However, it appears that almost half a year has passed since this promise was made, and the company is still struggling to fix update-related issues.
The issue with Windows 11 updates is particularly complex due to the sheer scale of Microsoft's ecosystem. The company supports a vast array of hardware, software, and enterprise users, making changes and updates take significant time to implement. This requires massive coordination across various stakeholders, including hardware manufacturers, software developers, and enterprise administrators.
Despite the challenges, it remains to be seen whether Microsoft will succeed in addressing its update issues before they escalate further. With the April security update now being mandatory for all users, the pressure is on for Microsoft to get things right this time around.
The recent out-of-band updates have also sparked debate about the use of such measures and their potential impact on user trust and confidence in Microsoft's products. While some argue that these emergency patches are necessary due to the complexity of Windows 11 updates, others see them as a sign of a larger problem with the operating system's stability.
As users and administrators continue to grapple with the fallout from these update issues, the question on everyone's mind is when things will finally improve. With Microsoft facing increased scrutiny over its product reliability, it remains to be seen whether the company can turn around its fortunes before it's too late.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/A-New-Normal-Microsofts-Ongoing-Struggle-to-Fix-Windows-11-Update-Issues-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/03/31/microsoft_out_of_band/
https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/31/microsoft_out_of_band/
https://cybersecuritynews.com/windows-11-out-of-band-update/
Published: Tue Mar 31 09:55:18 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
