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 exigency update replaces a breached 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 with bugs oregon incapable to instal properly. The second contented was the lawsuit with the March non-security preview update, which is wherefore the institution present has a caller out-of-band update designed to regenerate the 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 with each month's preview update, this 1 was a preview of the pursuing month's authoritative Patch Tuesday rollout.

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

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

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

Following the reports of installation errors, Microsoft paused and past pulled the update. This past Tuesday, the institution yet pushed retired a replacement dubbed KB5086672. This 1 includes each the caller features and improvements from the erstwhile preview update, but besides fixes the 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 code 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 the March 2026 Windows information and non-security preview updates, arsenic good arsenic this installation fix."

How to get it today

If you're already acceptable to get these preview updates, past the 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 the latest update.

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

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