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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- A new Windows 11 emergency update replaces a broken preview update.
- The March preview update triggered installation errors on many PCs.
- The new update should automatically download and install.
Microsoft has a bad habit of rolling out Windows 11 updates that prove to be problematic, either beset with bugs or unable to install properly. The latter issue was the case with the March non-security preview update, which is why the company now has a new out-of-band update designed to replace the glitchy one.
Out-of-band update
Released on March 26, last month’s non-security preview update KB5079391 added a smattering of new features and fixes to Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2. As with each month’s preview update, this one was a preview of the following month’s official Patch Tuesday rollout.
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Such updates aren’t designed as mandatory for the average Windows user, but rather as optional, more for IT admins and power users who want to test them. Still, that means a lot of people likely installed this latest one, or at least tried to install it.
Many of those who did attempt to grab the update bumped into installation issues, with an error message that read: “Some update files are missing or have problems. We’ll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x80073712).” This glitch didn’t affect everyone; I was able to install the KB5079391 update without any hiccups. But it apparently impacted enough people to force Microsoft to take action.
Following the reports of installation errors, Microsoft paused and then pulled the update. This past Tuesday, the company finally pushed out a replacement dubbed KB5086672. This one includes all the new features and improvements from the previous preview update, but also fixes the installation issues that clobbered that update.
Also: Microsoft may finally remove its frustrating Windows 11 setup requirement
“An out-of-band (OOB) update was released today, March 31, 2026, to address this installation issue,” Microsoft said in an announcement. “This cumulative OOB update for Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5086672) supersedes all previous updates and includes all protections and improvements from the March 2026 Windows security and non-security preview updates, as well as this installation fix.”
How to get it today
If you’re already set to get these preview updates, then the KB5086672 update should automatically be downloaded and installed on your Windows 11 PC. If not, head to Settings, select Windows Update, and then check for the latest update.
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Further, you can control whether or not you automatically receive these optional preview updates. At the Windows Update screen, turn on the switch for “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.” If you’d rather not get them, then just make sure that switch is turned off. Since these updates are previews of the next month’s Patch Tuesday rollout, you can simply wait until the following month to get any included features and fixes.
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