Effective Ways To Solve Error Code: (0x80073712)

Windows 10 is very popular to the users for its attractive and useful features. But still, this operating system is very prone to errors, which might annoy the users from time to time. Error code 0x80073712 is one of the clear examples of this. This error generally strikes when you perform a Windows update. It indicates that the files required for Windows Update are corrupted or missing. Once you encounter this error, you will definitely face some serious issues in your Windows system like freezing of the installation procedure, etc. Since this issue is a common one, Microsoft is trying to fix it for the users. But till now, we don’t find any updates for this issue from Microsoft. So, if you have encountered this issue recently, then you need to fix this problem as soon as possible on your own to experience the attractive features of Windows 10 seamlessly.

General Reasons Which Led to Windows 10 Update 0x80073712:

When error code: (0x80073712) appears on the screen, then don’t panic after seeing this. First of all, try to find the exact cause of this issue. If you find the cause, then it will be easier for you to fix this troublesome error. The reasons which may cause this problem are listed below:

• Corrupted Windows system file.
• Incomplete installation or deletion of hardware and application.
• Improper shutdown of your device.
• Virus or malware attack.
• Windows update service registration is missing or corrupt.

Feasible Solutions to Fix Error Code: (0x80073712)

Most of the users are facing this problem in the midst of installing the update of Windows 10. But fortunately, there are many methods to resolve this issue within some minutes and that too without any hassle. So, just try all the methods which we discuss here and we assure you that this will definitely fix this error.

Method 1: Run the DISM tool

This troublesome Windows 10 update 0x80073712 generally occurs due to the damaged Windows Update files. If you face this problem because of this reason, then you can resolve this easily by running the ‘Deployment Image Servicing and Management’ or DISM tool. To run this tool, just follow the below steps one-by-one.

1. Press the Window logo and R key on the keyboard at the same time. It will help to open the Run Window.
2. Type cmd in the Run box and press Shift, Ctrl and Enter key together to run the Command prompt section as Administrator.
3. Now type the Command line

“Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth”

And press Enter key.

This command line helps to scan all the System files and check whether this is official or not by DISM tool. But, this line doesn’t prevent corruption. It will take several minutes to complete.

1. Now, type “Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth” and press the Enter key. It will check whether the Windows 10 image of your device is corrupted or not.
2. Completing it, type this command “Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth”.

This command line helps to repair the corrupted files. It will replace the corrupted files with the official files.

1. Wait for sometime. Completing the restoration process, close the Command Prompt.
2. Check if you can update the Windows or not.

If this problem still persists, then try the other methods.

Method 2: Perform SFC scan

System File Checker is an inbuilt feature of Windows which helps to scan the system files and repair the corrupted files. So, SFC scan is a worth try to get rid of this issue. Just follow the below instructions to eliminate this error through this procedure:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and go to the Command Prompt section.
2. In the Command Prompt section, type ‘sfc/scannow’ and press the Enter Key on the keyboard.
3. Then, the SFC scan will scan your device. Don’t cancel the scan process until it finishes completely. After scanning, it will show the corrupt files of your device.
4. After scanning, if there are any corrupt files in your device, type this

“findstr /c:”[SR]” %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >”%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt.”

Then, press the Enter key.

1. If you want to skip the repairing of corrupt files, then just type this code,

“Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth”.

1. You can find the details of the SFC scan on the sfcdetails.txt file which will appear on the screen.
2. Finally, restart your device and see whether this problem is gone or not.

Method 3: Delete Windows Update Caches

It is another helpful method to fix this issue. Just you need to perform the steps below one-by-one.

1. Press the Window logo and R key on the keyboard at the same time. Open the Run Window.
2. Type ‘service.msc’ in the box and click OK.
3. You will find Windows update at the bottom. Right-click on it. Then, select ‘Stop’.
4. Now, open the Run box again and type ‘C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download’ and press the Enter key on the keyboard.
5. Press the Ctrl and A key on the keyboard at the same time. Then, right- click to pop up a menu and click on Delete option.
6. You will be asked for the Administration permission to delete it. It is advised to do it for all the cache files.
7. Now, go to the service window and start the Windows update.

Then, restart your device and check if the issue still persists or not. If still the error remains, proceed on to the next solution.

Method 4: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

If the above steps don’t prove useful in resolving that particular error, then follow the below steps to restart the Windows update service.

1. Open Run box. Type ‘services.msc’, and then, press Enter key.
2. Then, search for the Windows Update service.
3. If the column is blank in Windows update, right-click on it. Choose the Start option.
4. It is a force start of Windows Update which will end up appearing an error.
5. So, it is recommended to make the Startup type as Automatic.
6. At last, restart your device and check if you can update the Windows or not.

Method 6: Delete the pending.xml File

Sometimes, you can get rid of this error simply by deleting this pending.xml file. For doing that, go through the instructions provided below:

1. Open the Run box and go to command prompt section. Run Command Prompt as Admin.
2. Then, type these below commands and press Enter key on the keyboard.

“net stop trustedinstaller
cd %windir%\winsxs
takeown /f pending.xml /a
cacls pending.xml /e /g everyone:f
del pending.xml”

These commands will help you to delete this pending.xml file.

1. Now, restart your device.

Method 7: Rename Software distribution folder

If you can’t fix this issue until now, then this is the last method which you can try to eliminate this Windows update error on your system. Just act in accordance with the following steps:

1. Open the Run box and type cmd in it.
2. Then, run the Command prompt as Administrator.
3. Type this below command and press Enter key.

“net stop wuauserv
ren c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old
net start wuauserv
exit “

Thereafter, reboot your device to make the required changes. After restarting, try to install the updates.

These are some of the popular methods to fix error code: (0x80073712) in your Windows 10. Hope that this article will be helpful for you if want to get rid of this annoying error. But still, if you find that the error persists, then the best way is to opt for a technical expert who is proficient in resolving these sort of complications.