microsoft has released an out-of-band update, KB5086672for windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 to replace the March 2026 preview update KB5079391which was removed after users reported installation failures. The emergency update was issued on March 31, 2026.
KB5079391 was originally released on March 26 with 29 changes, including smart app control and display improvements. Users quickly began reporting error code 0x80073712, which indicated missing or corrupted update files. Microsoft pulled the update a few days after the initial release after confirming installation issues.
What the KB5086672 emergency update offers
Microsoft says KB5086672 replaces all previous updates and includes the protections and improvements from the March 2026 Windows security and non-security preview updates, as well as the fix for the installation error. Users who were unable to install KB5079391 should find all of its changes included in this new update.
How to get the KB5086672 update in Windows 11
Devices with configuration “Get the latest updates as soon as they are available” enabled in Windows Update you can receive the KB5086672 update automatically. If that setting is not active, users can install the update manually: Open Settings, go to Windows Update and select Download and install.
Why Windows 11 needed another out-of-band fix this month
KB5086672 is the third out-of-band update that Microsoft has released in a short time. Less than a week before this update, Microsoft released a separate emergency update to fix a login problem caused by the March 2026 Patch Tuesday security patches, which broke Microsoft account authentication in Teams, OneDrive, Edge, and Microsoft 365 co-pilot.
Microsoft has also released two additional out-of-band updates, targeting Windows 11 Enterprise devices with patch support. These updates address a Bluetooth device visibility bug and security vulnerabilities in the Routing and Remote Access Service administration tool. Additionally, Microsoft published a guide for a DO:\ Drive access issue affecting Samsung laptops caused by faulty versions of the Samsung Galaxy Connect and Samsung Continuity Service apps.
The company has not commented on how often out-of-band updates are released or whether it plans to change its update testing procedures.
