Why does Windows Update keep failing with 0x80073712?
Short answer: Error 0x80073712 means "a file needed by Windows Update is either missing or corrupted" — specifically in the CBS Component Store (Component-Based Servicing — Windows' internal database of installed system components and update packages). When this store has missing or invalid entries, Windows Update cannot stage new packages and loops back to the error repeatedly. DISM RestoreHealth repairs this store in 15–30 minutes in most cases. This error is particularly common in India because power cuts mid-update are the leading cause of CBS store corruption.
How to fix the Windows Update 0x80073712 error
Step 1: Run DISM RestoreHealth
Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search CMD, right-click, Run as administrator). Run:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management — a Windows command-line tool for system image repair) connects to Windows Update servers to download replacement component files. The process takes 15–40 minutes and requires an active internet connection. Do not close the window — let it run to completion. A successful run reports The restore operation completed successfully at the end. If it reports errors or "The source files could not be found", proceed to Step 3.
Step 2: Run SFC scan and retry Windows Update
After DISM completes, still in the elevated Command Prompt, run:SFC /scannow
SFC (System File Checker — a tool that scans and repairs corrupted Windows system files) works alongside DISM — DISM repairs the component store, SFC repairs the files staged from that store. After SFC completes, restart the laptop and retry Windows Update. In most cases, the update that was failing will now install successfully. If Windows Update shows the same error, clear the update cache: stop Windows Update service (net stop wuauserv), delete the contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download, then restart the service (net start wuauserv) and retry.
Step 3: Use local ISO repair if DISM online repair fails
If DISM reports it cannot find the source online, download the Windows 11 ISO from microsoft.com/software-download/windows11. Double-click the ISO to mount it — it appears as a DVD drive in File Explorer (e.g., D:\). Then run:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:D:\sources\install.wim /LimitAccess
This forces DISM to use the local ISO as the repair source instead of Microsoft's servers — resolving the issue even without an internet connection or if Windows Update itself is broken.
Step 4: The India angle — power cuts and update timing
A large proportion of 0x80073712 errors in India stem from the same root cause: the laptop was on battery during a Windows Update, the battery ran out (or power cut during a charger-connected update), and Windows corrupted the component store mid-install. Prevention is simple: never allow Windows to run a large update on battery below 50%, and plug into a UPS if updating on mains power in an area with frequent cuts. To check update history for past interrupted updates: go to Settings → Windows Update → Update History — look for updates with status "Failed" near a date of a known power event. See our guide on fixing Windows Update stuck issues for the complementary set of DISM/SFC steps when the update hangs rather than erroring. If the laptop's storage drive has bad sectors (failing sectors on the disk that silently corrupt files), component store errors will recur — our SSD upgrade service replaces the drive before the problem compounds.
When to call a laptop repair service
When DIY ends
Seek professional help if: DISM and SFC both report they cannot repair the image, Windows fails to boot at all after a failed update, or SFC reports corruption it cannot fix (which often indicates a failing storage drive needing replacement).
Typical cost in India
Windows repair / OS troubleshooting service: ₹600–₹1,200. Windows 11 clean install (with data backup first): ₹1,000–₹1,800. SSD replacement (prevents recurrence from failing drive): ₹2,500–₹5,000. Doorstep visit charge: ₹149, No Fix No Fee.
A note from the LRW Engineer Team
When the DISM + SFC path fixes 0x80073712, the laptop is back to normal. But if the error recurs within a few weeks, the underlying cause is almost always a failing storage drive writing corrupted data intermittently — not a software problem. Run CrystalDiskInfo (a free drive health tool) to check the drive's SMART health status. If it shows "Caution" or "Bad", replace the drive before reinstalling Windows again.