window 11 version 26H2

If the laptop runs the Windows 11 26H2 Experimental Insider build and Windows Sandbox is enabled, disable Sandbox, restart, and retry the update—the current release notes identify this combination as a known cause of error 0x80073712.^1^

Disable Windows Sandbox

1. Open Settings → System → Optional features.
2. Select More Windows features.
3. Find and clear Windows Sandbox.
4. Select OK, allow Windows to apply the change, and restart when prompted.^2^
5. Open Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and retry 26H2.

If Windows Sandbox is not selected, or the laptop is not using the Experimental channel, skip this workaround and repair the component store instead.

Repair Windows system files

Error 0x80073712 means the Windows component store is inconsistent or a file required by Windows Update is damaged or missing.^3^

1. Search for Command Prompt.
2. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
3. Run these commands individually:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

4. Wait for DISM to report that the restore operation completed successfully and for SFC verification to reach 100%.
5. Restart the laptop, then return to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.^4^

If it still fails

If Settings → System → Recovery shows Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now. This performs a repair reinstall while retaining personal files, installed applications, and settings; this step has resolved the same error on a Windows 11 Insider Preview update.^5^

Before using recovery options, back up important files. If the repair reinstall also fails:

• Check the release notes for a newer Insider build.
• Open Feedback Hub and submit the error with screenshots and logs.
• As a last resort, Insider recovery options include rolling back, resetting, or clean-installing from an Insider ISO.^6^

References

1. Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26340.9596
2. Common questions about Windows Sandbox
3. Fix Windows Update corruptions and installation failures
4. Windows 11
5. Windows Error Update 0x80073712 - Microsoft Q&A
6. Troubleshooting