Emily Bennett
How To Resolve Windows 11 Update KB5063060 Installation Error 0x80073712
Introduction
Dealing with update errors on Windows 11? Yeah, it’s kind of annoying, especially when a specific one like KB5063060 throws error 0x80073712. That pesky code usually means Windows is having trouble with some system files or the update store itself. It can stop important updates from installing, which isn’t great for security or features. This kind of thing can happen on pretty much any machine — maybe after a failed update, or sometimes just out of the blue. So, the goal here is to get that update installed without tearing out hair. Expect some registry tinkering, stopping/starting services, and maybe even manual update installs. Nothing super fancy, but it’s a process of elimination that tends to work.
How to Fix KB5063060 Error 0x80073712 in Windows 11
Ensure the App Readiness Service is Running
First off, Windows 11’s update process is kinda dependent on certain services running smoothly. The App Readiness service is a big one. If it’s disabled or stuck, update errors happen more than they should. Turning it on and setting it to auto can help clear that up.
- Type services in the search bar and hit Enter.
- Find App Readiness — it’s somewhere in the list.
- Double-click on it, then pick Automatic for Startup type, and click Apply.
- If the service isn’t running, hit Start.
This step helps because if the app readiness process can’t properly load, Windows might get confused about pending updates. On a few setups, it sometimes failed to start initially, but a reboot or recheck often helps.
Backup and Remove the $WinREAgent Folder
This folder sometimes messes with system recovery and update components. Moving or deleting it can fix corruption issues. Because Windows can be weird about hidden system folders, here’s how to handle it safely:
- Open File Explorer and go to This PC > C:\.
- In the top menu, click on View and enable Hidden items— because of course, Windows hides some folders when you need them most.
- Look for the
$WinREAgentfolder. If it’s there, right-click it, choose Copy. - Paste it somewhere safe, like your Desktop, just in case you want to restore it later.
- After backing it up, delete the original folder. That might clear some hang-ups causing the update to stumble.
Not sure why it helps, but on some machines this folder gets corrupted, and that breaks the update cache or recovery stuff. It’s a quick step that’s worth trying before diving into more involved fixes.
Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Built-in troubleshooter is your friend here. It guesses what’s wrong and attempts fixes automatically, which can clear the path for the update to go through.
- Open Settings and go to System > Troubleshoot.
- Click on Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update, then hit Run.
- Follow whatever it suggests. Sometimes it just needs to reset a service or clear a cache.
Heads up: On some machines, it might not solve everything in one go, but it often catches the low-hanging fruit.
Restart Critical Update Services
If those services are acting up, errors tend to happen. Restarting them ensures Windows update processes are fresh and ready.
- Open Services again (services command or from the Control Panel).
- Locate Windows Update. Double-click, set it to Automatic, and click Apply.
- Right-click and choose Restart.
- Do the same for Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). It handles the actual download part.
Sometimes, just rebooting these services jumps-starts the update process. On some setups, a simple restart of these services fixes the 0x80073712 error immediately.
Use the Official Windows 11 Installation Assistant
This is Microsoft’s way of forcing the latest update if the normal process keeps failing. Sometimes the manual approach is cleaner.
- Head over to the Windows 11 Download page.
- Download the Installation Assistant bundle.
- Run the executable, then follow the prompts. It will check your system and attempt to install the latest update or upgrade.
Many people report this bypasses the usual errors, especially when the update cache is corrupt or stuck.
Download and Install the Update Manually
If all else fails, manual download fix is still an option. It’s kinda clunky, but it works in many cases. Just look for the KB in question (here, KB5063060).
- Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog.
- Search for KB5063060.
- Pick the right version matching your system architecture: x64, ARM64, etc.
- Download the .msu file and double-click to install manually. Sometimes it just needs a kick-start and the usual update server gets stuck.
Reset Windows Update Components
This is kinda the nuclear option, but it works like magic sometimes. You’re basically resetting all update-related stuff. Now, instead of typing all commands blindly, here’s a batch file which makes life easier — just save it as Wufix.bat, run as admin, and wait.
SC config trustedinstaller start=auto
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop msiserver
net stop cryptsvc
net stop appidsvc
Ren %Systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Ren %Systemroot%\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll
regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll
netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset proxy
rundll32.exe pnpclean.dll,RunDLL_PnpClean /DRIVERS /MAXCLEAN
dism /Online /Cleanup-image /ScanHealth
dism /Online /Cleanup-image /CheckHealth
dism /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth
dism /Online /Cleanup-image /StartComponentCleanup
sfc /scannow
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start msiserver
net start cryptsvc
net start appidsvc
On some setups, I’ve seen this require multiple runs or a reboot before it sticks, but generally, it clears out the bad cache or broken files.
Use Media Creation Tool for a Clean Install
If everything’s broken beyond repair, this is the big gun. You can upgrade or reinstall Windows 11 via the Media Creation Tool. It downloads a fresh ISO and can do a repair install if needed — sometimes faster than endless troubleshooting.
- Go to the Microsoft Windows 11 Media Creation page.
- Download and run the tool — then pick to upgrade now or create installation media for a clean install.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
When trying all these, keep in mind:
- Back up your important files first — things can go sideways.
- Make sure your internet connection is stable, especially when downloading updates or files from Microsoft servers.
- If commands fail, double-check you’re running the Command Prompt or PowerShell as administrator.
Wrap-up
Hopefully these steps help get past that stubborn KB5063060 update error 0x80073712. It’s kind of frustrating how Windows sometimes gets corrupted or stuck, but resetting services, clearing cache, or manually installing updates usually do the trick. And if all else fails, the Media Creation Tool is a great last resort — clean installs tend to resolve a lot of deep-rooted issues. Good luck, and fingers crossed it helps!
Summary
- Checked and enabled App Readiness service
- Moved or removed the $WinREAgent folder
- Ran the Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Restarted update-related services
- Used the Windows 11 Installation Assistant
- Downloaded the update manually from Microsoft Catalog
- Reset Windows Update components via a batch script
- Used the Media Creation Tool for a fresh install