Windows Update error 80072EFE on Windows 10

Windows update error 80072EFE may prevent you from downloading updates to your Windows system. This error is common on all versions of Windows. The main cause of Windows Update error 80072EFE is the interruption of the connection between your computer and Windows Update servers. Although the error has been around for a long time, no permanent fix has been offered.

The associated error messages can be:

• ERROR_INTERNET_CONNECTION_ABORTED – The connection to the server has been interrupted.
• WININET_E_CONNECTION_ABORTED – Connection to the server has been terminated abnormally
• ERROR_WINHTTP_CONNECTION_ABORTED – The connection to the server has been terminated abnormally.

Windows update error 80072EFE

Before you start troubleshooting, wait 10 minutes, restart your computer, reset your router, and try again. If that doesn't help, try our suggestions:

1. Check your internet connection; Try another connection
2. Do not temporarily let your antivirus scan the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders
3. Temporarily disable firewall and security programs
4. Delete the Catroot2 folder
5. Run network troubleshooting utilities
6. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

Let's see them in detail.

1) Check your Internet connection; Try another connection

The Internet connection must be working for Windows updates to be downloaded. When working offline and trying to update Windows manually, you may not notice the state of the internet connection. In this case, try to open websites on your browser to check your internet connection.

2) Do not temporarily let your antivirus scan the SoftwareDistribution & Catroot2 folders

Antivirus programs are known to report genuine programs and files as viruses or malware. If the files in the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders are identified as threats, the antivirus software will prevent Windows from updating.

You can whitelist the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders in your antivirus interface to avoid such possibilities. Please contact your antivirus vendor for instructions on this.

3) Temporarily disable the firewall and security programs

Firewall or security software could prevent Windows from updating and cause chat error. To isolate this cause, you can temporarily disable Windows Firewall and security programs.

4) Delete the Catroot2 folder

The Catroot2 folder stores the signatures of the Windows update package. So this file is important. Any corruption of signatures in this file can lead to Windows update error 80072EFE. If you encounter this error, you can delete the Catroot2 folder. Then try to update Windows and it will start to store the signatures again. The procedure to delete the Catroot2 folder is as follows:

Press Win + R to open the Run window and type the command services.msc. Press Enter to open the Services window.

Look for the Cryptographic service in the list and double-click it to open its properties.

Click on stop and press OK to save the settings.

Now go on the way C: Windows System32 in the file explorer.

You will find the catroot2 subfolder in the System32 folder.

Right click on catroot2 and select Remove.

You can restart the Cryptographic service now.

Access the Cryptographic Services window as before and click on beginning. Then press OK to save the settings.

Try updating Windows now and it should work.

5) Run the network adapter troubleshooter

Even if the Internet is working properly, the network may still face other problems, preventing Windows Update and causing the error in the discussion. In such a case, we can run the network troubleshooter to fix the problem. The procedure to run the network troubleshooter is as follows:

Click on the Start button and then on the gear symbol to open the Settings menu.

Go to Updates and Security> Troubleshooting.

Select the Network adapter troubleshooter from the list and run it.

Restart the system once you are done.

6) Run Windows update troubleshooter

The Windows Updates Troubleshooter is a powerful tool that checks all possible problems with Windows Updates and fixes them if possible. The simple procedure for running a Windows Updates troubleshooter is as follows:

Open the help menu as in the previous solution.

Select the Windows Updates Troubleshooter from the list and run it.

Restart the computer once you are done.

Good luck!