How To Fix Error Code 0x80072f8f 0x20000? [SOLVED]

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The media Creation tool is used to install the latest updates on the system and create an installation media for installing Windows.

Media Creation Tool error code 0x80072f8f 0x20000 is a common error while updating your Windows.

This error may occur if the necessary services do not start properly or if other applications interfere during the update process.

But nothing to worry about as here we have shown how to fix it. So keep reading!

Solutions for Error Code 0x80072f8f 0x20000

Table of Contents

Simply follow the instructions given here and you will be able to solve this error.

1) Perform A Clean Boot

Sometimes certain services & programs running in the background interfere with the Windows update process and create such errors.

A clean boot can disable all the unnecessary running programs & services. Follow the steps given below to perform a clean boot:

Press Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run utility. Enter msconfig in the Run command box and hit the Enter key.

This will open the System Configuration window. Click on the Services tab and check the box for Hide all Microsoft Services from the bottom left corner.

Next, click on Disable all.

All but the Microsoft services will stop running in the background.

Exit the window and right-click on the Taskbar. Select Task Manager.

Go to the Startup tab, right-click on the particular programs with a high startup impact, and click on Disable.

After disabling all the unnecessary programs, restart your PC. If this does not fix the error, go run Windows in-built update troubleshooter.

2) Run Windows In-Built Update Troubleshooter

Windows have an in-built update troubleshooter to fix update-related problems.

So, run the update troubleshooter when you are getting error code 0x80072f8f 0x20000.

Follow the steps below to do so:

Open Windows settings by pressing Windows + I keys.
Click on Update & Security and select Troubleshoot.

Next, click on the Additional troubleshooters option.

Scroll down to find Windows Update. Select it and click on the Run the troubleshooter button.

Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.

If this did not fix the error, run Media Creation Tool as an administrator.

3) Run Media Creation Tool As An Administrator

Media Creation Tool may require administrative privileges to run. You may encounter the error code while updating Windows if it does not have the required permissions.

So, run Media Creation Tool as an administrator, and see if that fixes the issue:

Locate the folder where you have stored the Media Creation tool.

Right-click on it and click on the Run as administrator option.
When the UAC prompt pops up, click on the Yes button.

If you still get the same update error after allowing administrative privileges, go to the next solution.

4) Empty The Software Distribution Folder

The SoftwareDistribution folder stores Windows files temporarily that may require installing Windows Update on your system. It is mainly located in your C drive.

If your system cannot access these Windows Updates files, it can cause the error code: 0x80072f8f – 0x20000.

Under normal conditions, you should not touch this folder. But if the Download folder and your system’s datastore are de-synchronized, then Windows Updates will not work correctly.

So, delete all the contents of the Software Distribution folder, which can solve the problem. To do so, follow the steps given below:

Open the Run utility by pressing Windows + R keys.
Enter the following in the Run command box and press Enter:

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Select all the files located in this folder by pressing Ctrl + A and pressing the Delete button.

After clearing the Software Distribution folder, enter CMD in the Windows search bar and right-click on Command Prompt.
Select Run as administrator option.

Enter the following command in the elevated Command prompt window and press Enter:

wuauclt.exe /updatenow

Restart your PC and check if this could fix the error. If not, then reset Windows Components services.

5) Reset Windows Update Components

Any corruption in the Windows Update components can cause Windows update error.

So, reset WU components and see if this can fix the error. Follow the steps given below to do so:

Open an elevated Command Prompt. In the Elevated Command Prompt window, enter the following commands & press Enter after each command:

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

This will stop all the WU Services, MSI Installer, Cryptographic Services and BITS Services.

Next clear& rename the directories storing the WU component’s updated files.

This will force your system to have fresh new files that aren’t corrupted.

Now enter the following command in the elevated Command Prompt window and press the Enter key:

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

Enter the next line of commands to re-enable the WU components services:

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

After running all the commands retort your pc and check if this could fix the

6) Tweak the registry

If the above methods could not fix the Windows Update error, modify the registry.

But be extra cautious while handling the registry editor, as a small mistake can harm your device.

Follow the steps to modify the registry:

Open the Windows Run Command box and enter the following command:

regedit

Press Enter, and when the UAC prompt pops up, click Yes.

Now navigate to:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update

Right-click on an empty spacing on the right panel, and click on the New option. From the context menu, select DWORD(32-Bit) value.

Rename it as AllowOSUpgrade.

Double-click on this new key and change its value. In the value data section, change the value to 1 and click OK.

If this does not fix the error, scan your system.

7) Run SFC & DISM Scan

The next thing you can do is run the SFC and DISM scans. SFC scan will check for system file corruption or missing system files and repair or re-add them.

DISM scan will repair the Windows image, which can be responsible for the Windows update error.

8) Disable Firewall Temporarily

Sometimes your antivirus or Windows Firewall can interfere with the update process can give the error code.

So, disable your antivirus or Firewall for the time being. Follow the steps given below to disable the Firewall:

Go to Windows Search Menu and enter Windows Defender Firewall in the search box. Select the top option.
From the left panel, click on the Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off option.

Click on the buttons to Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) for both the Private and Public settings options.

If there is any other antivirus program on your system, disable that too. Here I am showing the steps with Avast antivirus. The steps may differ for other antivirus programs:

From the System Tray and right-click on the Avast icon.
Select Avast shields control from the Avast menu.
Choose the time for how long you want to keep the Avast shields disabled.

Click the Yes button to confirm your action.

This will be disabled for the specific period you have selected. Enable the Firewall or your antivirus later, as your system is vulnerable to threats without them.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Why do you get error Code 0x80072f8f 0x20000?

You can get error code 0x80072f8f 0x20000 during a Windows update if the necessary services do not start properly or if other programs or services interfere during the update process.