With the introduction of Windows 10, Microsoft promised more stability and better support for all users. Since 2015, the company has stayed up to the task. At least, most of the time.

  • Microsoft is constantly implementing new measures that improve the overall Windows Updates experience on Windows 10 PCs.

  • In spite of that, errors such as 0x80072af9 are inevitable. To fix this problem, check your antivirus or check Windows for corruption.

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However, frequent updates occasionally have their own issues. Namely, some mandatory updates are provoking various problems. The update error code 0x80072af9 is just one of them.

Sometimes error 0x80072af9 can appear and prevent your Windows from updating. This error can be problematic, and speaking of Windows errors, here are some similar issues that users reported:

  • Microsoft error code 0x80072af9 – If this error occurs on your PC, be sure to check your antivirus. Your antivirus can interfere with your system and cause this and other errors to appear, so you might need to disable it.
  • 0x80072af9 Windows Store – This error can sometimes appear while trying to use Microsoft Store. If that happens, be sure to check your system using SFC and DISM scans.
  • 0x80072af9 Outlook – A couple of users reported this problem while using Outlook. If you have the same problem, we advise you to reinstall Microsoft Office and check if that solves your issue.
  • Update error 0x80072af9 Windows 10 – According to users, this issue can appear on any version of Windows, and older versions aren’t an exception. Most of our solutions are universal, so you can apply them to Windows 7 and 8 alike.

This update’s purpose is to improve the overall security in Microsoft Office. However, as the case proved, it can have a reverse impact on the system.

It is a known culprit for crashes of Office programs, and system drags. Today, we’ll try and help you resolve this issue.

How can I fix Windows 10 update error 0x80072af9?

1. Check your antivirus

Using a good antivirus is important if you want to protect your PC from online threats. However, your antivirus can sometimes interfere with your system and cause 0x80072af9 error to appear.

To fix this problem, it’s advised to disable certain antivirus features and check if that helps. If the issue is still present, you might have to disable your antivirus entirely.

In the worst-case scenario, your only solution might be to remove your antivirus. If removing the antivirus solves the problem, you should consider switching to a different antivirus.

You will certainly find an antivirus that offers all security requirements without interfering with your system. Make sure to look for a solid threat database, multiple layers of protection, a strong firewall, and online privacy features.

2. Try updating your system

For starters, you should try and check for updates right away. Maybe the diligent Microsoft developers have prepared a fix and it is waiting for you to get it.

To check for new KB (Knowledge Base) update, do as follows:

  • Open Search Windows and type Windows Update.
  • Click Check for updates.
  • If there are some updates available, the system will install them after Active hours.

Have in mind that this will work only if there are no corrupted system files. If the problem persists, move on to the next step.

3. Check Windows for corruption

As we all know, updates are installed and stored on the system partition. Moreover, possible malware infection thrives on playing with those essential files.

So, the files can get corrupted or deleted. As a matter of fact, they start working against you. So, we should check them out.

The first step you should take is scanning all partitions with Windows Defender or third-party antimalware software.

Additionally, you’ll want to check files’ integrity with the command prompt. And this is the way to do it:

  • Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Now select Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the list.
  • Now enter sfc /scannow and press Enter.

SFC scan will now start. This scan can take about 15 minutes, so don’t interrupt it.

If you are unable to run SFC scan, or if the SFC scan didn’t fix your problem, you need to use DISM scan instead. To do that, start Command Prompt as administrator and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command.

DISM scan might take 20 minutes or more, so don’t interfere with it. Once the scan is finished, check if the problem is resolved. If the issue is still present, repeat the SFC scan again to fix the problem.

4. Clean up junk files

Additionally, you can use built-in Windows tools to clean up junk system files. Since those can cause a variety of issues due to conflicts with essential files, we should get rid of them.

Have in mind that you can use even trusted third-party cleaners for this task. We’ll walk you through the standard procedure with a built-in disk cleaner:

  • Open Search Windows or press Windows key + R.
  • Type cleanmgr (or Disk Cleanup) and open tool.
  • Choose system partition (most of the time C:).
  • Click Clean up System files.
  • The process will clean junk files.

There are also many great third-party tools that can clean unnecessary files. If you’re looking for a good third-party tool to clean your files, you might want to consider CCleaner.

This tool is incredibly simple to use, so you should be able to remove unwanted files with ease.

Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may be partially broken. We recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will scan your machine and identify what the fault is.Click here to download and start repairing.

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It will scan your whole system for unnecessary files as well as browser junk and provide a report. You just have to select what you want to remove and wait for the process to complete.

5. Uninstall the update

This is probably not the first nor the last time you installed a faulty update. Moreover, since Windows 10 updates on its own, there is a possibility that things can take a wrong turn.

However, you can at least uninstall malfunctioning updates. In order to get rid of the faulty update, follow these instructions:

  • In Search Windows type Windows Update.
  • Open Windows update settings.
  • Choose Update history.
  • Select Uninstall updates.
  • Find the update related to Microsoft Office.
  • Right-click and select Uninstall.

That should be that. Restart your PC and check Office behavior after the update file is uninstalled.

6. Reinstall Office

In the end, since this error is related to Office and its apps, you can try and reinstall the whole package. It will cost you some time and nerves, but, it will fix even the most relentless issues.

There are several ways to uninstall an application, but the best method is to use uninstaller software.

In case you’re not familiar, uninstaller software is a special application that will remove the selected application along with all its associated files and registry entries.

By using uninstaller software, you’ll completely remove the application and it will be as if the application was never installed.

There are many great uninstaller applications on the market, but IOBit Uninstaller offers the most features, so you might want to try it out.

Once you remove Office with this tool, install it again and check if the problem is resolved.

7. Turn off Tablet mode

Windows 10 comes with a useful feature called Tablet mode. As you can probably guess, this feature is meant for tablets, and once you enable it, it will optimize your user interface for touchscreen devices.

However, sometimes this feature can interfere with your system, and according to users, it can even cause error 0x80072af9 to appear.

To fix this problem, you just have to disable Tablet mode. This is incredibly simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

  • Open the Action Center. You can do that by clicking the Action Center icon on your Taskbar or by using Windows Key + A key shortcut.
  • If Tablet mode is enabled, click it to disable it.

Once this feature is disabled, check if the problem is resolved.

8. Use System Restore

If you keep getting error 0x80072af9, you might be able to fix it using System Restore. In case you’re not familiar, System Restore is a feature that allows you to restore your PC to a previous state and fix any recent problems.

To restore your system using System Restore, you just need to do the following:

  • Press Windows Key + S and enter system restore. Choose Create a restore point from the list of results.
  • The System Properties window will appear. Click the System Restore button.
  • When System Restore window opens, click Next.
  • If available, check Show more restore points. Select the desired restore point and click Next.
  • Follow instructions on the screen to complete the restoration process.

After you restore your PC, check if the error code 0x80072af9 still appears.

These were our solutions for Windows 10 update error 0x80072af9. We certainly hope you managed to resolve them. In addition, if you are having any doubts or questions, be sure to share them in the comments section below.

Feel free to use this quick guide to fix 0xc1900208 errors.

Windows is a huge operating system, so bugs are nothing out of the ordinary. Don’t worry as we also have an awesome Windows 10 errors hub for you.

  • Can I stop a Windows 10 update in progress?

Yes, you can. Simply click the Stop link in the update from the top left corner. A dialogue box should pop up next, providing you with a process to stop the installation progress.

  • What happens if you turn off your computer during an update?

If you turn off your PC during an update, you risk damaging your Windows install, which could further brick it. If this happens, use this guide to fix Windows 10 soft-bricked computers.

If the advices above haven’t solved your issue, your PC may experience deeper Windows problems. We recommend downloading this PC Repair tool (rated Great on TrustPilot.com) to easily address them. After installation, simply click the Start Scan button and then press on Repair All.

Still having issues? Fix them with this tool:

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