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Want to know how to Fix Error Code 0x80072af9 on Windows? The error code 0x80072af9 is a common bug in Windows 11 and 10, and it usually happens when you install a bad app or a bugged update. You might also see this error when you open Windows Defender to do a full scan of your device. A lot of people get error 0x80072af9 when they use VPN, the built-in Windows Mail app, or Windows Update.
Even when Windows Defender is turned off and mail permissions are given in the same security app, the error still happens from time to time. At other times, you won’t be able to connect to VPN services or install the latest Windows Updates. If you want to know more information about this visit official Microsoft support site. When you use a VPN, the Mail app, or Windows Update, you might see the error code 0x80072af9. This error can also be caused by the Windows Time Service.
Most of the time, this error shows up when you try to start Windows Defender or check for Windows Updates. It stops VPN connections from being made or the most recent definition update from being installed. When it happens, you won’t be able to start a VPN connection or install updates on your PC. In this post, we’ll talk about why it happened and show you ways that should work to Fix Error Code 0x80072af9 on Windows. Without further ado, let’s find out what causes this kind of error code on Windows 11/10.
Install the Problematic Update in Tablet Mode
Tablet mode is a new part of Windows 10/11 that lets you use touch to control your computer. For example, if you set up your device so that the mouse pointer is hidden when it’s not being used, tablet mode makes the pointer show up again when you tap or click on the screen. Some users can install any Windows update without any trouble when they use this mode. Here’s how to use the tablet mode to install a Windows update:
- Click the tray of notifications at the bottom right of the screen.
- Choose Tablet Mode to turn it on.
- Now, press the Windows key and the R key together to open the Run window.
- Type ms-settings: windows update and press the Enter key on your keyboard. The Windows Update menu will open when you run this command.
- Click the button that says “Check for Updates,” and then follow the steps on your screen to install the update that didn’t work.
Use System Restore
If the error 0x80072af9 keeps happening, you can try to fix it with System Restore. This tool lets you go back to a previous working state without losing any files or settings that have been changed since then. This is especially helpful if your computer starts acting up or if you get an error message when you try to install new software or updates. Do the following to use the System Restore tool:
- Press the Windows key and the letter S at the same time, and then type “system restore” into the search field.
- Choose the item in the search results called “Create a Restore Point.”
- Now, the window for System Properties will come up. Press the button for System Restore.
- When the System Restore wizard comes up, click Next.
- Click Show More Restore Points to see all of the restore points that are available.
- Choose a restore point that was made before the error.
- Click Next to move on.
Perform a Malware Scan
If you think that malware is the cause of the Windows Update error, you should run a malware scan right away. Malicious software can be removed by using the malware scanner that comes with Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. The name of this program is Windows Defender. Here’s what you should do to use Windows Defender to look for malware:
- Click the icon for Windows Defender Security in the tray of alerts.
- Then, in the window that comes up, click the button that says “Virus and Threat Protection.”
- Click the Quick Scan button after that.
- Windows Defender will now start to look for any threats on your computer.
Check If Your Files Are Corrupted
The system partition is where the files for Windows Update are kept. Malware can sometimes attack these important system files. When malware attacks, these files may become unusable or, even worse, be deleted. So, it’s a good idea to see if the error is caused by a damaged file on the system partition. That’s a Microsoft built a tool into Windows that can be used to check if files are damaged. System File Checker is the name for it. You can use the SFC utility to look for corrupted Windows files on your computer and replace them with new copies from the Windows installation sources. This is how to use it:
- Press Windows and X together to open the WinX menu.
- Pick the Command Prompt (Admin) option.
- Type sfc /scannow into the command line and then press Enter.
- A scan with SFC should begin. It will take about 15 minutes to finish. Make sure you don’t interrupt it.
Refresh Your Windows Device
If the above steps didn’t fix the 0x80072af9 error, you might want to try restarting your computer. This process won’t delete or get rid of any of your personal files. It also won’t change the way things are set up. It gets rid of any third-party programs you might have installed. As your PC is being refreshed, Windows will show you what apps or programs will be removed. You can write down the names of these programs so that you can reinstall them if you need to. Here are some steps to take if you want to give your PC a new look:
- Right-click on the Start menu while holding down the Shift key.
- Choose Shut down and then Restart from the next menu. Don’t let go of Shift until you’re done with this step.
- You will see the Windows Repair/Recovery Environment the next time you turn on your computer. Choose Troubleshoot, then click Refresh PC.
- When the process is done, your computer will restart, and the problem should be fixed.
Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter
First, try the easy fix: use the Windows Update troubleshooter. Some users said that the problem was fixed by using the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter from Microsoft. This utility is made to look for problems in the Windows Update utility and automatically fix them if it finds any. It’s easy to use the Windows Update troubleshooter. Here is a step-by-step list of what to do:
- Open the Run utility: Press the Windows and R keys at the same time.
- Type ms-settings: troubleshoot into the box and press Enter. When you open the Settings app, you’ll go straight to the Troubleshooting tab.
- Scroll down until you find the section called “Get up and running.”
- Click Windows Update, then click the button that says “Run the Troubleshooter.”
- Start the first scan. Wait until it is complete.
- If a fix is suggested, click the Apply This Fix button.
- Once the fix is made, leave the troubleshooter and restart your computer.
- Install the troublesome update again after a restart and see if it works this time.
What causes the 0x80072af9 error
After looking into the problem and reading different user reports, we were able to put together a list of the things that cause the 0x80072af9 error:
- Your computer’s connection to the WU service is broken. This can be caused by a problem with the server, a broken network connection, or interference from a third party.
- Tablet mode is ON – It seems that WU often goes wrong when an update is installing if Tablet Mode is on.
- Interference from third parties – Some external security suites, especially 3rd party firewalls, are too cautious about the connections they let through. It is known that some third-party firewalls can cause problems for the WU component.
- Broken system entries – The 0x80072af9 error can also be caused by a problem with a system file. Most of the time, this problem can be fixed by doing a refresh or a repair install.