Fix 0x80072f8f
SSL or TLS connection issue during Windows Update.
Most common cause
Windows couldn’t establish a secure connection. This is often caused by incorrect system time, TLS settings, or security software interference.
Time to fix
10–25 minutes
Safe?
Yes — these steps use built-in Windows tools.
What this error means
Windows couldn’t establish a secure connection. This is often caused by incorrect system time, TLS settings, or security software interference.
Try these fixes first
- Confirm your PC date/time is correct and set to auto.
- Temporarily disable VPN/Proxy and retry.
- Restart PC and try again.
Advanced steps
- Run Windows Update Troubleshooter.
- Reset networking: netsh winsock reset (then restart).
- Check TLS settings in Internet Options (we can add exact steps).
Still stuck?
If none of the steps above worked, here are the next best actions:
- Take note of the exact error code and what you were doing when it appeared.
- Restart your PC and try the same action again (updates/install).
- If this is Windows Update, consider resetting Windows Update components (we can add the full copy/paste script next).