How to Fix Error Code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000 on Windows 10/11?

What is Error Code 0x80072f8f-0x20000?

The common error you get when you use the Windows Media Creation Tool to create installation media or upgrade your OS. Usually, it is caused by permission issues, security protocols that may be disabled like TLS, or missing services in Windows.

Causes of Error Code 0x80072f8f-0x20000

Different causes are identifiable which may be the reason this error pops up, such as:

• Lack of admin privileges.
• Inability to make use of the TLS 1.1 and 1.2 protocols.
• System component incompatibility.
• Software Distribution folder corruption of update files. 
• Unstable internet connection.

Read about similar Windows Update Errors:

0x8007025D-0x2000C Windows Upgrade Error

Error 0x800f081f 

Solutions to Fix the Error

But before you do so, there are some basic checks you need to do. Check the minimum requirements for the upgrade. This error code can be caused by incompatible system specifications. Check that you are compatible with the operating system’s minimum requirements. You can look up the minimum requirements on Google.

Another tip is to run a PC Repair tool such as Outbyte PC Repair to prevent glitches from popping up during the upgrade or installation.

1. Run the Media Creation Tool as Administrator

A simple but effective fix is running the Media Creation Tool with admin privileges:

1. Right-click the Media Creation Tool.
2. Select Run as administrator.
3. If prompted by User Account Control, confirm your choice.

2. Modify the Registry

Making a small tweak to your registry can help solve the problem:

1. Open Run by pressing Windows + R.
2. Type regedit and press Enter.
3. Navigate to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.
4. Right-click and create a new DWORD (32-bit) and name it AllowOSUpgrade.
5. Set its value to 1 and restart your computer.

3. Clear the Software Distribution Folder

Damaged update files in the Software Distribution folder can also generate this error:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the Windows folder.
2. Look for the SoftwareDistribution folder.
3. Select all its content by pressing Ctrl + A and then delete it.

4. Clean Boot

A clean boot will also rule out any interfering third-party services:

1. Press Windows + R, type in msconfig and press Enter.
2. In the opened System Configuration window, click Selective startup.
3. Disable all services other than Microsoft and restart your computer.

5. Reset Windows Update Components

Resetting the Windows Update services can also fix this error:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Run the following commands one by one: 

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

1. After you’ve completed all of the commands, restart your computer from the Start Menu and run the Media Creation Tool again to see if the problem has been resolved.

6. Enable TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2

If TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2 are disabled, you can enable them by modifying the registry. Open Notepad and paste the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\WinHttp]

"DefaultSecureProtocols"=dword:00000a00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\TLS 1.1\Client]

"DisabledByDefault"=dword:00000000

"Enabled"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\TLS 1.2\Client]

"DisabledByDefault"=dword:00000000

"Enabled"=dword:00000001

After you copy the code, select File at the top, then Save As. You need to save it as a .reg file. Double-click on the file afterward to apply the registry settings. If prompted for confirmation, click Yes to confirm and restart Windows to check whether the issue has been fixed.

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