Windows 11 KB5079391 Not Installing? What To Do After Microsoft Pulled the Update
If Windows 11 recently tried to install KB5079391 and failed, disappeared, or kept asking you to retry, the problem may not be your PC at all. Microsoft pulled that preview update after discovering an installation issue and replaced it with a newer update, KB5086672.
So if you are still trying to force KB5079391 to install, that is usually the wrong move now. In most cases, the better fix is to stop chasing the old update and check whether your PC is now being offered the replacement instead.
Why KB5079391 stopped installing for many users
KB5079391 was a preview update, not a normal monthly security update. After release, Microsoft identified an installation problem and stopped offering it to new devices. It was then replaced by KB5086672.
That explains why some users saw strange behavior around this update.
The update kept failing
You clicked install, Windows tried again and again, and nothing worked.
The update disappeared
That can happen when an update is pulled or replaced after release.
A different KB number showed up later
That is also normal in this case. KB5086672 became the replacement update.
Check whether your PC is on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2
This issue mainly affects Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. If your PC is on a different version, KB5079391 may not be the real reason your update is failing.
To check:
Open Settings
Go to Settings > System > About
Look under Windows specifications
You should see the version listed there, such as 24H2 or 25H2
If your PC is on one of those versions, continue with the steps below.
What to do now
1. Check Windows Update again
The first thing to do is the simplest. Open Windows Update and see whether your PC is now offering KB5086672 instead of KB5079391.
Go to:
Start > Settings > Windows Update
Then:
- Click Check for updates
- Look for KB5086672
- Install it if it appears
- Restart your PC
Sometimes the replacement update may also appear under optional updates, so take a quick look there too.
2. Stop trying to force KB5079391
This is the most important point in the whole article.
If Microsoft already pulled KB5079391 because of an installation problem, there is usually no value in repeatedly trying to install that exact update. You are better off letting Windows Update move on to the replacement.
If you previously paused updates, hid the update, or cleared update files while troubleshooting, return things to normal and run a fresh update check.
3. Restart the PC and try again
This sounds basic, but it often helps after Windows Update gets stuck between an older package and a replacement update.
Do it in this order:
- Restart the PC
- Open Settings > Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- Wait a moment for the scan to finish
- Install the newer update if it appears
A clean restart can clear temporary update states and make Windows detect the replacement properly.
4. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
If Windows Update still looks broken in general, not just for this one KB, use the built-in troubleshooter.
Go to:
Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Windows Update
Run it, let it finish, restart the PC, and then check for updates again.
This will not bring a withdrawn preview update back, but it can fix common Windows Update problems that may now be blocking the replacement update too.
5. Repair system files if multiple updates are failing
If your PC is failing several updates, not just KB5079391, it is worth checking system integrity.
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
After that, restart the PC and check for updates again.
These commands are useful when the issue seems bigger than one faulty preview update.
Can you install KB5086672 manually?
Yes, but this should usually be your backup plan, not your first move.
Manual installation makes sense if:
- Windows Update refuses to offer the replacement update
- You already confirmed you are on the correct Windows version
- You are comfortable choosing the correct package for your PC
Be careful to select the right version for your system, such as x64 or arm64. If you are not sure which one you need, it is safer to wait for Windows Update to deliver it automatically.
What if KB5079391 already failed before?
That does not automatically mean your Windows installation is damaged.
Since the original update itself had an installation issue, many failed attempts were likely caused by the update rather than by anything wrong on your PC. What matters more now is whether the replacement update installs normally.
If KB5086672 installs without trouble, you can usually stop worrying about the earlier failed entry in update history.
Should you install preview updates at all?
For most people, only when there is a good reason.
Preview updates can include useful fixes before the next regular rollout, but they are also a bit riskier than standard monthly updates. That does not mean you should avoid them forever, but it does mean you should be more selective.
A good rule is:
Install normal security updates as usual
Those are the important monthly updates most users should keep current.
Be cautious with preview updates
If your PC is working fine and you do not urgently need the changes, waiting is often the safer choice.
Final thoughts
If Windows 11 KB5079391 is not installing, the main thing to understand is that this update was pulled after an installation problem was discovered. In plain English, you probably do not need to keep fighting with it.
The smarter move is to check for KB5086672, install the replacement if it appears, and only move on to deeper repair steps if Windows Update is still failing more broadly.
For most users, that will be the cleanest and least frustrating fix.
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