I’ve run into the Windows update error 80072EFE many times, and trust me, this is the most annoying thing that can ever happen when you are simply trying to update your Windows.
But don’t worry! Here’s what helped me out and surely will work for you:
Check Your Internet Connections: This error often occurs because of an unstable connection. Simply restart your router or if you are using a proxy browser try to disable it and check if the error got fixed or not.
Disable Your Antivirus: Overprotected antivirus sometimes blocks the updates, try to disable it and then run the Windows update. I once faced this error because of my anti-malware.
Runs Windows Update Troubleshoot: I was surprised when one of my friends told me that Windows comes with its own fixer. You just have to go to Settings >> Update & Security >> Troubleshoot >> Additional troubleshooters >> Windows Update >> Run the troubleshooter. It helped me once to fix things without hassle.
Reset Your SoftwareDistribution Folder: This folder on your device usually stores the updated files in it, and if any of those files go corrupt, it can cause an error in the updating procedure. Navigate to the folder (C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution) and rename or delete it.
In the end, the aforementioned steps helped me a lot at the time of this irritating error, I hope it works for you too.
