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Microsoft has confirmed that its November 2026 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11, KB5132061, is failing to install on some PCs. The update was released on Tuesday 10 November 2026, and on Wednesday 11 November 2026 Microsoft added a known issue to the KB5132061 support page saying some devices "might be unable to complete the installation". The company says an automatic repair is already rolling out and that most people do not need to do anything.
What has Microsoft confirmed?
The known issue is titled "November security update might fail to install on some devices". According to Microsoft's support page, affected devices might repeatedly try to install the update, or show one of three error codes:
- 0x80070306
- 0x800f0989
- 0x800f0993
Microsoft does not give a technical cause on that page. It does give a timetable: the fix is "automatically running" on affected devices that are connected to the internet and use Windows Update in Settings, and "all affected devices should be repaired in 24 to 48 hours starting from November 11, 2026, 10am PT".
Once a device has received the repair, Microsoft says it will download and install the November security update by itself through Windows Update. The page states that no manual action is needed from end users.
Which PCs are affected?
KB5132061 is the monthly cumulative security update for Windows 11. Microsoft lists it for Windows 11 version 26H2 and version 25H2 (all editions) and for the Enterprise and Education editions of version 24H2, taking those systems to OS builds 26300.9974, 26200.9974 and 26100.9974.
Not every PC on those versions has the problem. BleepingComputer reports that a Microsoft service alert in the Microsoft 365 admin center, numbered WI1549693, says the issue affects "a limited number of devices" that installed the October 2026 non-security preview update, KB5127936. Devices that did not install that preview are not affected, according to the same alert.
KB5127936 is an optional update. Microsoft's page for it describes it as a preview released on 28 October 2026 for Windows 11 versions 26H2 and 25H2. Preview updates are not installed automatically for most home users unless they choose them in Windows Update's optional updates area.
Microsoft has not published a figure for how many devices are involved.
| Detail | What Microsoft says |
|---|---|
| Update | KB5132061, released 10 November 2026 |
| Windows versions | Windows 11 26H2, 25H2, and 24H2 Enterprise and Education |
| Error codes | 0x80070306, 0x800f0989, 0x800f0993 |
| Linked to | Devices that installed the October preview KB5127936 (per the admin center alert) |
| Fix | Automatic repair, 24 to 48 hours from 10am PT on 11 November 2026 |
| User action | None required |
How did the problem come to light?
User complaints came before the official confirmation. The Register reported on 11 November 2026 that people were posting about download and install failures within hours of the release, citing the 0x800F0993 and 0x800F0989 errors, while Microsoft's documentation listed no known issues. The Register updated its story on 12 November 2026 to note Microsoft's confirmation.
Windows Latest described the same pattern on 11 November 2026: in its tests the update reached 99% and then failed, and trying again did not help, although some users said a later attempt worked. At that point Microsoft's support document still said the company was not aware of any issues with the update.
The stakes are higher than usual for a failed install because this is a security release. The Register says the update addresses 726 vulnerabilities in Windows alone, a figure it links to Microsoft's release notes; Microsoft's support page does not give a count. Microsoft's own page says it also strengthens NTLM security, widens the rollout of new Secure Boot certificates and fixes a fault that stopped some USB Audio 1.0 devices from starting.
What should home users do?
Microsoft's guidance is to wait. Based on its support page, the practical steps are:
- Keep the PC switched on and connected to the internet so it can receive the repair.
- Leave Windows Update in Settings to retry. Microsoft says the November update will then install by itself.
- If the update still fails after the 48-hour window, use Windows help resources or contact Microsoft Support, as the support page advises.
Some users have shared their own workarounds on forums. The Register notes that one user got the update to install after turning off the Windows Sandbox feature and restarting, but also that other people had the failure whether Sandbox was on or off. Microsoft has not endorsed that step, and its page does not name Sandbox as the cause.
What should IT administrators do?
For managed estates, the key question is which machines took the October preview. If the admin center alert is accurate, devices that never installed KB5127936 should update normally.
Microsoft's stated resolution applies to devices that are online and use Windows Update in Settings. BleepingComputer reports that Microsoft asks administrators who still see failures after 48 hours to contact Microsoft Support. The alert reference to quote is WI1549693.
This is separate from another problem Microsoft confirmed on 11 November 2026. Its Windows release health page lists a different known issue, traced to the October 2026 updates, in which SQL Server linked server connections might remain open. That one concerns servers that have already installed updates, not PCs that cannot install them.
Analysis: a short delay, but a familiar one
This section is our own analysis, not Microsoft's.
Taking Microsoft's window literally, 48 hours from 10am Pacific Time on 11 November 2026 ends at about 6pm UK time on Friday 13 November 2026. If the repair lands on schedule, affected PCs will have gone roughly three days without a security update that others received on day one. That is a modest gap, but it is a gap in protection, and it sits awkwardly beside the usual advice to patch promptly. Our earlier piece on cybersecurity challenges and solutions makes the same point about timely patching.
The pattern matters more than the single incident. BleepingComputer lists three earlier update problems this year: a preview update pulled in March 2026 over 0x80073712 errors, installation failures with 0x800f0922 errors on the May 2026 security update, and a June 2026 warning about failed monthly updates on some upgraded PCs.
The link to an optional preview is also worth noting. Preview updates exist so that keen users and IT teams can test changes early. If installing one can block the following month's security fixes, cautious organisations have a reason to keep previews on test machines only. Microsoft has not said how the October preview causes the failure, so that conclusion is ours and may change when more detail is published.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: November 10, 2026, KB5132061 (OS Builds 26300.9974, 26200.9974 and 26100.9974)
- Microsoft Support: October 28, 2026, KB5127936 Preview
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 11, version 25H2 known issues and notifications
- BleepingComputer: Microsoft confirms Windows security updates installation issues
- The Register: Microsoft's Patch Tuesday can't break stuff if it won't install
- Windows Latest: Microsoft investigates Windows 11 KB5132061 issues
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
KB5132061 is the Windows 11 cumulative security update Microsoft released on 10 November 2026 as part of its monthly Patch Tuesday. It applies to Windows 11 versions 26H2 and 25H2, and to the Enterprise and Education editions of version 24H2.
Microsoft lists three: 0x80070306, 0x800f0989 and 0x800f0993. It says affected devices might also simply keep trying to install the update without finishing.
No, according to Microsoft. Its support page says a repair is running automatically on affected devices that are online and use Windows Update, and that no manual action from end users is required.
Microsoft says all affected devices should be repaired within 24 to 48 hours of 10am Pacific Time on 11 November 2026. After the repair, Windows Update should install the November update automatically.
Microsoft's admin center alert, as reported by BleepingComputer, says devices that did not install the October 2026 preview update KB5127936 are not affected. If your update fails for another reason, Microsoft's support channels are the place to go.
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