Is KB5068861 a “bad” patch?

likerain · Nov 14, 2025

Hello,
Some users have reported various issues with the recently released update KB5068861, including installation failures and problems occurring after installation. I also wasn’t able to install it myself (error 0x800F0983).
(And for some reason, when I tried to restart my PC afterward, it showed “Updates are in progress... Please do not turn off your computer.”)

Since this update may be unstable on certain systems, I’m thinking of pausing Windows Update for a while to see how things develop.
Has anyone else encountered trouble with this patch?

XxXxX · Nov 14, 2025

this may be of help

Fix Windows 11 update error 0x800f0983 — reliable steps that work

When cumulative updates stall around 10–17% and fail with 0x800f0983, these straightforward repairs clear CBS servicing issues.

allthings.how

then you can try the update again or download the update

Microsoft Update Catalog

and install manually.
best of luck Steve ..

spapakons · Nov 14, 2025

I installed it on my unsupported PC (see 2nd system specs), I reached build 26200.7171 and haven't seen anything out of the ordinary.

OldMainframeGuy · Nov 14, 2025

Patch was installed on my PC on 11/11/25; no issues whatsoever.

Helmut · Nov 14, 2025

Yes, exactly the same issue, 10 tries failed which include getting it from MS update catalogue. DISM, SFC checks were done etc.

I have not done a repair install, mine is a working PC/Laptop that must be kept working and that should not be necessary. MS needs to put this right without overly complex measures prone to user errors.

Also looked at the totally non-understandable error logs, 200-400 MB of text, got nowhere unsurprisingly.
A ton of Diagnostic data has been sent, I see it in the Diagnostic Data Viewer.
Been sent to Feedback though I have never got anything back from that route.

So I have paused updates, initially for a week.

spapakons · Nov 14, 2025

Just for the record, I couldn't install the previous cumulative update on my unsupported computer (2nd system specs), so I just ignored it. Now I have installed the latest cumulative update and I am at build 26200.7171. I suggest you do the same. Just wait for the next one.

Helmut · Nov 14, 2025

That is what I thought, however it has been same error code for the last 2 cumulative/security updates, the latest being KB5068861 26200.7171

Some parts have been installed for sure, but have no idea what exactly, and they deleted the failures from Update history for the 1st one. Just looked, the 2nd (current) one failures as well, error code has changed.

Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x800704C7: 2025-11 Security Update (KB5068861) (26200.7171).

kjlkjadfasdfasd · Nov 14, 2025

Helmut said:
That is what I thought, however it has been same error code for the last 2 cumulative/security updates, the latest being KB5068861 26200.7171

Some parts have been installed for sure, but have no idea what exactly, and they deleted the failures from Update history for the 1st one. Just looked, the 2nd (current) one failures as well, error code has changed.

Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x800704C7: 2025-11 Security Update (KB5068861) (26200.7171).

I've had the same issue with multiple PCs only on the last two updates, as well. MS has broken something with the servicing and they just don't know how to fix it. I posted yesterday that I had two PCs that the November update wouldn't install on, but it's actually three. I just did an 'upgrade' reinstall to fix one, and I'm doing a second one now. I suspect I'll be doing the same next month.

They need to hire proper QA folks instead of relying on public beta testers.

Marcus Vinicus · Nov 14, 2025

Installed KB5068861 on my two computers without any issues.

Matto · Nov 15, 2025

Exactly same problem brand new machine
Error 0x800f0983
Sfc and Dism done
Antivirus off
Softwaredistribution cleared
Troubleshooter: no errors/ violations
All other updates went through
Also tried with the standalone installer from MS update catalogue
This kb5068861 always interrupts install at around 60%!

likerain · Nov 15, 2025

Helmut said:
That is what I thought, however it has been same error code for the last 2 cumulative/security updates, the latest being KB5068861 26200.7171

Some parts have been installed for sure, but have no idea what exactly, and they deleted the failures from Update history for the 1st one. Just looked, the 2nd (current) one failures as well, error code has changed.

Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x800704C7: 2025-11 Security Update (KB5068861) (26200.7171).

I'm glad to have found someone who’s dealing with the same issue as I am.
I'm not very familiar with how Windows Update works, so I'm not sure about this, but if you know, could you tell me?
If Microsoft acknowledges that this patch has a problem, will a “fixed version of KB5068861” become available in the future?

Helmut · Nov 15, 2025

likerain said:
If Microsoft acknowledges that this patch has a problem, will a “fixed version of KB5068861” become available in the future?

Neither am I familiar with details of how Windows update works. I have just left it as paused for 4 weeks.
I did everything as listed in post #10.
Cumulative updates are roughly monthly, so you will get another in a month, hopefully with fixes.

As far as I can tell there is no acknowledgement from Microsoft of this wide spread problem.

spapakons · Nov 15, 2025

likerain said:
I'm glad to have found someone who’s dealing with the same issue as I am.
I'm not very familiar with how Windows Update works, so I'm not sure about this, but if you know, could you tell me?
If Microsoft acknowledges that this patch has a problem, will a “fixed version of KB5068861” become available in the future?

They usually issue a new cumulative update which renders the previous obsolete. This happened in my case. I couldn't install the previous one, but then I installed that one and reached build 26200.7171. Just wait for the next cumulative update, probably Tuesday, install that instead and you should have no issues.

likerain · Nov 17, 2025

Helmut said:
Neither am I familiar with details of how Windows update works. I have just left it as paused for 4 weeks.
I did everything as listed in post #10.
Cumulative updates are roughly monthly, so you will get another in a month, hopefully with fixes.

As far as I can tell there is no acknowledgement from Microsoft of this wide spread problem.

spapakons said:
They usually issue a new cumulative update which renders the previous obsolete. This happened in my case. I couldn't install the previous one, but then I installed that one and reached build 26200.7171. Just wait for the next cumulative update, probably Tuesday, install that instead and you should have no issues.

Thank you both for the information.
I think I’ll pause updates for a while and wait for the cumulative update.

Ruprych · Nov 20, 2025

.7171 installed for me with no issues on "unsupported" machine (see my specs)

refresh your system (in-place upgrade with apps and settings retained) with official iso (start the installer from under the working system, you will revert to earlier build .65whatever)
then try windows update again immediately after the above finishes to install
this worked for me when the previous preview update .7019 initially failed to install
the install date 29.10.2025 comes from that refresh

Helmut · Nov 20, 2025

This has been fixed on 19.11.25 with Windows updates "version 25H2 (repair version)"
That gets you to build 26200.7171

spapakons · Nov 21, 2025

Ruprych said:
.7171 installed for me with no issues on "unsupported" machine (see my specs)

refresh your system (in-place upgrade with apps and settings retained) with official iso (start the installer from under the working system, you will revert to earlier build .65whatever)
then try windows update again immediately after the above finishes to install
this worked for me when the previous preview update .7019 initially failed to install
the install date 29.10.2025 comes from that refresh

For some reason I could not install the update to build 7019, but I installed the latest update to build 7171, so I don't care. I guess some minor incompatibility since my system is unsupported. I would start to worry if I could not install any more updates, but for a single one, I will just ignore the issue. I suggest you also wait for the next one.

Matto · Nov 21, 2025

Helmut said:
This has been fixed on 19.11.25 with Windows updates "version 25H2 (repair version)"
That gets you to build 26200.7171

Yes i confirm. >Windows update >Recovery >Fix problems using Windows Update
will install Windows Version 25H2 build 26200.7171; which includes the KB5068861...
But its a very lengthy process at least all the settings remain! but its done.
Thanks to all also for support!

spapakons · Nov 21, 2025

I read elsewhere that Microsoft admitted there are some bugs in Windows 11 affecting some users and they will fix them in a future update.

Is KB5068861 a “bad” patch?

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