Microsoft Releases Emergency Hotfix KB5072753 to Stop Windows 11 Update Loop
Microsoft has released the out-of-band cumulative update KB5072753 to correct a known issue in which the November hotfix KB5068966 for Windows 11 was repeatedly reinstalled on the same systems. The flaw affected devices running Windows 11 version 25H2: after installing KB5068966, Windows Update would again offer and apply the very same package every time the system checked for new updates.
In the support documentation for KB5068966 and in a Microsoft 365 Message Center notice, the company explains that affected devices “re-download and reinstall the same update when Windows Update checks for updates” following the installation of the November 11, 2025 hotfix. Although the problem did not impair system functionality, administrators and attentive users noticed it by comparing timestamps and entries in the update log.
The issue has now been resolved in the emergency hotfix KB5072753. The update is already being rolled out to all Windows 11 25H2 devices through Windows Update. As is standard for patches of this class, it installs over the existing system and requires no additional steps from the user beyond a routine restart when prompted.
KB5072753 is a cumulative release that includes the improvements and security fixes from November’s KB5068966. Microsoft stresses that there is no need to install earlier patches, as the new package fully supersedes them for the affected Windows 11 versions.
For administrators who have not yet deployed the November hotfix KB5068966 in their environments, Microsoft recommends applying the out-of-band KB5072753 directly to Windows 11 25H2 devices. This simplifies maintenance and prevents unnecessary clutter in update histories.
Meanwhile, the company continues to untangle issues within the Windows 10 ecosystem. Earlier this week, Microsoft released an emergency fix addressing failures during installation of November’s Extended Security Updates. On some systems, the process ended with error 0x800f0922 (CBS_E_INSTALLERS_FAILED), preventing users from receiving current patches.
A week before that, Microsoft corrected another unwelcome Windows 10 bug: following the October 2025 updates, supported systems began displaying erroneous warnings that the operating system had reached end of support. In Windows Update settings, users saw the message “Your version of Windows has reached end of support,” even though their devices remained fully covered and continued to receive security updates.
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