Checking your PC’s date/time and temporarily turning off Window Firewall fixes the problem. Usually, an incorrectly set date/time or the Windows Firewall are to blame. Sometimes your PC will have trouble connecting to Windows Update and return error code 0x80072efe. Disable them one at a time and check to see if Windows Update starts working again. For starters, disable any virus scanners you have running and check to see if you have any other firewalls running in Windows 7. If these fixes don’t work, you will have to explore other reasons why you cannot connect to Microsoft’s servers. If it works, remember to turn Windows Firewall back on. Most people find that one of these two fixes makes Windows Update work again. Restart your computer and try to connect to Windows Update again. Then, click the OK button and close any other windows you have open.

Click the option titled Turn Off Windows Firewall (Not Recommended). Locate the section of the window associated with the Home or Work (Private) Network Location Settings. This opens the Customize Settings window for Window Firewall. On the left hand side of the window, click on the link labeled Turn Window Firewall On or Off. Unless you are connecting to the Internet over a public network in your home, we are only interested in the Private network. One is Home or Work (Private) Networks and the other is Public Networks. You’ll notice that your networks are split into two types. Turn Off Windows Firewall to Fix Error 0x80072efeĬlick on Start>Control Panel>System and Security>Windows Firewall to open the Windows Firewall window.

Windows 7 80072efe