Windows Update Error 0x80072EE7 — Server Name Not Found Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

The 0x80072EE7 error means Windows Update cannot reach Microsoft's servers. The error translates roughly to 'the server name or address could not be resolved.' This is a network problem, not a Windows problem. Your computer is either not connected to the internet, your DNS settings are broken, or something is blocking Windows Update from reaching the outside world. The fix is usually quick once you identify which of those is happening.

Affected Models

Windows 10
Windows 11
Windows 8.1

Common Causes

Your internet connection is down or unstable at the time Windows Update tried to connect
Your DNS server settings are wrong or the DNS server is not responding correctly
A VPN or proxy is active and is routing Windows Update traffic incorrectly
A firewall or security software on your computer is blocking connections to Microsoft's update servers
Your hosts file has been modified by malware or a previous program to block Microsoft domains

How to Fix It

Check your internet connection first. Open a web browser and try to load a website like google.com. If websites do not load, fix your internet connection before doing anything else.

If the internet works in a browser but not in Windows Update, the problem is specific to how Windows Update connects — continue with the steps below.
Flush your DNS cache and reset network settings. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands one at a time: ipconfig /flushdns — netsh winsock reset — netsh int ip reset — then restart your computer.

DNS cache stores old address lookups. Flushing it forces your computer to look up Microsoft's server addresses fresh. This fixes the error in many cases.
Temporarily disable any VPN or proxy. If you use a VPN app, turn it off. If a proxy is configured, go to Settings > Network and Internet > Proxy and toggle off 'Use a proxy server.' Then try Windows Update again.

VPNs and proxies route internet traffic through different servers. If the VPN server cannot reach Microsoft's update servers, Windows Update fails with this error.
Change your DNS server to a reliable public one. Go to Settings > Network and Internet > your connection > DNS server assignment. Set it to manual and enter 8.8.8.8 (primary) and 8.8.4.4 (secondary) — these are Google's public DNS servers.

Your ISP's DNS servers sometimes have outages or misconfigurations. Switching to a public DNS like Google or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) often resolves the issue.
Check your hosts file for modifications. Open Notepad as Administrator, then open the file at: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts — Look for any lines mentioning 'microsoft.com' or 'windowsupdate.com' and delete them.

Malware and some software tools modify the hosts file to block Microsoft domains. Any line in that file pointing microsoft.com to a wrong address will prevent Windows Update from connecting.

When to Call a Professional

If you have checked your internet connection, reset your DNS, and disabled any VPN or proxy and the error persists, your network may have a deeper configuration issue. An IT technician can check your router settings and DNS configuration. In workplace or school environments, IT administrators sometimes block Windows Update intentionally — contact your IT department rather than trying to fix it yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DNS server and why would it cause this error?

DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet's phone book. When Windows Update wants to connect to update.microsoft.com, it asks the DNS server to translate that name into a numeric IP address. If the DNS server is down, slow, or returns a wrong address, Windows Update cannot find Microsoft's servers. Switching to a reliable DNS server like Google's (8.8.8.8) bypasses the problem.

Can my antivirus block Windows Update?

Yes, some antivirus programs have a network shield or firewall that can accidentally block Windows Update traffic. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus and running Windows Update again. If it works with the antivirus off, the antivirus settings need to be adjusted to whitelist Windows Update. Check your antivirus vendor's support page for instructions on allowing Windows Update traffic.

What is the hosts file and is it safe to edit it?

The hosts file is a plain text file that lets your computer manually override DNS lookups. For example, it can force a domain name to point to a specific IP address. It was used in the early days of the internet before DNS existed. It is safe to edit if you know what you are doing — but only remove lines that look suspicious or reference Microsoft domains. Do not delete the standard lines at the top of the file that start with 127.0.0.1 or ::1.