The Windows activation error code 0x80072F8F shows up when you try to activate Windows with the error message “a security error occurred”. Most of the times, the error arises due to a glitch in the date and time settings of your system. However, there could be other reasons also that be preventing the update or the activation, for instance, the Windows Firewall, an error with the DLL files, an incorrect proxy, or due to damaged files.
Fortunately, there are a couple of methods that may help fix the Windows activation error code: 0x80072F8F. Let’s learn more about the solutions.
Method 1: Correct the Date and Time Settings for Desktop
This method is for those using the Windows desktop mode. In this method, you will be adjusting the time and date settings of the system correctly, so that you can continue with the Windows update or activation with out any issues:
Step 1: Go to Start, right-click and select Run from the context menu.
Step 2: It will open the Run command window.
Now, type timedate.cpl in the search bar and hit Enter to open the Date and Time window in Control Panel.
Step 3: Under the Date and Time tab, click on the Change date and time button.
Step 4: Now, in the Date and Time Settings window, set the correct date and time.
Press OK to apply the changes.
*Note – Back in the Date and Time window, you can also select the correct time zone.
- Simply click on the Change time zone button below the Time zone section;
2. Next, in the Time Zone Settings window, select the correct time zone based on your current location from the drop-down in the Time zone section. Press OK to save the changes.
Step 5: Press Apply and then OK in the Date and Time dialogue box to save the changes and exit.
You should not see the error code 0x80072F8F anymore while completing the Windows update or the activation.
Method 2: Correct the Date and Time Settings for Windows RT
However, if you are working on Windows RT, then you can follow the below instructions to change the date and time settings of your system:
Step 1: In the Start main screen, type date and time.
Step 2: Click on the result – Change time and date settings to open the Date & time settings window.
Step 3: If the date and time is set to automatic, turn it off.
Step 4: Now, exit the Settings window and press the Win + R hotkeys to open Run command.
Step 5: In the Run command window, type timedate.cpl and press OK to open the Date and Time window.
Step 6: In the Date and Time window that opens, select the Date and Time tab and click on Change date and time button to set the correct date and time for your system.
*Note – You can also set the correct Time zone by pressing the Change time zone button and then making the changes.
Once the changes are made, check if the issue is resolved and you can update or activate your Windows system normally.
How to Activate Windows
If the problem is with activating your Windows OS and now that you have made the changes to the date and time settings, you can follow the below process to continue to activate your Windows:
Step 1: Go to Start and type slui.exe in the Windows search bar.
Click on the result to run the slui.exe command and the Activation window in the Settings app opens up.
Step 2: Now, enter your product key and continue to follow the on-screen instructions.
Once done, your Windows should be activated successfully.
Method 3:Change the Value Data of Registry Key
However, if the above methods fail to help you activate your Windows, then you can try editing the registry editor to check if it helps fix the Windows activation issue. Let’s see how:
Step 1: Press the Win + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard to launch the Run command window.
Step 2: In the Run command search bar, type regedit and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor window.
Step 3: In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the below path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE
Now, navigate to the right side of the window and look for the DWORD value – MediaBootInstall.
Double-click on it.
Step 4: In the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value dialogue box, set the Value data field to 0.
Press OK to save the changes and exit.
Step 5: Now, exit the Registry Editor window and right-click on Start.
Click on Run to open the Run command window.
Step 6: In the search field, type cmd and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together on your keyboard to open the elevated Command Prompt window.
Step 7: In the Command Prompt (admin) window, run the below command and hit Enter:
slmgr /rearm
If you see a success message, then press OK in the prompt to restart your PC for the changes to be effective.
This will activate your Windows now.
Method 4: Install Root Certificate Update
But, if you see the error code 0x80072F8F while updating Windows, installing the root certificate update cam help fix the issue in most cases. Simply follow the below process to install the root certificate update:
Step 1: Open your browser and visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
Step 2: Now, in the search field, type Root Certificate Update and click on Search.
Step 3: This will take you to the results page.
Here, you can click on the Download button next to the update.
Make sure you download the one that matches your PC version.
Once downloaded, open the setup file and follow the instructions to complete the installation. You can then run a Windows update to check if the Windows update issue is resolved.
Method 5: Disable Firewall Temporarily
Sometimes, the update may not complete due to the Firewall blocking the process. That’s when you come across the Windows update error 0x80072F8F. In such a case, you can try disabling the Firewall temporarily and check if that helps fix the issue:
Step 1: Press the Win + R shortcut keys on your keyboard to open the Run command window.
Step 2: In the Run command window, type firewall.cpl in the search field and hit Enter.
Step 3: This will open the Windows Defender Firewall window.
Now, go to the left side of the pane and click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
Step 4: Now, in the Customise Settings window, select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) under Private network settings.
Repeat this for the Public network settings as well.
Press OK to save the changes and exit.
Now, try installing the Windows update and it should go through normally.
Method 6: Re-register DLL Files
Chances are, that the Windows update fails and you see the error code 0x80072F8F due to corrupted DLL files. In this case, you can try re-registering the DLL files on your PC and see if this helps get rid of the error. Here’s how:
Step 1: Right-click on Start and select Run to launch the Run command box.
Step 2: In the Run command search bar, type cmd and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together on your PC to open the Command Prompt window with Admin rights.
Step 3: In the elevated Command Prompt window, type the below commands one after another and hit Enter after each one:
regsvr32 softpub.dll /s regsvr32 wintrust.dll /s regsvr32 initpki.dll /s regsvr32 mssip32.dll /s
Once the commands are executed, exit the Command Prompt window and reboot your PC for the changes to be effective.
If none of the above method fails to work and you still see the Windows update or activation error code 0x80072F8F , then you can try activating Windows through your phone. Alternatively, you can also seek assistance from the Microsoft technical support to activate Windows or update Windows.