Windows 10 Media Creation Tool Not Working: How To Fix

Software distribution is nowadays mostly digital, and even Microsoft changed its approach with Windows 10. However, Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, the best tool for the job, isn’t as flawless as one would imagine.

Occasionally, it prompts users with the There was a problem running this tool message in Windows 10. The error is mostly followed by the alphanumeric error code which varies.

🔵Why is Windows Media Creation Tool not working?

The Windows media creation tool not working on a USB flash or the .exe file for various reasons. Some of these reasons include:

• Lack of required privilege – Some programs require administrative privileges to run. And this is one of them. So, if the Windows media creation tool is not opening, try running it as an admin.
• Interference from antivirus – Antiviruses can sometimes raise false alarms and flag a totally safe file. This might be why you are getting the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, there was a problem running this tool error message. To solve this, you need to disable your antivirus temporarily.
• Insufficient storage space – To make the jump to Windows 10, you need to have enough space on your PC and make sure all the requirements are met.

Moreover, here are some variations of the error that you may encounter:

• Windows 10 media creation tool not working error code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000
• Windows 10 media creation tool not compatible
• Media creation tool there was a problem running this tool
• Windows 10 media creation tool not working on Windows 7 – media creation tool 21h2 not working Windows 7
• We’re not sure what happened but we’re unable to run this tool on your pc

Why Media Creation Tool is not opening?

Problems with Media Creation Tool not opening can be caused by the error 0x80072f8f – 0x20000, which is triggered by the TLS 1.2 being turned off.

If you can’t even get the app to launch, it’s either because the app files are corrupt, in which case you’ll have to fix/restore them.

Another common issue that prevents Media Creation Tool from opening is not having the correct permissions. Some apps require admin right to run properly.

Consider changing your background apps as well. Sometimes an app may not launch because it has not closed properly and is still running in the background.

How do I fix Windows Media Creation Tool if it’s not working?

➡️ Before exploring the fixes in this guide, don’t hesitate to precheck:

• Ensure that you have no external device connected to your PC.
• If that does not fix the issue, check that you have enough space and maybe try the Media Creation Tool on another PC.

If these do not work, you can now proceed to the fixes below.

1. Run the Windows Media Creation tool as Admin (worked for most users ✅)

Certain programs need special permission in order to access and change system-related settings. Now, even though the Media Creation Tool is provided by Microsoft, just a simple double-click won’t suffice. Especially on older Windows versions.

In order to avoid the Windows Media Creation Tool not working error code 0x80072f8f – 0x20000, ensure to run it as an administrator.

1. Download the Media Creation tool installation file.

2. Right-click the setup file and open Properties.

3. Click the Compatibility tab at the top and choose Run this program in compatibility mode for under Compatibility mode.

4. From the drop-down menu, choose Windows 7.

5. Now, check the Run this program as an administrator and click Apply followed by OK to save the changes.

Of course, you will have to provide the administrator credentials for this solution to work.

2. Disable your antivirus

1. Click the Start icon, type virus, and select Virus & threat protection.
   
2. Choose the Manage settings option.
   
3. Now, toggle the switch for Real-time protection backward to disable it.
   

Sometimes, your antivirus might be the one preventing the Media Creation Tool from working. The steps above will help you disable the built-in security tool on Windows.

If you have a third-party antivirus, it is advised you disable it within the app or remove it completely. However, it must be noted that it is not safe to use your system without security software for long.

So, make sure you enable it as soon as you finish running the Media Creation Tool.

Read more about this topic

• How to use the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool
• Media Creation Tool: Access denied on Windows 10/11 ISO to USB
• [SOLVED] This tool can’t update your PC

3. Enable the required services

1. Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc, and click OK.
   
2. Right-click the Windows Update service and select Start.
   
3. If the service is running, choose the Restart option instead.
   
4. Repeat the Steps 2 and 3 for the services below:
   • Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
   • Server
   • IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
   • TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
   • Workstation

Many users turn to Media Creation Tool when they want to speed up the upgrade to a major build.

Now, this tool, just like the Windows Update feature, uses update-related services and it heavily depends on their performance. Services like BITS are of utmost importance, even for a non-native application like Media Creation Tool.

So, you need to keep these services running to prevent any issues.

4. Tweak the Registry

1. Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
   
2. Choose File in the Menu bar and click Export to backup your registry.
3. Now, follow the path below in the left pane: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update
4. Right-click on the empty space and choose New > DWORD (32-bit).
5. 
6. Name the new dword AllowOSUpgrade, double-click it, and set its Value data to 1.     
7. Click OK and restart your PC.
   

Try running the Media Creation Tool again and see if it works. Follow the steps above carefully to avoid generating more errors. Corruption in the registry can cause BSoDS and app crashes.

In case something like that happens, we got you covered with our guide on how you can restore the registry without a backup. It is not difficult, but it may take some time.

5. Try a third-party tool instead

Finally, if you’re in possession of a Windows 10 ISO file, but can’t use Media Creation Tool to create bootable media, there’s always an alternative.

Most users would immediately turn to Rufus, which is a small, portable third-party tool.

With it, you should be able to create a bootable media USB and avoid the aforementioned errors with Media Creation Tool.

The Media Creation Tool is a great way to create operating system backups that will help you restore your data in case anything happens to your PC. So, when this tool stops working, it affects a lot of people.

We hope you were able to fix this problem with the solutions in this guide. Also, if you are facing the Media Creation Tool access denied ISO to USB issue, check our detailed guide to fix it quickly.

In case you have questions or alternative solutions regarding the Media Creation Tool error, it would be nice to share them with us in the comments section below.