You can delete individual Windows updates, but the method depends on which update and when you installed it

Windows updates install automatically and are hard to remove once they settle in, but you have options depending on how recently the update arrived. If the update installed in the last day or two, you can uninstall it through Settings. If it's older, you'll need to use the Control Panel. If you want to stop Windows from installing a specific update in the future, you can hide it so Windows skips it on the next check.

The reason this matters: some updates cause problems with your hardware, software, or printer. Removing a problematic update buys you time while Microsoft works on a fix, though you'll want to check for a corrected version within a few weeks.

Key Takeaways

  • Recent updates (installed within the last week) uninstall fastest through Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced Options.
  • Older updates require the Control Panel path: Programs > Programs and Features > View installed updates.
  • You can hide specific updates so Windows won't install them again, using the Settings search for "View update history" and then "Uninstall updates."
  • After removing an update, restart your computer and check that the problem is actually solved before hiding it permanently.
  • Windows will eventually push the same update again unless you hide it, and hiding it means you won't get any fixes bundled with that update number.

Remove a recent update through Settings

If the update installed within the last week, this is the fastest route. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then press Enter. Click System in the left menu, then scroll down and click Recovery.

Under "Recovery options," click "Advanced options." You'll see a section called "Recovery" with a button labeled "Go back." This button only appears if you've installed updates recently enough. Click it, select "Keep my files," and Windows will remove the last few updates and restart. This is the gentlest method because it doesn't touch your files or programs.

If the "Go back" button doesn't appear, the update is too old for this method. Move to the Control Panel route instead.

Remove an older update through Control Panel

For updates installed more than a week ago, use the Control Panel. Press the Windows key, type "control panel," and press Enter. Click Programs, then click Programs and Features.

On the left side, click "View installed updates." A window opens showing every update Windows has installed. Scroll through the list to find the one causing problems — updates are listed by number (like "KB5034765") and date. Click the update you want to remove, then click Uninstall at the top. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Yes.

Windows will remove the update and ask you to restart. Do it right away. After restart, test whether the problem is actually solved before you hide the update permanently.

Hide an update so Windows won't install it again

Once you've confirmed that removing the update fixed your problem, you can hide it so Windows skips it during future update checks. This prevents the same problematic update from reinstalling automatically.

Press the Windows key and type "view update history," then press Enter. Click "Uninstall updates" at the top. Find the update you just removed, right-click it, and select "Hide update." Windows will remember this choice and won't offer that update again.

Be aware: hiding an update means you won't receive any fixes that Microsoft bundles into that update number later. If Microsoft releases a corrected version of the same update, it will have a different number, and you'll be able to install that one instead.

What to do if removing the update doesn't solve the problem

Sometimes the problem isn't actually the update. If you remove it and the issue persists, unhide the update and let Windows install it again. Then look for other causes — a driver that needs updating, a program conflict, or a hardware failure.

To unhide an update, go back to "View update history," click "Uninstall updates," then click "Restore hidden updates" at the top. Find the update you hid, right-click it, and select "Restore." Restart your computer and let Windows install it again on the next check.

Stop Windows from checking for updates temporarily

If you need breathing room to troubleshoot without Windows automatically reinstalling updates, you can pause updates for up to five weeks. Press the Windows key, type "pause updates," and press Enter. Click "Pause for 5 weeks" under the Update status section.

This buys you time to test whether an older update is actually the cause of your problem. When the pause expires, Windows resumes checking automatically. You can extend the pause or turn it off early by returning to the same screen.

Understand what you're giving up when you remove updates

Updates exist because they patch security holes, fix crashes, and improve performance. Removing one means you're unprotected against whatever that update fixed until you install a corrected version. This is usually fine for a few weeks, but don't leave a removed update hidden for months.

Check Microsoft's support site every week or two to see if a newer version of the update has been released. You can search by the update number (the KB number) to find what it was supposed to fix. If Microsoft has released a corrected version, it will have a different number, and you can install that one safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing an update break my computer?

No. Windows is designed to work without any single update. Removing one won't cause a crash or make your system unstable. The only risk is that you lose the specific security fix or bug fix that update provided, so you should reinstall a corrected version within a few weeks.

Can I remove Windows 10 or Windows 11 itself?

No. You can only remove individual updates, not the operating system version. If you want to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10, that's a different process involving a full reinstall and is beyond the scope of update removal.

What's the difference between hiding an update and uninstalling it?

Uninstalling removes it from your computer right now. Hiding tells Windows not to offer it again in the future. You need to do both: uninstall first to remove it, then hide it so it doesn't come back automatically.

How do I know which update is causing my problem?

Check the date the problem started. Go to "View update history" and look at what installed around that date. If multiple updates installed on the same day, remove them one at a time and restart between each removal to narrow it down.

Can I remove updates from older versions of Windows?

Yes, the Control Panel method works on Windows 7, 8, and 10. The Settings method only works on Windows 10 and 11. If you're on an older version, use Control Panel > Programs and Features > View installed updates.