How to Uninstall Windows 10 Updates: A Comprehensive Guide
Windows 10 updates are designed to improve system stability, security, and performance. However, sometimes an update can cause unexpected issues, such as software incompatibility, driver conflicts, or even system crashes. In such cases, uninstalling the problematic update can be a viable solution to restore your system to its previous stable state. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various methods to uninstall Windows 10 updates, providing detailed steps and considerations for each approach.
Why Uninstall a Windows 10 Update?
Before diving into the methods, it’s crucial to understand why you might need to uninstall a Windows 10 update:
* **System Instability:** An update might introduce bugs or conflicts that lead to frequent crashes, freezes, or slow performance.
* **Software Incompatibility:** Certain applications might stop working correctly or become unstable after an update.
* **Driver Conflicts:** Updated drivers included in the update package might conflict with existing hardware drivers, causing device malfunctions.
* **Boot Problems:** In rare cases, an update can prevent your system from booting properly.
* **Performance Issues:** Updates might sometimes degrade system performance, especially on older hardware.
Important Considerations Before Uninstalling Updates
Before you proceed with uninstalling any update, keep the following points in mind:
* **Identify the Problematic Update:** Try to pinpoint which update is causing the issue. Check the update history (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history) to see which updates were recently installed. Usually, the date of installation correlates with when the issue started.
* **Back Up Your System:** It is always recommended to create a system backup or restore point before making significant changes to your system. This allows you to revert to a previous state if anything goes wrong during the uninstallation process.
* **Research the Update:** Before uninstalling, research the specific update to see if other users have reported similar issues and if there are any known fixes. Microsoft’s support website or relevant tech forums can be helpful resources.
* **Temporary Solution:** Uninstalling an update is often a temporary solution. Windows Update will likely try to reinstall the update automatically. You may need to pause updates or hide the problematic update to prevent it from being reinstalled.
* **Consider Alternatives:** Before resorting to uninstallation, explore other potential solutions, such as updating drivers, running the troubleshooter, or performing a system file check.
Methods to Uninstall Windows 10 Updates
Here are several methods to uninstall Windows 10 updates, ranging from the simplest to more advanced techniques:
Method 1: Uninstalling Updates via Settings App
The Settings app provides the most straightforward way to uninstall updates.
**Step 1: Open the Settings App**
* Click on the Start button.
* Click on the Settings icon (gear icon).
**Step 2: Navigate to Update & Security**
* In the Settings app, click on “Update & Security”.
**Step 3: Access Update History**
* In the left-hand menu, make sure “Windows Update” is selected.
* Click on “View update history”.
**Step 4: Uninstall Updates**
* Click on “Uninstall updates” at the top of the “View update history” window. This will open the “Uninstall an update” control panel.
**Step 5: Select and Uninstall the Update**
* In the “Uninstall an update” window, you’ll see a list of installed updates. Identify the update you want to uninstall. Updates are usually listed with their Knowledge Base (KB) number (e.g., KB5000000).
* Click on the update you want to uninstall to select it.
* Click the “Uninstall” button at the top of the list or right-click the update and select “Uninstall”.
**Step 6: Confirm and Restart**
* A confirmation dialog will appear. Click “Yes” to confirm the uninstallation.
* Windows will uninstall the update. This process might take some time.
* Once the uninstallation is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Click “Restart Now” to complete the process. If you prefer to restart later, you can choose “Restart Later”, but the changes will not take effect until you restart.
Method 2: Uninstalling Updates via Command Prompt
The Command Prompt offers a more technical, but sometimes more effective, way to uninstall updates. This is particularly useful if the Settings app method fails.
**Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator**
* Click on the Start button.
* Type “cmd” or “command prompt” in the search bar.
* Right-click on “Command Prompt” in the search results and select “Run as administrator”.
* Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
**Step 2: List Installed Updates**
* In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
wmic qfe list brief /format:table
* This command will display a table of installed updates, including the HotFixID (KB number) and the InstalledOn date.
**Step 3: Uninstall the Update**
* Identify the HotFixID (KB number) of the update you want to uninstall.
* Type the following command and press Enter, replacing `KBnumber` with the actual KB number of the update:
wusa /uninstall /kb:KBnumber
For example, to uninstall update KB5000000, you would type:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5000000
**Step 4: Confirm and Restart**
* A Windows Update Standalone Installer window will appear, asking if you want to uninstall the update. Click “Yes”.
* Windows will uninstall the update. This process might take some time.
* Once the uninstallation is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Click “Restart Now” to complete the process. If you prefer to restart later, you can choose “Restart Later”, but the changes will not take effect until you restart.
Method 3: Uninstalling Feature Updates (Upgrading to a Previous Version)
Feature updates are major Windows 10 updates that introduce new features and improvements. If a feature update causes significant problems, you can revert to the previous version of Windows 10, but *only within a limited timeframe (usually 10 days after the update)*. After this period, the old installation files are typically removed to free up disk space.
**Step 1: Open the Settings App**
* Click on the Start button.
* Click on the Settings icon (gear icon).
**Step 2: Navigate to Update & Security**
* In the Settings app, click on “Update & Security”.
**Step 3: Access Recovery Options**
* In the left-hand menu, click on “Recovery”.
**Step 4: Go Back to the Previous Version of Windows 10**
* Under “Go back to the previous version of Windows 10”, click on the “Get started” button. If this option is not available, it means either you’ve passed the time limit or the necessary files have been removed.
**Step 5: Follow the On-Screen Instructions**
* A series of screens will appear asking why you’re going back to the previous version. Select the reason that best describes your situation and click “Next”.
* Windows will remind you to back up your files before proceeding. It’s crucial to have a backup in case something goes wrong. Click “Next”.
* Windows will ask if you tried installing any updates recently. Click “No, thanks”.
* You’ll see a warning that you’ll need your old password (if you used one) to log in to the previous version of Windows. Click “Next”.
* Finally, click “Go back to earlier build”.
**Step 6: Wait for the Process to Complete**
* Your computer will restart and begin the process of reverting to the previous version of Windows 10. This process can take a significant amount of time, so be patient and do not interrupt it.
* Once the process is complete, your computer will boot into the previous version of Windows 10.
Preventing Updates from Reinstalling
After uninstalling an update, Windows Update will often try to reinstall it automatically. To prevent this, you can either pause updates or hide the problematic update.
Pausing Updates
Pausing updates temporarily prevents Windows from installing any new updates.
**Step 1: Open the Settings App**
* Click on the Start button.
* Click on the Settings icon (gear icon).
**Step 2: Navigate to Update & Security**
* In the Settings app, click on “Update & Security”.
**Step 3: Pause Updates**
* Under “Windows Update”, click on “Pause updates for 7 days”. You can pause updates multiple times, extending the pause period.
* Alternatively, you can click on “Advanced options” and select a date to pause updates until.
Hiding Problematic Updates
Microsoft provides a troubleshooter tool that allows you to hide specific updates from being installed.
**Step 1: Download the “Show or Hide Updates” Troubleshooter**
* Download the troubleshooter from Microsoft’s website. Search for “Show or hide updates troubleshooter windows 10” on your preferred search engine to find the official download link.
**Step 2: Run the Troubleshooter**
* Run the downloaded `wushowhide.diagcab` file.
* Click “Next” to start the troubleshooter.
**Step 3: Hide Updates**
* Click on “Hide updates”.
* The troubleshooter will scan for available updates.
* Select the update you want to hide from the list and click “Next”.
* The troubleshooter will prevent the selected update from being installed. Click “Close”.
Troubleshooting Update Uninstallation Issues
Sometimes, you might encounter issues while trying to uninstall updates. Here are some common problems and potential solutions:
* **Uninstall Button is Grayed Out:**
* The update might be a critical security update that cannot be uninstalled.
* Try running the System File Checker (SFC) tool to repair corrupted system files. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type `sfc /scannow` and press Enter.
* **Error Messages During Uninstallation:**
* Note down the error message and search online for solutions specific to that error code.
* Try uninstalling the update in Safe Mode. Restart your computer and press F8 (or Shift+F8) repeatedly during startup to enter Safe Mode. Then, try uninstalling the update using Method 1 or Method 2.
* **Update Reinstalls Automatically:**
* Use the “Show or Hide Updates” troubleshooter to hide the problematic update.
* Configure your metered connection if you are on a wifi network, this prevents automatic downloads of updates. Settings->Network & Internet->Wifi. Select the wifi network and turn on ‘Set as metered connection’
* **Go Back to Previous Version Option is Missing:**
* You might have exceeded the 10-day grace period after installing the feature update.
* The `Windows.old` folder, which contains the files needed to revert to the previous version, might have been deleted. This folder is automatically deleted after a while to free up disk space.
Advanced Techniques (Use with Caution)
The following techniques are more advanced and should be used with caution, as they can potentially cause system instability if not performed correctly.
Using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)
DISM is a command-line tool that can be used to service Windows images. It can be used to uninstall updates, but it’s more complex than the other methods.
**Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator**
* Click on the Start button.
* Type “cmd” or “command prompt” in the search bar.
* Right-click on “Command Prompt” in the search results and select “Run as administrator”.
* Click “Yes” if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
**Step 2: List Installed Packages**
* In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
dism /online /get-packages
* This command will display a list of installed packages, including their Package Identity.
**Step 3: Identify the Package to Uninstall**
* Examine the list of packages and identify the one you want to uninstall. Look for packages with a description that matches the update you want to remove. The “Install Time” can help you identify the correct package.
* Note the full Package Identity string. It will look something like this: `Package_for_KB5000000~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.19041.1`
**Step 4: Uninstall the Package**
* Type the following command and press Enter, replacing `PackageIdentity` with the full Package Identity string you noted in the previous step:
dism /online /remove-package /PackageName:PackageIdentity /norestart
For example:
dism /online /remove-package /PackageName:Package_for_KB5000000~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.19041.1 /norestart
The `/norestart` option prevents the system from restarting automatically. You can remove this option if you want the system to restart immediately after the uninstallation.
**Step 5: Restart Your Computer**
* After the command completes successfully, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Editing the Registry (Extremely Advanced – Use with Extreme Caution)
**Warning:** Editing the registry can cause serious problems if not done correctly. Back up your registry before making any changes. Incorrect registry modifications can render your system unusable.
This method involves manually removing the update information from the Windows Registry. It’s generally not recommended unless you are highly experienced with registry editing.
**Step 1: Back Up the Registry**
* Click on the Start button.
* Type “regedit” in the search bar and press Enter.
* In Registry Editor, click on “File” and then “Export”.
* Choose a location to save the backup file and give it a descriptive name. Click “Save”.
**Step 2: Locate the Update Information**
* Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\Packages
* In the left-hand pane, you will see a list of packages. Each package represents an installed update. Look for the package that corresponds to the update you want to uninstall. You can identify the package by its name, which will typically include the KB number (e.g., `Package_for_KB5000000`).
**Step 3: Delete the Package Key**
* Right-click on the package key you identified and select “Delete”.
* A confirmation dialog will appear. Click “Yes” to confirm the deletion.
**Step 4: Remove Related Entries in the Registry (If Applicable)**
* Sometimes, there might be additional registry entries related to the update in other locations. Search the registry for the KB number of the update to find and delete any related entries. Be extremely careful when deleting registry entries, as deleting the wrong entry can cause system problems.
**Step 5: Restart Your Computer**
* After deleting the registry keys, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Conclusion
Uninstalling Windows 10 updates can be a helpful way to resolve issues caused by faulty updates. This guide has provided you with several methods to uninstall updates, ranging from the simple Settings app method to more advanced techniques using Command Prompt, DISM, and the Registry Editor. Remember to back up your system before making any changes, and always proceed with caution when using advanced techniques. By following these steps, you can effectively manage Windows 10 updates and maintain a stable and functional system. Always remember to research the update and weigh the risks and benefits before proceeding with the uninstallation. Good luck!