Nothing is more frustrating than installing a Windows update only to start running into issues like crashes, freezes, slower performance, boot failures, or even updates breaking graphics APIs and applications.
That’s one reason some users prefer to pause Windows updates altogether, but Microsoft can still automatically install certain updates from time to time.
The truth is that, despite Microsoft’s testing efforts, problematic updates still occur every now and then. While Windows always gets patches updates to fix the issues, you don’t always have to sit around waiting for an official solution.
If a recent Windows update is causing crashes, freezes, boot issues, or performance problems, you can uninstall the problematic update and restore your PC to a stable state.
That said, uninstalling Windows updates isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds. Depending on the type of update and the current state of your PC, some methods may work perfectly while others may throw errors or not be available at all.
That’s why I’ve looked for multiple ways to remove Windows updates. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the different methods to uninstall problematic Windows updates in Windows 11/10, including options for systems that won’t boot properly.
Table Of Contents
- How You Can Uninstall a Problematic Windows Update in Windows 11/10
- Method 1: Uninstall Updates Via Windows Settings
- Method 2: Remove Problematic Windows Updates Via Control Panel
- Method 3: Uninstall Windows Updates Using WUSA in Command Prompt
- Method 4: Uninstall from Safe Mode or Windows Recovery Environment
- Method 5: Uninstall Windows Updates Using DISM /Remove-Package
- What to Do If Windows Won’t Let You Uninstall an Update
- Tips for Managing Windows Updates
- Final Thoughts
How You Can Uninstall a Problematic Windows Update in Windows 11/10
Before uninstalling an update, note the KB number and create a System Restore Point if possible to back up your system’s current state. Microsoft occasionally releases fixes shortly after problematic updates, so checking the official release notes can help you determine whether uninstalling the update is actually necessary.
If you’re still proceeding with the rollback, it’s a good idea to pause Windows updates first to prevent Windows from automatically reinstalling the update you just removed. To do this, go to Settings > Windows Update and use the Pause updates option to extend updates for as long as you prefer.
Whether you’ve installed a Windows update you don’t want, are experiencing issues after an update, or Windows automatically installed one for you, there are several ways to remove it. Below are the most common methods you can use to uninstall a Windows update in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Method 1: Uninstall Updates Via Windows Settings
The most basic way to uninstall problematic updates is through the Windows Settings app:
1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app on your PC.
2. Select Windows Update from the sidebar in Windows 11. In Windows 10, click Update & Security and then select Windows Update.
3. Click Update history (Windows 11) or View update history (Windows 10).
4. Scroll down and select Uninstall updates.
5. Find the update that was installed shortly before the issue started occurring (you can use the installation date and KB number to identify it), select it, and click Uninstall. Click Uninstall again.
6. Once the process is complete, restart your PC.
Method 2: Remove Problematic Windows Updates Via Control Panel
To remove Windows Updates via Control Panel:
1. Press Windows + R to open the Run command.
2. Type appwiz.cpl and click Enter.
3. Select View installed updates and you’ll be presented with the Uninstall updates page.
4. Click Uninstall right next to the problematic update, then click Uninstall again.
5. Restart your PC after.
Method 3: Uninstall Windows Updates Using WUSA in Command Prompt
If you’re unable to remove an update through Settings or Control Panel, you can use the Windows Update Standalone Installer (WUSA) from Command Prompt. This method allows you to uninstall a specific update using its KB number.
1. Search for Command Prompt in Windows Search, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
2. To view recently installed updates and their KB numbers, open Update History in Windows Settings or run the following command in PowerShell as an admin:
Get-HotFix | Select-Object HotFixID, InstalledOn, Description | Sort-Object InstalledOn -Descending
3. After finding the KB number of the update you want to remove, run the following command in CMD, replacing Number with the actual KB number (without the K and the B) of the update you want to remove:
wusa /uninstall /kb:Number
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstall process.
5. Restart your PC when prompted.
Method 4: Uninstall from Safe Mode or Windows Recovery Environment
If Windows won’t boot normally after an update, you can remove the update from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
To uninstall an update from Windows Recovery Environment:
1. Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds to turn off your PC.
2. Turn on the PC and when you see the Windows logo (or your manufacturer’s logo), press and hold the power button again for about 10 seconds to force it to shut down.
3. Repeat the previous step one more time.
4. Now turn on the PC again. Windows should automatically boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
5. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot, then click Advanced options.
6. Under the Advanced options page, click Uninstall Updates and choose whether to uninstall the latest quality update or the latest feature update.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstall process.
8. Once the update has been removed, restart your PC and check if the issue has been resolved.
Method 5: Uninstall Windows Updates Using DISM /Remove-Package
If the update can’t be removed using the approaches above, you can use the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool to remove the update package directly. This is an advanced method because you’ll need to identify the package associated with the update first.
1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Search for cmd in the Start menu, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Find the package name of the update you want to remove by running:
dism /online /get-packages | findstr KBXXXXXXX
Replace KBXXXXXXX with the KB number of the update you want to uninstall.
3. Note the package identity returned by the command.
4. Use the package identity to remove the update:
dism /online /remove-package /packagename:<PackageIdentity>
Replace with the full package identity shown in the previous step.
5. Wait for DISM to complete the removal process.
6. Restart your computer to finish uninstalling the update.
What to Do If Windows Won’t Let You Uninstall an Update
If you’re getting an error when trying to uninstall an update using any of the methods above, especially through the Settings app, the issue may be caused by Windows Sandbox being enabled.
In some cases, Windows Sandbox creates a container base layer that prevents certain updates from being removed properly. Temporarily disabling the feature can resolve the issue.
To do this:
1. Search for Turn Windows features on or off and open it.
2. Uncheck Windows Sandbox.
3. Click OK and restart your PC.
4. Try uninstalling the update again using your preferred method.
Once the update has been successfully removed, you can re-enable Windows Sandbox if needed.
Tips for Managing Windows Updates
Pause Windows Updates
If you’re planning to remove an update, consider pausing Windows Updates first. This prevents Windows from automatically downloading and reinstalling the same update before you’ve finished troubleshooting.
Check Whether the Update Can Be Uninstalled
Not every Windows update can be removed. Microsoft occasionally notes in an update’s release notes whether it can be uninstalled and what limitations apply. Before spending time troubleshooting uninstall errors, check the update’s official release notes.
The Issue May Not Be the Update Itself
Just because a problem appeared after a Windows update doesn’t always mean the update is responsible. The update may have exposed an existing issue such as:
- Driver conflicts
- Corrupted system files
- Incompatible applications
- Antivirus software conflicts
- Hardware issues
Before uninstalling an update, try basic troubleshooting steps such as updating drivers, running System File Checker (SFC), checking Event Viewer for errors, or testing whether the issue occurs in Safe Mode.
If You Can’t Find the Update in Windows Settings
If a specific update no longer appears in the Uninstall Updates list, it may have been replaced by a newer cumulative update. In that case, you may need to uninstall the newer update instead, as Windows often supersedes older updates with more recent releases.
Some Combined Updates Cannot Be Removed Using WUSA
Microsoft now packages some Servicing Stack Updates (SSUs) together with Latest Cumulative Updates (LCUs). If you’re trying to remove an LCU from one of these combined packages, the Windows Update Standalone Installer (WUSA) may not work.
In that situation, you may need to use the DISM /Remove-Package command and specify the package name of the LCU – or better still just leave it. This is because the combined package contains the Servicing Stack Update, so running WUSA with the /uninstall may fail as Microsoft does not allow the SSU portion to be removed after installation.
Final Thoughts
Uninstalling Windows updates should usually be a last resort, especially when it comes to security updates. Microsoft often releases follow-up updates to fix issues found in previous releases.
That said, if a recent update is causing crashes, boot issues, or other problems on your PC, you can use the methods in this guide to roll back the update and get your system working properly again.
