Uninstalling a Windows 10 update can be a lifesaver if your machine suddenly gets weird, crashes, or just behaves totally off after a recent update. Sometimes, those updates cause more problems than they solve — especially when a driver or feature breaks. The good news is, rolling back an update isn’t super hard, and it can often get things back to normal. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, and the process is a bit scattered across settings, so here’s a somewhat human way to do it without too much frustration.
How to Uninstall Windows 10 Update
Find what’s making trouble and get rid of it
Uninstalling an update basically means going into your system’s update history, finding the culprit, and trashing it. This can fix problems like system crashes, weird bugs, or just that the recent change feels more like a bug than a feature. It’s usually best done after you’ve noticed the issues right after an update, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, the update will be stubborn and reinstall itself—that’s why you might need to disable auto-updates temporarily or do a system restore later. But in most cases, just removing the latest updates does the trick and gets you back to familiar ground.
Steps to remove problematic updates in Windows 10
Open the Settings menu — the control hub of your PC
- Click on the Start menu.
- Select the gear icon to open Settings.
This is where all the magic begins. The Settings app hosts update controls and a bunch of other things. Navigating here is kinda the first step to undoing recent hiccups.
Head over to Update & Security
- Click on Update & Security.
This section is basically your update dashboard. It handles everything from checking for updates, viewing your update history, to troubleshooting and recovery options. Think of it as your update command center.
Check out your update history — see what’s been installed lately
- Click View update history.
Sifting through your update history is kinda like flipping through your digital diary of system changes. It shows all the updates installed, and that’s where you’ll spot the recent ones that might be causing trouble. On some setups, this can feel a little slow or buggy, but hang in there.
Uninstall updates — find the culprit and remove it
- Click on Uninstall updates. This link opens a list of recent updates.
This takes you to a mini control panel with a list of installed updates. From here, you pick the one that’s causing drama. For security updates, it’ll usually say “Security Update for Windows, ” while feature updates might be labeled with version numbers. It’s kinda trial and error, but you usually know which update went in right before the problems started.
Pick the update and actually remove it
- Locate the update that’s suspected to be the source of issues.
- Select it and click Uninstall.
Confirm the removal and wait. Sometimes Windows needs to restart, and that’s when you realize if it fixed things or not. On some machines, the uninstall process might be a little sluggish or require multiple reboots, but that’s normal. After it’s gone, your system should revert to a previous condition, hopefully without the bugs.
Extra tips for a smoother rollback
- Back up your data: Before messing with updates, make sure you’ve saved important stuff — just in case the rollback doesn’t go as planned.
- Check online for known issues: Sometimes, new updates bring widespread bugs. A quick search can tell if others are also regretting installing that patch.
- Try Safe Mode if things go south: If you can’t even boot normally anymore, restart into Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart, then troubleshoot > advanced options > startup settings > restart, then pick Safe Mode).From there, uninstall the update or do system restore.
- Disable automatic updates temporarily: To prevent Windows from reinstalling the same problematic update immediately, you can pause updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update — click Pause updates for 7 days or use the advanced options to set a longer pause.
- Consider System Restore: If uninstalling doesn’t fix things, rolling back to an earlier restore point might be necessary. Access this via Control Panel > System & Security > System > System Protection > System Restore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I uninstall all Windows 10 updates?
Most can be, but some critical updates are locked down to prevent uninstalling. Usually, security patches and major feature updates can be removed, but OS core patches might be stuck. If something’s really broken, try to remove the latest ones first.
Why would I need to uninstall an update?
If your PC suddenly acts weird, crashes, or incompatible with hardware/software after an update, removing that update might fix the mess. It’s sort of a ‘roll back to known good’ approach.
Will uninstalling updates delete my files?
Generally, no. Your personal docs and pics stay safe, but always back up first just in case. The process mainly affects system files and patches, not user data.
How long does it take?
Usually a handful of minutes — but on slower machines or if it takes a while to churn through the uninstall, expect more. Reboots are pretty standard here too.
Will the update reinstall itself?
Most likely, yes. Windows is eager to get its updates back unless you go into active settings to block it or disable auto-updates for a period. That’s why some folks also do a clean install or pause updates permanently if they’re dealing with stubborn bugs.
Summary
- Open Settings > Update & Security > View update history
- Click Uninstall updates
- Pick the offending update and uninstall it
- Consider disabling auto-updates if you don’t want it to reinstall right away
Wrap-up
Uninstalling a Windows 10 update isn’t a perfect fix, but it often helps when updates cause more trouble than they’re worth. Just remember to back up stuff first because sometimes these processes can hit a snag. Overall, it’s a decent way to get rid of a bad update and get your system back to a stable state. Just keep an eye out for future patches and bugs, and stay updated on known issues online. Fingers crossed, this stuff actually helps someone save a headache — it worked for me on a few machines, so hopefully it does the same for you.