Hide a Problem Update with wushowhide and Resume Safe Updating in Windows 10/11
Difficulty: Intermediate |
Time Required: 15 minutes
Windows Update is usually one of the best ways to keep your PC secure and stable, but every now and then a specific update causes trouble. Maybe a new driver breaks audio, a cumulative update causes startup errors, or a preview patch introduces bugs you do not want. When that happens, simply pausing updates is only a temporary fix. As soon as updates resume, Windows may try to install the same problematic update again.
That is where
wushowhide helps. Microsoft’s
Show or hide updates troubleshooter lets you block a specific update so Windows Update skips it, while still allowing other safe updates to install. In this guide, you will learn how to hide a bad update, keep your system protected, and later unhide the update when Microsoft releases a fix.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
- A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC
- Administrator access
- A known update, driver, or patch you want to block
- An internet connection to download the wushowhide troubleshooter
- Optional: a recent restore point or system backup for extra safety
Note: wushowhide is not built into current Windows 10 or Windows 11 installations. It is a small Microsoft troubleshooter package that must be downloaded separately.
Version info: This method is most useful on Windows 10 and Windows 11 when Windows Update repeatedly offers a problematic driver or cumulative update. On fully managed business devices controlled by Group Policy, WSUS, or Microsoft Intune, update behavior may be restricted by your organization.
When Should You Use wushowhide?
Use this method if:
- A driver update causes device problems
- A Windows update repeatedly fails or causes instability
- You want to block one specific update without disabling all updates
- You have already removed or rolled back the bad update and want to stop it from reinstalling immediately
Do
not use this as a permanent substitute for updating. Hidden updates should be reviewed later after Microsoft or the hardware vendor releases a corrected version.
Step-by-Step: Hide a Problem Update
1. Identify the update causing the issue
Before hiding anything, confirm which update is responsible.
To check recent updates:
- Open Settings
- Go to Windows Update
- Select Update history
Look for:
- Quality Updates
- Driver Updates
- Definition Updates
- Other Updates
Write down the
KB number if it is a Windows update, such as
KB503xxxx, or note the name of the driver update.
Tip: If the issue started after a driver update, also check Device Manager and your device’s Driver tab for recent changes.
2. Remove or roll back the problematic update first
If the update is already installed and causing problems, hiding it alone is not enough. You should remove or roll it back first.
For a Windows quality update:
- Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history
- Click Uninstall updates
- Find the problematic update by KB number
- Select it and click Uninstall
- Restart your PC if prompted
For a driver update:
- Right-click Start and choose Device Manager
- Expand the affected hardware category
- Right-click the device and choose Properties
- Open the Driver tab
- Click Roll Back Driver if available
If rollback is not available, you may need to uninstall the device driver and reinstall a stable version from the manufacturer.
Warning: Only uninstall or roll back updates you are confident are causing the issue. Removing security updates unnecessarily can expose your system to risk.
3. Download the wushowhide troubleshooter
Microsoft’s package is commonly called
wushowhide.diagcab.
- Download Show or hide updates from Microsoft’s support source or a trusted Microsoft-hosted link
- Save the file somewhere easy to find, such as Downloads
- Double-click wushowhide.diagcab to launch it
If prompted by User Account Control, choose
Yes.
Note: If your browser warns about the file, verify that the source is Microsoft before proceeding.
4. Start the update scan
Once the troubleshooter opens:
- Click Next
- Wait while it scans your system for available updates
This may take a minute or two depending on your device and connection.
After scanning, you will see two main options:
- Hide updates
- Show hidden updates
Choose
Hide updates.
5. Select the update you want to block
wushowhide will display a list of updates that Windows currently wants to install.
- Check the box next to the update or driver you want to hide
- Confirm you selected the correct item
- Click Next
The troubleshooter will apply the hide action and then report that the issue is fixed.
Tip: If you are blocking a driver, the update name may include the hardware vendor, such as Intel, Realtek, NVIDIA, AMD, or Synaptics.
Warning: Do not hide every available update. Only block the one that is known to cause trouble.
6. Verify that the update is hidden
After completing the tool:
- Return to Settings > Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- Watch the offered updates list
If the hide action worked, Windows should no longer offer that specific update, while other safe updates continue normally.
This is the key benefit of wushowhide: you can keep receiving important updates without reinstalling the bad one.
7. Resume normal updating
If you previously paused updates, now is the time to turn them back on.
- Open Settings > Windows Update
- If updates are paused, click Resume updates
- Let Windows search for and install other available patches
Review the list carefully to make sure the hidden update does not return.
Tip: After resuming updates, restart your PC and recheck Windows Update once more to confirm everything is stable.
How to Unhide an Update Later
At some point, Microsoft or the device manufacturer may release a corrected version. When you are ready to try again:
- Run wushowhide.diagcab again
- Click Next
- Choose Show hidden updates
- Select the update you want to restore
- Click Next
- Return to Windows Update and click Check for updates
Windows can now offer that update again.
Best practice: Wait until you have confirmed from Microsoft release notes, vendor documentation, or trusted user reports that the issue has been resolved.
Tips and Troubleshooting
If the update does not appear in wushowhide
Try these steps:
- Run Check for updates first so Windows refreshes the update list
- Restart your PC and open wushowhide again
- Make sure the update is not already installed
- If it is a driver, disconnect the device from the internet temporarily and install the correct driver manually from the manufacturer
If Windows keeps reinstalling the driver anyway
Some drivers return through manufacturer utilities or automatic device setup. You may need to:
- Install the stable driver manually from the PC or hardware maker
- Disable the vendor’s auto-update tool
- Use System Properties > Hardware > Device Installation Settings to reduce automatic driver replacement in some scenarios
If the bad update is a Preview update
Preview updates are optional non-security releases. In many cases, the easiest fix is simply
not to install them. If one was already installed and caused issues, uninstall it and hide it until a newer cumulative update replaces it.
If your PC is managed by work or school
wushowhide may be less effective if update policies are enforced by:
- Group Policy
- Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)
- Microsoft Intune
- Other endpoint management software
In that case, contact your IT administrator.
Keep security in mind
Hiding an update should usually be temporary. If the hidden update is security-related, keep an eye on Microsoft guidance and install a corrected replacement as soon as it is safe.
Warning: Avoid leaving important security updates hidden for long periods unless there is a confirmed compatibility problem.
Extra Safety Recommendations
Before making update changes, consider these quick safety steps:
- Create a System Restore point
- Back up important files
- Note the exact KB number or driver version you removed
- Check the manufacturer’s support page for a stable replacement driver
These small steps make recovery much easier if something goes wrong.
Conclusion
Using
wushowhide is one of the simplest ways to deal with a single bad Windows update without shutting down the entire Windows Update system. Instead of pausing everything and falling behind on security patches, you can block the one update causing problems, restore stability, and continue installing the rest safely.
For Windows 10 and Windows 11 users, this is a practical middle-ground approach: remove the bad update, hide it, resume updates, and unhide it later when a fixed version is available.
Key Takeaways:
- Hide one problematic update without disabling all Windows updates
- Roll back or uninstall the bad update before hiding it
- Resume safe updating so security and reliability fixes continue
- Use Show hidden updates later when a corrected version is available
- This method works well for troublesome drivers and specific Windows patches
This tutorial was generated to help WindowsForum.com users get the most out of their Windows experience.