Roll Back a Problematic Windows 11/10 Update and Block It Temporarily (wushowhide)

Roll Back a Problematic Windows 11/10 Update and Block It Temporarily (wushowhide)​

Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 20 minutes
Windows updates usually improve security and stability—but occasionally an update causes problems (boot loops, driver failures, broken Wi‑Fi, stuttering, blue screens, or app crashes). When that happens, the quickest path back to a stable PC is to uninstall the problematic update and then temporarily hide/block it so Windows Update doesn’t reinstall it immediately.
This tutorial walks you through a safe rollback on Windows 10 and Windows 11, then shows how to use Microsoft’s “Show or hide updates” troubleshooter (wushowhide.diagcab) to pause that specific update until a fixed revision is released.

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Prerequisites​

Before you start, gather the following:

• Admin account on the PC
• Internet access (to download the wushowhide tool)
• Know which update is causing trouble:
  • It’s typically a cumulative update (e.g., KB503xxxx) or a driver update.
• Optional but strongly recommended:
  • System Restore enabled (or at least a backup)

Note (Windows 11/10 versions):
The UI differs slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the steps below apply to both. Where menus differ, both paths are provided.

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Step-by-step: Identify the problem update (KB number)​

1. Open Settings:
   • Windows 11: Start → Settings
   • Windows 10: Start → Settings
2. Go to:
   • Windows 11: Windows Update → Update history
   • Windows 10: Update & Security → Windows Update → View update history
3. Look for updates installed around the time the issues began.
4. Write down the KB number (example: KB5034123) or note if it’s a driver update (e.g., Intel / NVIDIA / Realtek).

Tip: If you’re unsure which update caused it, focus on:

• The most recent “Quality Updates” (cumulative updates)
• Any recently installed drivers from Windows Update

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Step-by-step: Roll back (uninstall) the problematic update​

Option A (Recommended): Uninstall from Settings / Control Panel​

1. In Update history, select Uninstall updates.
   • Windows 11: usually opens the classic “Installed Updates” Control Panel page
   • Windows 10: same
2. Find the update in the list (sort by Installed On if needed).
3. Select the update (the one with the KB number you identified).
4. Click Uninstall.
5. Confirm, then restart when prompted.

Warning: Don’t uninstall Servicing Stack Updates (SSU) if listed separately—they usually don’t appear as uninstallable anyway. Also be careful with Feature Updates (see next option).

Option B: Roll back a Feature Update (Windows 10/11 “version upgrade”)​

If the issue began right after a major upgrade (e.g., Windows 11 23H2 to 24H2, or Windows 10 21H2 to 22H2), uninstalling a KB may not help—you may need to roll back the feature update:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to:
   • Windows 11: System → Recovery
   • Windows 10: Update & Security → Recovery
3. Look for:
   • Windows 11: Go back
   • Windows 10: Go back to the previous version of Windows 10
4. Follow prompts and restart.

Important: The “Go back” option typically works only for a limited time after upgrading (often around 10 days, depending on system cleanup). If it’s gone, you may need a repair install or restore from backup.

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Step-by-step: Block the update temporarily with wushowhide​

Windows may try reinstalling the same update immediately. To stop that, use Microsoft’s hide tool.

1) Download wushowhide (“Show or hide updates” troubleshooter)​

1. Download wushowhide.diagcab from Microsoft’s support source (search: wushowhide.diagcab).
2. Save it somewhere easy, like Downloads or your Desktop.

Note: This is a Microsoft troubleshooter package. It still works for many Windows 10/11 scenarios, especially to hide driver updates and some problematic patches.

2) Run the tool and hide the update​

1. Double-click wushowhide.diagcab to launch it.
2. Select Advanced, then check Apply repairs automatically (recommended).
3. Click Next.
4. Choose Hide updates.
5. Wait for the scan to complete.
6. Check the box next to the problematic update:
   • A KB update (e.g., Cumulative Update for Windows… (KB503xxxx)), or
   • A driver update (e.g., Intel Corporation – Display – …)
7. Click Next → Close when it finishes.

That update is now “hidden,” so Windows Update should skip it during normal scans.

Tip: If the bad update does not appear in the list, run Windows Update → Check for updates once, then run wushowhide again. Some updates only show up after Windows detects them as applicable.

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Step-by-step: Confirm Windows Update is no longer offering it​

1. Go to Settings → Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Confirm the hidden update is not re-offered.

If Windows installs it anyway, see the troubleshooting section below.

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Tips, warnings, and troubleshooting​

Tip: Pause all updates temporarily (short-term stability)​

If you need breathing room while you troubleshoot:

• Windows 11/10: Settings → Windows Update → Pause updates
• Choose 1–5 weeks (options vary by edition/version)

This is not a long-term fix, but it prevents surprise reinstalls while you stabilize the system.

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Warning: Don’t stay unpatched forever​

Uninstalling/hiding updates can reduce stability or security over time. Best practice is to:

• Hide the update temporarily
• Re-test in a few weeks once Microsoft releases a revised cumulative update or your vendor updates the driver

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Troubleshooting: The update keeps coming back​

If the update reinstalls even after you hide it:

1. Restart and run wushowhide again to ensure it’s hidden.
2. If it’s a driver update, consider blocking driver delivery via Windows Update:
   • Control Panel → System → Advanced system settings → Hardware tab → Device Installation Settings
   • Select No (your device might not work as expected)
3. For stubborn cases (especially on Windows 11 Pro/Enterprise):
   • Use Group Policy:
     Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update
     Policies like deferring updates can help.
4. If the issue is a vendor driver (GPU/Wi‑Fi), install the latest driver directly from the manufacturer, then hide the Windows Update driver so it doesn’t replace it.

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Troubleshooting: You can’t uninstall the update​

Some updates won’t uninstall cleanly. Try:

1. Boot into Safe Mode, then attempt uninstall again.
2. Use the Recovery Environment:
   • Hold Shift while clicking Restart
   • Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates
3. If the PC is unstable, use System Restore:
   • Search Start for Create a restore point → System Restore

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Tip: Unhide later when a fix is available​

When you’re ready to try the update again:

1. Run wushowhide.diagcab
2. Choose Show hidden updates
3. Select the update and unhide it
4. Run Windows Update again

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Conclusion​

Rolling back a bad Windows update can quickly restore a stable, usable PC—and hiding the specific update with wushowhide prevents an immediate re-install loop while you wait for a corrected patch or updated driver. Used carefully, this approach helps you stay in control of your system without permanently disabling Windows Update.
Key Takeaways:

• Uninstall the problematic KB/driver update via Update History → Uninstall updates (or Recovery for feature updates).
• Use wushowhide.diagcab to hide the specific update so Windows Update doesn’t reinstall it.
• Pair hiding with temporary pause updates for short-term stability, then re-enable updates once a fix is available.

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This tutorial was generated to help WindowsForum.com users get the most out of their Windows experience.