On Windows 10, Microsoft has changed the way quality updates and drivers are delivered to a device, and now, they download and install automatically regardless of the user decision.
Although this is a good approach to maintain devices updated with the latest features, security patches, and enhancements, no every update rolls out with the guaranteed that it’ll work flawlessly. In addition, the other issue is that if you try to remove a problematic update, Windows Update will reinstall them back the next time you restart your computer.
Luckily, Windows 10 includes a tool that allows you to remove and block system and driver updates until a new update becomes available.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to uninstall a problematic update or device driver, as well as the steps to block Windows 10 from temporarily reinstalling them back into your system.
- How to uninstall problematic updates on Windows 10
- How to block updates from reinstalling on Windows 10
How to uninstall problematic updates on Windows 10
If your Windows 10 device isn’t operating normally because of a system or driver update, you can use these steps below to uninstall an update or driver.
Uninstalling device driver update
Use these steps to remove a driver on Windows 10:
- Open Start.
- Search for Device Manager and click the top result open the app.
- Expand the branch with device having the issue.
- Right-click the device having the problem and click the Uninstall option.
- Check the Delete the driver software from this device option (if applicable).
After you complete the steps, the device driver will be removed from your computer.
Open Start.
Search for Device Manager and click the top result open the app.
Expand the branch with device having the issue.
Right-click the device having the problem and click the Uninstall option.
Check the Delete the driver software from this device option (if applicable).
Uninstalling Windows 10 update
Use these steps to uninstall an update on Windows 10:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click on View update history.
- View update history option on Windows 10
- Click on Uninstall updates.
- Uninstall update options
- Select the problematic update and click the Uninstall button.
- Click the Yes button.
Once you complete the steps, the update will be removed from your computer.
Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click on View update history.
View update history option on Windows 10
Click on Uninstall updates.
Uninstall update options
Select the problematic update and click the Uninstall button.
How to block updates from reinstalling on Windows 10
On an effort to temporarily block a system update or driver from being reinstalled again the next time new Windows updates are available, Microsoft has released a troubleshooter tool that allows you to hide and show drivers and updates in Windows 10.
Use these steps to hide an update or driver from reinstalling on your computer:
- Download the Show or hide updates troubleshooter from the Microsoft Download Center.
- Open your download folder and double-click the wushowhide.diagcab file to open the troubleshooter.
- Click the Next button.
- Click the Hide updates option.
- Select the updates and drivers Window1 10 should not install.
- Click the Next button.
- Click the Close button.
Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 won’t try to download and install the updates again until a newer update releases.
Download the Show or hide updates troubleshooter from the Microsoft Download Center.
Open your download folder and double-click the wushowhide.diagcab file to open the troubleshooter.
Click the Next button.
Click the Hide updates option.
Select the updates and drivers Window1 10 should not install.
Click the Close button.
Allowing blocked updates on Windows 10
If the problem has been solved with the update or driver in question, you can show it back to Windows 10 for installation.
Use these steps to allow blocked updates on Windows 10.
- Download the Show or hide updates troubleshooter from the Microsoft Download Center.
- Open your download folder and double-click the wushowhide.diagcab file to open the troubleshooter.
- Click the Next button.
- Click the Show hidden updates option.
- Select the update and driver that you have previously hidden, and click Next.
- Click the Close button.
After the operation completes, the Windows update or driver should be available again through Windows Update for installation.
Click the Show hidden updates option.
Select the update and driver that you have previously hidden, and click Next.
Update July 11, 2019: This guide was originally published in December 2015, and it’s been revised for the latest version of Windows 10.
