Emily Bennett
How To Roll Back Windows Updates on Windows 10 and 11
Recently, Windows decided to shove some updates down your throat and now your system’s acting weird or crashing? Yeah, that stuff happens more than you’d think. Rolling back updates is sometimes the only way to get things back to normal, so here’s a rundown on how to do it without losing your mind.
Before You Dive In
Don’t forget — backup those important files. Because, of course, Windows has to make everything harder than it needs to be. Also, make sure you’ve got admin rights or this won’t go anywhere. And, it’s handy to check what version of Windows you’re running—hit Windows + R, type winver, hit Enter. Now, you know what you’re dealing with.
Method 1: Uninstall Problems Updates via Settings
So, if a recent update is causing crashes, you can try removing it directly from Windows. This kinda makes sense because you’re telling Windows to undo its last mess. If that doesn’t help, maybe the update is just buggy and your system is better off without it. Expect a small window of relief or possible reboots afterward. Sometimes, the update stays stubborn, but most times it does the trick.
- Click on the Start menu and go to Settings.
- Head over to Update & Security.
- Select View update history.
- Scroll down and click on Uninstall updates—this opens a list of the latest patches.
- Find the update that’s causing trouble. Usually, sort by Installed on date to narrow down recent ones.
- Highlight the problematic update and click Uninstall. Follow the prompts.
Uh, note that some updates, especially feature updates, might not be uninstallable this way. But for typical cumulative updates, it’s usually enough.
Method 2: Use System Restore (If Uninstalling Failed)
Because sometimes Windows updates aren’t the culprit directly, but the system’s just feeling off. System Restore can roll everything back to a point before this problem started. It’s kind of annoying to set up, but it’s like magic compared to manually removing stuff. Expect your system to jump back a few days or weeks — no personal files affected, mostly system files and settings.
- Click Start, type
create a restore point, and hit Enter. - In System Properties, go to the System Protection tab. (You might have to turn it on if it’s off — click Configure and toggle on).
- Set the disk space limit for restore points. Too small? It might delete old ones faster. Too big? More restore points, but takes more space.
- Click Create, name your point (something descriptive), then click Create again.
- When things go sideways later, go back, click System Restore, and pick that restore point to jump back in time.
Pro tip: System Restore is only as good as your restore points. If none are recent, then… well, you’re out of luck this way.
Method 3: Troubleshoot via Command Line (Advanced, but Useful)
Not everyone likes terminal commands, but sometimes, it’s the fastest fix. For example, if updates refuse to uninstall normally, you can use PowerShell or Command Prompt. On one setup it worked, on another, total fail. Weird stuff. Anyway, here’s the gist.
wmic qfe list brief /format:tableThat shows installed updates. To uninstall a specific update, find its KB number, then do:
wusa /uninstall /kb:XXXXXXReplace XXXXXX with the KB number. Usually, a reboot is necessary after.
Method 4: Clean Boot as a Last Resort
Sometimes a stubborn update or app conflict makes the system unstable. Doing a clean boot minimizes background stuff. It’s a bit overkill for simple rollback, but worth trying if other steps failed. You disable startup apps and services via msconfig:
- Press Windows + R, type
msconfig, press Enter. - Under Services, check Hide all Microsoft services and then Disable all.
- Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
- Disable everything you can. Restart.
Spoiler: this is kinda clunky, but sometimes it reveals where the issues come from.
Additional Tips & Warnings
Be aware that some updates are tightly integrated, and removing them might leave your system in a weird state. Also, if the update introduced a feature you actually want, rolling back might not be an option, only delaying it. If the machine keeps crashing or acting flaky, trying a full reset or clean install might be necessary — but that’s a last step.
Summary
- Backup your files first, always.
- Check your version with
winver. - Try uninstalling recent updates via Settings.
- If that flops, use System Restore — it’s like time travel for Windows.
- Command line can be handy, but beware of potential mess-ups.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Sometimes, just rolling back is the easiest fix before diving into more complex troubleshooting or fresh installs.