You can delete most Windows updates, but the method depends on when you installed them
Windows updates sit on your hard drive taking up space even after they install. You can remove them through Settings if you act within a few weeks of installation — Windows keeps a backup of your previous system files for about 10 days by default, though this varies by your Windows version and available storage. After that window closes, the option to uninstall disappears and you would need to use other tools or reinstall Windows entirely.
The reason to delete an update is usually that it broke something: a printer stopped working, your monitor display looks wrong, or a program crashes. Removing the update rolls your system back to the version before it installed. This is different from pausing updates (which stops new ones from downloading) or hiding updates (which stops a specific one from reinstalling).
Key Takeaways
- You can uninstall updates through Settings > Update & Security > View update history > Uninstall updates, but only within about 10 days of installation.
- After the 10-day window closes, you can hide an update to prevent it from reinstalling, but you cannot remove the files it already placed on your system.
- Restarting your computer after uninstalling an update is required — the changes do not take effect until you restart.
- If an update broke something specific like a printer or display, uninstalling it usually fixes the problem within minutes.
- Windows automatically re-downloads and reinstalls hidden updates after several weeks, so hiding is temporary unless you also pause updates.
Uninstalling an update within the 10-day window
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select the Settings app. Go to Update & Security, then select View update history on the left side. You will see a list of recent updates with dates. Click Uninstall updates at the top of that page.
A new window opens showing installed updates. Look for the date of the update that caused your problem — updates are listed newest first. Click the one you want to remove, then click Uninstall at the top. Windows will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, Windows removes the update files and asks you to restart your computer. Restart when ready; the uninstall does not take effect until you do.
The whole process takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how large the update was. Your system will be slower during the uninstall. Do not turn off your computer or unplug it during this time.
Hiding an update after the 10-day window has passed
If you missed the uninstall window, you can prevent Windows from reinstalling a specific update by hiding it. Go back to Update & Security > View update history > Uninstall updates. Find the update you want to hide, right-click it, and select Hide update. Windows will no longer try to read and install that update.
Hiding is not the same as uninstalling — the update files remain on your hard drive and still take up space. You are only telling Windows to stop bothering you about it. If the update is causing a real problem (like a printer not working), hiding it will prevent the problem from coming back, but it will not free up the disk space the update occupies.
Windows will eventually re-read and reinstall a hidden update after several weeks, especially if you have automatic updates turned on. If you want the hide to stick, you should also pause updates for 35 days, which gives you time to find a permanent fix or contact the software maker.
Pausing updates while you troubleshoot
If an update broke something and you need time to figure out what to do, pause Windows updates temporarily. Go to Update & Security > Advanced options > Pause updates. You can pause for up to 35 days. During this time, Windows will not read or install any new updates, and it will not reinstall updates you have hidden.
Pausing is useful when you are waiting for the software maker to release a fix, or when you need to contact technical support and they ask you to stop installing updates while you troubleshoot. After 35 days, updates resume automatically whether you have fixed the problem or not.
Do not pause updates indefinitely. Your computer becomes more vulnerable to security problems the longer you go without patches. Once you have solved the problem — either by uninstalling the bad update, finding a workaround, or updating the broken software — resume updates.
When you cannot uninstall because Windows will not let you
Some updates, especially security updates and Windows system files, cannot be uninstalled through Settings. If you click an update and the Uninstall button is grayed out, Windows considers that update essential and will not let you remove it through the normal method.
Your options at this point are limited. You can try hiding the update and pausing Windows updates while you contact the software maker — for example, if a printer driver update broke your printer, contact the printer manufacturer and ask if they have a newer driver that works with the current Windows version. You can also try rolling back the driver for that specific device through Device Manager, which is different from uninstalling the Windows update itself.
If the update broke Windows itself and you cannot fix it any other way, you would need to reinstall Windows entirely, which erases your system files and starts fresh. This is a last resort and requires backing up your personal files first.
Checking how much space updates are using
Windows updates accumulate on your hard drive. To see how much space they occupy, go to Settings > System > Storage. Look for Temporary files — this includes old update files, cached downloads, and other temporary data. Click on it to see a breakdown. You can safely delete temporary files without harming your system, though this does not uninstall updates; it just cleans up the leftover pieces.
If you have uninstalled an update and want to make sure the old system files are gone, you can also run Disk Cleanup. Press the Windows key, type "Disk Cleanup", and open it. Select your C: drive, then check the box for Previous Windows installation(s). This removes the backup copy of your old system that Windows keeps for 10 days. Only do this if you are sure the update you uninstalled actually fixed your problem and you do not need to go back.
What happens to your files when you uninstall an update
Uninstalling a Windows update does not touch your personal files — documents, photos, emails, downloads, or anything in your user folder stays exactly where it is. The update removal only affects Windows system files and drivers. Your installed programs remain installed and your settings remain the same.
The only thing that changes is that your system rolls back to the version it was before the update installed. If the update broke a printer connection, uninstalling it restores the old printer driver. If the update changed how your display looks, uninstalling it restores the old display settings. If a program stopped working because of the update, uninstalling usually makes it work again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling an update make my computer less find?
Temporarily, yes — if the update you removed was a security patch, your computer is more vulnerable until you reinstall it or get a newer patch. If the update broke something and you need time to fix it, hide the update and pause Windows updates for a few weeks while you troubleshoot. Once you have solved the problem, resume updates so you get the security patch back.
Can I uninstall updates from more than 10 days ago?
Not through Settings. After 10 days, Windows deletes the backup copy of your old system files, so the Uninstall button disappears. You can hide the update to prevent it from reinstalling, but the files stay on your drive. Your only other option is to reinstall Windows entirely, which erases everything and starts fresh.
Why does Windows keep reinstalling an update I deleted?
If you uninstalled an update but did not hide it, Windows sees the missing update as a problem and automatically downloads and reinstalls it the next time it checks for updates. After you uninstall, go back to View update history and hide the update so Windows stops trying to put it back.
What is the difference between pausing updates and hiding updates?
Hiding stops a specific update from reinstalling. Pausing stops all updates from downloading or installing for up to 35 days. You can hide an update and then pause updates to make sure it does not come back while you troubleshoot. After 35 days, pausing ends automatically and updates resume.
Do I need to restart my computer right after uninstalling an update?
Yes. Windows will ask you to restart, and the uninstall does not take effect until you do. If you close the restart prompt and keep working, the old update files are still active and the problem is not fixed. Restart as soon as the prompt appears.