How to Uninstall a Windows Update by KB Number in Windows 10 and 11

Aseem Kishore
9 min read

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How to Uninstall a Windows Update by KB Number in Windows 10 and 11

A Windows update such as “KB1234567” can make your PC crash, fail to start, or stop working with your hardware. Remove that package while leaving other updates alone.

Fix #1: Prepare the PC and Confirm the KB Number

  • Write down the full KB number from the error, support notice, or troubleshooting source. It should look like KB1234567.
  • Don’t choose an update just because it has a similar install date. Removing the wrong update can cause more problems.
  • Press Windows + R, enter winver, and select OK.
winver
  • Record the Windows version and OS build in the About Windows dialog. You’ll use them to confirm the rollback.
About Windows dialog showing the Windows version and OS build before removing an update
  • Copy important documents, photos, and work files to an external drive or trusted cloud storage.
  • If Device Encryption or BitLocker is on, save its 48-digit recovery key. Store it where you can reach it from another device. Windows Recovery may ask for the key before it unlocks the Windows drive.
  • Sign in with an administrator account. Windows may ask for its password or your approval during removal.

Warning: Uninstalling a quality update may also remove security fixes. Treat removal as a temporary test. Install Microsoft’s replacement update when one is available.

What Is a KB-Numbered Windows Update?

A KB number identifies a Microsoft Knowledge Base article tied to an update. Monthly quality, security, and some component updates use names such as KB1234567.

Removing a quality update targets one update package. It normally won’t roll Windows 11 back to Windows 10. It also won’t move Windows 11 version 24H2 to an earlier feature release. Windows uses the separate Go back option for that larger rollback.

Prerequisites

Make sure you have:

  • A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC
  • The complete KB number of the suspected update
  • An administrator account
  • A backup of important files
  • The BitLocker recovery key, if encryption is enabled
  • The current Windows version and OS build
  • Time to restart and test the original problem

Step-by-Step Guide

Fix #2: Find the Installed KB in Update History

  • On Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update.
Windows 11 Windows Update page with the Update history option visible
  • Select Update history.
  • Expand Quality Updates if the list is closed.
  • Find the entry with the exact KB number you recorded.
  • Check its name and install date, but use the full KB number. One wrong digit points to a different update.
Windows 11 Update history page showing KB-numbered quality updates with the complete suspected KB highlighted
  • On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Windows 10 Windows Update page with the View update history link visible
  • Select View update history.
  • Find the exact KB number under Quality Updates or the related update category.
Windows 10 update history showing KB-numbered entries with the suspected KB highlighted

Expected result: Update history shows an installed entry with the full KB number you plan to remove. If you can’t find an exact match, stop and check the number again.

Fix #3: Uninstall the Matching Update Through Settings

Use this method first if Windows starts normally. It targets the update and is usually the cleanest fix.

  • On Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
  • Scroll to Related settings and select Uninstall updates.
  • Find the exact KB number in the list of removable updates.
  • Select Uninstall beside that entry.
Windows 11 Uninstall updates page showing the matching KB entry and its Uninstall control
  • Select Uninstall again if Windows asks you to confirm.
  • Wait while Windows removes the package. Don’t turn off the PC, even if the progress display seems stuck.
  • Select Restart now if prompted.
  • On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history.
  • Select Uninstall updates to open the Installed Updates window.
  • Select the entry with the exact KB number.
  • Select Uninstall above the list. You can also right-click the entry and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 Installed Updates interface showing a selected KB-numbered update and the Uninstall action
  • Confirm the removal and restart the PC when prompted.

Expected result: Windows restarts, and the selected update disappears from the removable updates list. The “Working on updates” screen may stay open for a while. Give it time.

Fix #4: Remove the Latest Quality Update From Windows Recovery Environment

Use Windows Recovery Environment, or WinRE, when Windows can’t reach the desktop. WinRE usually removes the latest quality update. It doesn’t show a searchable list of every KB. Confirm that the suspected KB was the latest quality update before you continue.

  • If you can reach the sign-in screen, hold Shift, select Power, and choose Restart.
  • If Windows keeps failing to start, wait for Automatic Repair. Then select Advanced options.
  • If neither route works, start the PC from compatible Windows installation or recovery media. Select Repair your computer.
  • Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
Windows Recovery Environment Advanced options screen with Uninstall Updates highlighted
  • Select Uninstall Updates.
  • Select Uninstall latest quality update. Choose the feature update option only if you want to roll back a full Windows version.
Windows Recovery Environment Uninstall Updates screen with Uninstall latest quality update highlighted and distinguished from feature-update removal
  • Select the Windows installation or administrator account if prompted.
  • Enter the BitLocker recovery key if WinRE says the drive is locked.
  • Confirm Uninstall quality update.
  • Wait for the process to finish, then select Done.
  • Select Continue to start Windows normally.

Expected result: WinRE reports that it removed the latest quality update, and Windows reaches the sign-in screen. If removal fails, try the repair options in Fix #6.

Configuration and Recovery Options

Fix #5: Handle a Missing Uninstall Button or “Required” Update

An update can appear in history but be missing from the uninstall list. That’s frustrating. Removing an update with a nearby date won’t fix that.

  • Return to Settings > Windows Update > Update history and verify the full KB number.
  • Open Uninstall updates and look for that exact entry.
  • If the KB appears in history but not in the uninstall list, don’t remove another update with a nearby date.
  • If Windows says the update is “required,” stop the uninstall attempt. Windows doesn’t support removing that package through the available controls.
  • Restart the PC once to finish any pending update work. Then check the uninstall list again.
  • If the button is still missing, use a supported repair or recovery method.

Some servicing-stack, cumulative, built-in, or prerequisite updates can’t be removed by themselves. Your organization may also block update removal on a managed work PC.

Expected result: You find the supported Uninstall control or confirm that Windows treats the update as non-removable.

Fix #6: Repair or Reinstall the Current Windows 11 Version

Windows 11 may offer a Windows Update recovery option. It reinstalls the current version while keeping your apps, files, and settings. Your Windows version and device policy control whether the option appears.

This process takes longer than removing one package. I’d save it for a failed or unavailable uninstall.

  • Back up important files before starting.
  • Connect the PC to power and a reliable internet connection.
  • Open Settings > System > Recovery.
  • Find Fix problems using Windows Update or the current-version reinstall option.
Windows 11 Settings System Recovery page showing the current-version repair or reinstall area when available
  • Select Reinstall now.
  • Read the confirmation dialog. Leave automatic restart on only if you’re ready for an unattended restart.
  • Select OK to download and reinstall the current Windows version.
  • Keep the PC on until Windows finishes and restarts.

Expected result: Windows reinstalls its current version while keeping your files, installed apps, and settings. If the option is missing, use Windows installation media or another supported recovery method.

Fix #7: Use Go Back Only for a Feature Upgrade

Use Go back if a major Windows feature upgrade caused the problem. It rolls back the full feature version. Don’t use it to remove one KB-numbered quality update.

  • Open Settings > System > Recovery in Windows 11.
  • On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
  • Locate Go back.
Windows Recovery settings showing the Go back area as a separate feature-upgrade rollback option without assuming it is enabled
  • Check whether the button is available. Windows usually offers it for about 10 days after a feature upgrade. The previous version’s files must still be on the PC.
  • Select Go back only if you want to reverse the feature upgrade.
  • Follow the prompts, keep the PC connected to power, and let it restart.

Expected result: Windows returns to the previous feature version. If Go back is unavailable, the rollback period may have ended. Windows may also have deleted the previous version’s files.

Tips and Troubleshooting

Fix #8: Verify the Rollback and Restore Update Protection

A successful restart doesn’t prove that Windows removed the right package. Check the build, update list, and original problem.

  • Sign in after the restart.
  • Press Windows + R, enter winver, and select OK.
winver
  • Record the new OS build and compare it with the build you saved before removal.
About Windows dialog after rollback showing the Windows version and OS build for comparison
  • Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history in Windows 11. In Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history.
  • Confirm that the targeted KB is no longer installed. Update history may keep records of past events. Also check the current build and Uninstall updates list.
  • Try to reproduce the original crash, startup problem, or hardware failure.
  • If the problem is gone, check Windows Update and Microsoft’s release notes for a corrected or replacement update.
  • Install the replacement soon, then restart and test again.
  • Windows may offer the removed update again right away. If it still causes the problem, pause Windows Update while you wait for a corrected release.
  • Don’t disable Windows Update forever. Your PC would miss later security fixes.

Expected result: The build changes as expected, and your test confirms or rules out the original problem. You also have a plan to restore current security fixes.

Fix #9: Diagnose a Failed Uninstall Attempt

If the uninstall failed, don’t keep selecting the same button. A pending restart, locked drive, or non-removable package usually explains the failure.

  • Confirm that every digit in the KB number matches the entry in Update history.
  • Confirm that the update is still installed and appears in Uninstall updates.
  • Restart Windows to clear a pending reboot. Then retry the Settings method.
  • Sign in with an administrator account.
  • Disconnect extra USB storage, docks, and other devices before restarting.
  • Make sure the Windows drive has enough free space for update work and rollback files.
  • If Windows doesn’t start, open Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates in WinRE.
  • If WinRE asks for BitLocker details, enter the saved recovery key that matches the displayed key ID.
  • If Windows labels the update as required or never shows an uninstall control, stop trying to force its removal.
  • On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery and check for the current-version repair option.
  • If removal works but the problem remains, the KB probably wasn’t the cause. Check drivers, apps, firmware, disk errors, and other recent changes.
  • If Windows Update fails while you restore protection, run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter. Restart, then try the update again.

Expected result: These checks can reveal a wrong KB number, pending restart, account problem, locked drive, non-removable package, or need for a broader repair.

Wrapping Up

Fix #3 is my first pick. Remove the exact KB through Settings, restart, and test the same problem. This removes only the update you chose and shows whether it caused the issue.

If crashes continue after a verified rollback, stop removing security updates. Check storage health, memory, drivers, firmware, and malware next. The matching install date may have been a coincidence.

For more information on troubleshooting Windows issues, you can visit the official Microsoft Support page or check out our article on Windows 10 or 11 PC Freezes: A Step-by-Step Diagnostic Guide.