Sometimes, Windows updates are a blessing but other times they turn into a real headache. You get that one update — say, the recent Windows 11 KB5062553 — that totally screws up your taskbar or makes File Explorer decide to stop working. Frustrating, right? Well, the fix often isn’t as complicated as it sounds, especially if you prefer rolling back the update rather than going full troubleshoot mode. The whole point here is to get your system back to normal without the update causing issues. So, here’s a rundown on how to uninstall those pesky updates, because Windows has a few ways to do that — some easier than others, depending on what you’re comfortable with.
How to Uninstall a problematic Windows update
If you hit a weird bug after installing an update or just want to tidy up your update history, removing that update can save the day. For some users, that cache of broken features just vanishes after a rollback. Here’s what tends to work, especially on Windows 11. Just a heads-up though: you might need admin privileges or do a quick restart to fully squash the update. Also, on some setups, the uninstall process may fail initially but try again after a reboot — Windows likes to make things a little tricky sometimes.
Uninstall Windows Updates via Settings — the easiest way
- First, pop open the Settings app. You can do this quickly by clicking the Start menu and choosing Settings, or hit Windows key + I for a faster route.
- On the left sidebar, click on Windows Update. Then, look for Update history to see what’s been installed recently.
- Scroll down to find the Uninstall updates link. This opens the panel with a list of recent updates, including the KB number.
- Find the update you want to get rid of, like KB5062553, and click Uninstall. Confirm your choice with Yes if prompted, and wait a few minutes for it to do its thing.
Once it’s gone, it’s a good idea to restart. This helps Windows settle down without that broken update lurking around. On some setups, this method can be hit or miss if the update isn’t fully recognized or if your Windows version has some quirks, but it’s a good start.
For the Windows 10 crowd, it’s pretty much the same, just in a different menu: Settings > Update & Security > View update history > Uninstall updates. Easy enough.
Remove Windows Update Using Command Prompt — a quicker, techy approach
Yes, you can do the same thing in PowerShell or Command Prompt if you prefer a bit of command-line muscle. This is useful if the GUI method isn’t working — especially on stubborn machines. It’s kind of satisfying to do it via commands, but make sure you run the prompt as admin.
- Search for “cmd” in the start menu, then right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- Accept the UAC prompt if it shows up.
- Type in
wmic qfe list brief /format:tableand hit Enter. This shows a list of installed updates with their HotfixID (which is basically the KB number).It’s kind of ugly, but it works. - Locate the problematic update — KB5062553, for example. When you find it, copy or note down its HotfixID.
- Now, run this command:
wusa /uninstall /kb:XXX. Replace XXX with the KB number like5062553. So, for your problematic update, it’ll look like this link for reference.
For example, it might be: wusa /uninstall /kb:5062553. Hit Enter, and confirm the prompt. Usually, a restart is needed afterwards, so don’t skip it.
Using Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)—when Windows just refuses to cooperate
If your system is basically unbootable because of the update, or you’re stuck in a boot loop, booting into WinRE might be the only way to fix things. To do that, you can either hold down Shift + click Restart from the login screen, or run shutdown /r /o in Command Prompt or PowerShell to trigger a reboot into recovery options.
Once in WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall updates. Select the “Uninstall the latest quality update” option, confirm, and Windows will roll back that last patch. This tends to work well if your OS is hung up after an update or can’t boot normally.
Or if all else fails, you’d have to boot from Windows installation media. Select “Repair your computer” > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. Sometimes, it’s a bit of a puzzle figuring out which tools fix the issue, but uninstalling updates from there is straightforward enough.
Uninstall in Safe Mode — for hands-on troubleshooting
Safe mode is like Windows on its bare bones. It’s a good way to remove an update that’s causing crashes or weirdness that won’t let the system boot normally. To get there, go into Recovery (via shift+restart or boot menu), then select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. On restart, pick “Enable Safe Mode” from the list.
When Windows loads safely, head to Control Panel — hit Windows key + R, type Control Panel, then go to “Programs” > “View installed updates”.
Find your problematic update, hit Uninstall, and confirm. Once done, restart normally. That should clear out the bad update without messing up the rest of your setup. FYI, sometimes security updates get reinstalled automatically, so you might want to pause updates temporarily if the same thing keeps happening.
Summary
- Open Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall updates
- Use Command Prompt with
wmicandwusacommands for a quicker fix - Boot into WinRE for tough cases or unbootable systems
- Try Safe Mode if normal boot fails or updates cause startup issues
Wrap-up
Sometimes, these updates just cause more harm than good — especially on certain hardware or with specific configurations. Uninstalling a problematic update is often the fastest route to get things back on track. Just remember, keeping your system updated is still worth it once you’ve fixed the immediate headache. Hopefully, this helps someone untangle that update mess without losing too much time. Fingers crossed this does the trick for you.