Have you ever experienced your PC suddenly becoming unstable or experiencing unexpected problems after applying Windows 11 updates?
You may be trying to quickly uninstall an update to resolve a problem, wanting to return your PC to its original state, but you can't find the program you're looking for in the "Update History," or the uninstall button is grayed out and you can't press it... You may be at a loss as to why you can't delete it.
In fact, the reason why updates cannot be uninstalled has to do with the way Windows Update works and user behavior.
Many people tend to waste time on problems that they cannot solve without knowing this ``why.''
This article details common reasons why you can't uninstall a Windows 11 update.
Try this first! Basic steps to uninstall updates
1. Uninstall the update from the Control Panel
1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run, type the following command and press Enter:
control2. Change the view to "Category" and click "Uninstall a program."
3. Click "View installed updates" on the left.
4. The installed updates will then be displayed, so right-click on the update you want to uninstall and click "Uninstall."
Windows 10 screen
The following confirmation dialog will appear. Click "Yes" to begin the uninstallation.
Windows 11 screen
Click "Uninstall" to the right of the update you want to remove.
The message "This update and related information will be uninstalled" will be displayed, so click "Uninstall".
2. Uninstall the update with Windows PowerShell
1.Start buttonRight-click > Click "Terminal (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)."
2. When the "User Account Control" message appears, click "Yes".
View installed updates
Type the following command and press Enter:
Get-HotFix
This will show you the updates that are already installed.
Updates that do not appear here cannot be uninstalled.
更新プログラムをアンインストールする
To uninstall the update, enter a command similar to the following:
wusa /uninstall /kb:更新プログラムのIDFor example, if you want to uninstall KB5020683, you would do this:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5020683After entering the command and pressing Enter, a confirmation dialog will appear. Click "Yes" or "No".
If you click "No", you will receive the error "0x800704c7".
Click "Yes" to begin the uninstallation.
You may or may not need to restart the computer, so please follow the instructions on the screen.
*If you see the message "You need to restart your computer to apply these changes," we recommend that you select "Restart now."
[Main topic] Unable to uninstall! Two possible causes and solutions
If you try the basic steps but still can't click the "Uninstall" button or find the item, we'll explain the root cause and each solution.
Cause 1: Newer updates installed
Windows Update is like building blocks: you can't remove the older blocks underneath until you remove the newest block (the latest update).
[Solution] In "Update History", check if there are any updates that were installed after the update you want to uninstall, and thenStarting with the newest oneTry uninstalling it.
Cause 2: You ran "Windows Update Cleanup"
If you run "Windows Update Cleanup" to free up disk space, the backup files required for uninstallation will be deleted.
[Solution] Unfortunately, once you run the cleanup, you will not be able to uninstall the update. To avoid this, please install the update and thenMinimum 2 weeksIt is recommended that you do not perform a cleanup.
Last resort if that doesn't work
If the above methods don't work, you'll need more aggressive measures.
System Restore: The Last Line of Defense
If nothing else works, your last resort is to use System Restore, which will return your PC to a normal state before the update was installed.
How to create, restore, and delete system restore points
Reasons why uninstallation does not start or does not proceed
You may find yourself in an even more troublesome situation where you can click the "Uninstall" button, but the process never progresses beyond the "Uninstalling..." screen, or an error message appears.
The cause of this is likely a deeper systemic issue.
Possible main causes
- 1. Corrupted system files: This is the case when the Windows system files necessary for the uninstallation process are corrupted, which causes the process to fail to start or to stop midway.
- 2. Windows Update component inconsistency: If there is a problem with the database that manages updates or related services (such as the Windows Update service), the uninstall process will not be performed correctly.
- 3. Third-party software interferenceIn particular, security software (antivirus) may detect the uninstaller's attempt to modify important system files as "suspicious behavior" and block it.
- 4. Updates that cannot be uninstalled: Not all updates can be uninstalled. Feature updates, which update the core of the OS, and Service Stack Updates (SSUs), which serve as the foundation for subsequent updates, are designed to be unable to be uninstalled.
[Solution]
If you press the "Uninstall" button but the process never progresses beyond the "Uninstalling..." screen, or an error message appears, follow the steps below to check the health of your system and attempt to repair it.
[Most important: Precautions before execution] The following operations must be performedMake sure the uninstallation process is complete (or cannot be started at all)If the uninstall appears to be in progress, first restart your PC to make sure the process has stopped completely.
If you are uninstalling using a command, check the status of the "Windows Update Standalone Installer" in the Processes tab of Task Manager. If the "Disk" or "CPU" usage is 0%, it means that the process is not progressing.
To resolve these issues, more advanced troubleshooting is required, such as repairing the system using the System File Checker or DISM commands, or resetting Windows Update components.
Step 1: Repair minor damage with System File Checker
First, use the "System File Checker" that comes standard with Windows to check for and repair minor system file corruption.
Repairing system files in Win10/Win11 with "System File Checker"
Step 2: Repair severe damage with DISM commands
If the System File Checker doesn't resolve the issue, you can use the more powerful DISM command to repair the Windows image file itself.
Once these repairs are complete, try uninstalling the update again.
[Reference] Major update bugs that have occurred in the past
Problems caused by Windows Update have been reported many times before, so don't worry, the problem you're experiencing on your PC is not uncommon.
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