To uninstall a Windows 11 update and stop it from reinstalling, open Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, remove the update, then stop the Windows Update service in services.msc and delete C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution to clear the cache. Restart afterwards. Microsoft blocks uninstall on most security updates, but quality and feature updates can be removed.
Applies to: Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) and Windows 10 (22H2) | Last updated: May 4, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Not all updates can be uninstalled — security updates and most driver updates are protected by Windows. Quality (LCU) and feature updates are removable through Settings.
- Uninstalling alone is not enough — Windows often re-downloads the same update on the next check. Clearing
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistributionstops the automatic reinstall. - You must stop the Windows Update service first in
services.mscbefore deleting SoftwareDistribution, or Windows will refuse with a “file is open” error. - Use
wusa /uninstall /kb:NNNNNas a command-line alternative if Settings does not list the update you need to remove. - Pause updates for up to 4 weeks from the Windows Update screen, or use Winhance to apply a registry-based pause that survives reboots.
Quick Steps
- Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
- Click Uninstall updates at the bottom of the page.
- Click Uninstall next to the update you want to remove. Restart when prompted.
- Press Windows key + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - Right-click Windows Update in the list and choose Stop.
- Open File Explorer, navigate to
C:\Windows, and delete the SoftwareDistribution folder (Shift + Delete to skip the Recycle Bin). - Optionally pause updates from Settings > Windows Update, or disable them entirely with Winhance.
In This Guide
- When to uninstall a Windows 11 update
- Method 1: Settings > Update history (recommended)
- Method 2: wusa /uninstall command line
- Clear the Windows Update cache (SoftwareDistribution)
- DISM cleanup for the component store
- Pause or disable Windows Update
- Frequently asked questions
When to Uninstall a Windows 11 Update
Microsoft has shipped several problematic Windows 11 cumulative updates in the last year — slowdowns, broken printer drivers, blue screens on specific hardware, and login loops have all happened. When you can pinpoint a problem starting right after a Windows update, removing that update is usually the fastest way back to a working PC.
Just removing the update through Settings is not enough on its own. Windows holds the update files in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and will silently re-download and reinstall the same update on the next update check. Clearing that folder is what makes the uninstall stick — at least until you choose to install the update again deliberately.
For context on a recent example of a bad Windows 11 update, see my writeup on the January 2026 mandatory security update that broke a lot of PCs.
Method 1: Uninstall via Settings (Recommended)
The Settings route is the cleanest way to uninstall a Windows 11 update because it shows you only the updates Microsoft considers safe to remove — typically quality updates (the cumulative LCUs) and feature updates. Press Windows key + I to open Settings, then go to Windows Update in the left sidebar.
Click Update history, then scroll down to Related settings and click Uninstall updates. The page that opens lists every update that Microsoft allows you to uninstall on your specific machine.
Note: The Uninstall updates list is shorter than the Update history list. Microsoft hides updates that cannot be uninstalled — typically security updates and some driver updates — because removing them could expose your PC to known vulnerabilities.
Click Uninstall next to the update you want to remove and confirm when prompted. Windows uninstalls the update and asks you to restart. If you have several updates to remove, click Restart later on each one and uninstall them all before rebooting — that way you only restart once.
Method 2: Uninstall via Command Line With wusa
If Settings does not list the update you need to remove, the Windows Update Standalone Installer (wusa.exe) can target a specific KB number directly. This is also the fastest method when you already know the KB number from a Microsoft advisory.
Open Terminal as Administrator (right-click the Start button) and run:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5034123Replace 5034123 with the KB number of the update you want to remove (find it in Update history, where every entry starts with KB followed by digits). Add /quiet /norestart if you want to suppress the dialog and restart manually:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5034123 /quiet /norestartIf wusa replies with “the update is not applicable to your computer,” that update is either already removed or Microsoft has marked it as non-removable.
Clear the Windows Update Cache (SoftwareDistribution)
Windows downloads update files into C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution before installing them. After uninstalling an update, the cached copy is still in there — and that is what Windows uses to silently reinstall it on the next update check. Clearing the folder forces Windows to re-evaluate from scratch on the next scan.
Step 1: Stop the Windows Update Service
Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
services.mscScroll down to the W section and find Windows Update (its short name is wuauserv). Right-click it and choose Stop. Wait until the Status column clears.
Alternatively, open Terminal as Administrator and run:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bitsStopping Background Intelligent Transfer Service (bits) too is good practice — BITS is the actual download engine for Windows Update.
Step 2: Delete SoftwareDistribution
Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows. Find the SoftwareDistribution folder, select it, and press Shift + Delete to permanently delete it (skipping the Recycle Bin). Click Continue when prompted for administrator permission.
If the deletion still fails with “the action can’t be completed because the file is open in Windows Update,” go back to services.msc and confirm Windows Update is actually stopped. Sometimes the service restarts itself if you took too long between steps.
If you cannot delete the whole folder, open it and delete only the Download subfolder inside — that is where the cached update files live. The folder will recreate empty next time Windows Update runs.
Note: Deleting SoftwareDistribution is safe. Windows recreates it the next time it checks for updates. The only thing you lose is the update history list in Settings, which rebuilds itself going forward.
Step 3: Restart the Windows Update Service
Back in services.msc, right-click Windows Update and choose Start. Or in Terminal as Admin:
net start wuauserv
net start bitsDISM Cleanup for the Component Store
The SoftwareDistribution folder holds the download cache, but Windows also stores update payloads in the component store (C:\Windows\WinSxS). Old superseded update versions accumulate there over time and can take up several gigabytes. To clean them out safely, run DISM in an elevated Terminal:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanupAdd the /ResetBase flag to permanently remove all superseded update payloads (this means you can no longer uninstall any currently-installed updates after running it):
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBaseOnly use /ResetBase on a system you are happy with. Once a base is reset, the option to uninstall the affected updates through Settings disappears. For more disk space cleanup methods, see my guide on cleaning your C drive on Windows 10/11.
Pause or Disable Windows Update
If you want to stop Windows from re-downloading the update you just removed, the simplest option is to pause updates. Open Settings > Windows Update, then click Pause for 1 week (or pick longer from the dropdown — up to 4 weeks). Once the pause expires, Windows resumes automatic updates.
For a longer-term option, my free open-source tool Winhance includes a Windows Update policy setting that pauses or fully disables updates via registry edits that survive reboots. Open Winhance, go to the Optimizations tab, then Windows Update Settings, and pick the policy you want.
Warning: Disabling Windows Update entirely means you stop receiving security patches. Use it only as a temporary measure while waiting for Microsoft to fix a problematic update, then re-enable updates as soon as the fix ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I uninstall every Windows update?
Microsoft blocks removal of most security updates and some driver updates because uninstalling them would re-expose your PC to known vulnerabilities. Quality updates (the monthly cumulative LCUs) and feature updates can be removed through Settings or with wusa. If a security update is causing problems, your only options are to wait for Microsoft to ship a corrected version or use a system restore point predating the update.
Is it safe to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder?
Yes. C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution only contains the cached download files Windows uses to install updates. Windows recreates the folder automatically the next time the update service runs. The only side effect is that your Update history list in Settings rebuilds from that point forward — past entries disappear from the list but the updates themselves remain installed.
Why does it say “the action can’t be completed because the file is open in Windows Update”?
The Windows Update service (wuauserv) holds open file handles inside SoftwareDistribution while it is running. Stop the service from services.msc or with net stop wuauserv in an elevated Terminal, then try the deletion again. If the service refuses to stop, restart Windows in Safe Mode and delete the folder from there.
How long can I pause Windows updates?
Windows 11 lets you pause updates for up to 4 weeks (35 days) in 1-week increments through Settings. Once the pause expires, you can pause again — but Windows will not let you exceed the 4-week ceiling without re-enabling updates first. For longer pauses, use a registry-based policy from Winhance or a Group Policy edit on Windows 11 Pro.
Should I disable Windows Update permanently?
No. Permanently disabling Windows Update means missing critical security patches that protect against exploits, ransomware, and zero-day vulnerabilities. Disable it only as a temporary measure when you are dealing with a known-bad update and Microsoft has not yet released a corrected version. Re-enable updates as soon as the fix ships.
What is the difference between SoftwareDistribution and WinSxS?
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution is the staging area for updates Windows is about to install or has just installed. C:\Windows\WinSxS (the component store) holds the actual installed update payloads, including older superseded versions kept in case you uninstall a later update. Clear SoftwareDistribution to stop reinstalls; clean WinSxS with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup to free disk space.
