How to hide buggy updates on Windows 10

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On Windows 10, cumulative updates download and install automatically to keep your computer protected from hackers and viruses and running smoothly with the latest performance improvements. The only caveat is that sometimes updates may release with bugs and compatibility issues that can negatively impact the experience.

Although updates are essential and disabling the feature is not recommended, you can use the Show or hide updates tool or the PowerShell PSWindosUpdate module to block specific updates and drivers from downloading automatically.

In this guide, you will learn two different ways to show or hide cumulative updates on Windows 10.

Hide cumulative updates using troubleshooter

To hide Windows 10 updates, use these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Download Center page.

   Quick note: At the time of this writing, the original link to the Microsoft download page is broken. The above link is from a snapshot captured by the Internet Archive website.

2. Click the download link for the Show or hide updates troubleshooter.

3. Double-click the wushowhide.diagcab file to launch the tool.

4. Click the Next button.

5. Click the Hide updates option.

   

   Hide updates option

6. Select the cumulative updates or drivers to block on Windows 10.

   

   Available updates

7. Click the Next button.

8. Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, the cumulative update or driver will no longer be available through Windows Update. However, when a newer update releases, Windows Updates will try to download and install it automatically.

If you are trying to block an update installed on the computer, you need to uninstall it before blocking it. The option to uninstall updates is available on Settings > Update & Security > Windows Updates > View update history > Uninstall updates. 

Show cumulative updates using troubleshooter

To show previously blocked updates, use these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Download Center page.

2. Click the download link for the Show or hide updates troubleshooter.

3. Double-click the wushowhide.diagcab file to launch the tool.

4. Click the Next button.

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5. Click the Show hidden updates option.

   

   Show hidden updates option

6. Select the cumulative updates or drivers to allow on Windows 10.

   

   Allow update option

7. Click the Next button.

8. Click the Close button.

After you complete the steps, the package will once again be available on Windows 10.

Hide cumulative updates using PowerShell

To hide an update on Windows 10 using PowerShell, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to install the PowerShell module to update Windows 10 and press Enter:

   Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate

   

   PSWindowsUpdate

4. Type A to accept and install the module and press Enter.

5. Type the following command to check for Windows 10 updates with PowerShell and press Enter:

   Get-WindowsUpdate

6. Type the following command to select and block the update with PowerShell and press Enter:

   Hide-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KBNUMBER

   In the command, make sure to replace KBNUMBER with the update number you want to block.

   This example blocks the KB5003173 update:

   Hide-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KB5003173

   

   Hide updates command

7. Type A to accept and install the module and press Enter.

8. (Optional) Type the following command to select and block update when the KB number is not available and press Enter:

   Hide-WindowsUpdate -Title "UPDATE-TITLE"

   In the command, make sure to replace UPDATE-TITLE with the update number you want to skip. You only need part of the title to make a match.

   This example blocks the “2021-05 Cumulative Update” package:

   Hide-WindowsUpdate -Title "2021-05 Cumulative Update"

9. Type A to accept and install the module and press Enter.

Once you complete the steps, the PowerShell tool will block the update, preventing Windows 10 from downloading and installing it, and the status will appear with an H indicating that is now hidden.

Show cumulative updates using PowerShell

To unhide an update with PowerShell commands, use these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to install the PowerShell module to update Windows 10 and press Enter (if applicable):

   Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate

   

   PSWindowsUpdate

4. Type A to accept and install the module and press Enter.

5. Type the following command to check for Windows 10 updates with PowerShell and press Enter:

   Get-WindowsUpdate

6. Type the following command to select and allow the update with PowerShell and press Enter:

   Show-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KBNUMBER

   In the command, make sure to replace KBNUMBER with the update number you want to unhide.

   This example blocks the KB5003173 update:

   Show-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KB5003173

   

   Show updates command

7. Type A to accept and install the module and press Enter.

8. (Optional) Type the following command to select and allow the update with PowerShell when the KB number is not available and press Enter:

   Show-WindowsUpdate -Title "UPDATE-TITLE"

   In the command, make sure to replace UPDATE-TITLE with the update number you want to allow through Windows Update. You only need part of the title to make a match.

   This example blocks the “2021-05 Cumulative Update” package:

   Show-WindowsUpdate -Title "2021-05 Cumulative Update"

9. Type A to accept and install the module and press Enter.

After you complete the steps, Windows Update will allow the package again on Windows 10.