Uninstall Windows 11 Update: Settings, Recovery and Go Back

Most Windows updates install without anyone noticing. Occasionally one breaks something: a printer stops working, an app crashes on launch, or the PC turns sluggish overnight. When the timing points clearly at a recent update, you can uninstall Windows 11 update packages yourself, either from Settings or, if Windows will not start, from the recovery environment. This guide covers both routes, how to roll back a bigger feature update, and how to stop the same update from coming straight back.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2, on both Home and Pro.

Before you uninstall anything

Removing an update is a blunt tool, so check two things first.

Is the update really the cause? Note the date the problem started, then compare it with Settings > Windows Update > Update history. If the problem began days before the update, look elsewhere. A slowdown right after an update is often just background work such as indexing finishing up; our guide to Windows 11 slow after update explains how to tell the difference.

Is it a security update? Microsoft warns that uninstalling a security update has risks, because the PC loses the protection that update delivered. On Windows 11, Microsoft suggests trying to reinstall your current version of Windows first: Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update > Reinstall now. That repairs system files and keeps your apps, files and settings, and it often fixes problems caused by an update that installed badly.

If BitLocker or device encryption is on, have your recovery key ready before using the recovery environment. Our BitLocker recovery guide explains where to find it.

Method 1: Uninstall an update from Settings

Use this when Windows starts and you can sign in.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Under More options, select Update history.
3. Scroll down to Related settings and select Uninstall updates.
4. Find the update in the list. Updates are named by their KB number, for example a cumulative update or a .NET update.
5. Select Uninstall next to it, confirm, and restart the PC when asked.

Microsoft notes that some updates cannot be uninstalled. If there is no Uninstall option next to an entry, that update cannot be removed from here.

Which one to pick? Compare the installation dates in Update history with the date your problem started. Monthly cumulative updates for Windows are usually the main suspect; driver updates are listed separately in Update history under Driver updates and are better handled through Device Manager by rolling back the driver.

Method 2: Uninstall from the Windows Recovery Environment

If the PC fails to start, crashes before sign-in or loops through restarts after an update, use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Windows normally opens it on its own after several failed starts. From the sign-in screen you can also hold Shift and select Power > Restart.

1. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
2. Select Uninstall Updates.
3. Choose one of the two options:

Option	What it removes	When to use it
Uninstall latest quality update	The most recent monthly or security update	Problems started after a regular monthly update
Uninstall latest feature update	The most recent Windows version upgrade	Problems started right after moving to a new version

4. Sign in with an administrator account if asked, confirm, and let the PC restart.

Only the latest update of each type can be removed this way. If the problem persists, starting in safe mode lets you remove a driver or app instead.

Rolling back a feature update with Go back

A feature update moves you to a new Windows version. For a limited time afterwards, Windows keeps the previous version on disk so you can return to it.

1. Open Settings > System > Recovery.
2. If the option is available, select Go back and follow the prompts.

Microsoft says that in most cases you have 10 days to go back. Your personal files are kept, but apps and drivers installed after the upgrade are removed, along with settings changes. To keep the option working, do not delete the windows.old and $windows.~bt folders, remove any user accounts you added after the upgrade, and keep the USB drive handy if you upgraded from one.

If Go back is missing, the window has closed or the old files were cleaned up. Your options then are the reinstall described above or, as a last resort, Reset this PC. Going back from Windows 11 to Windows 10 works the same way and has the same time limit; see roll back to Windows 10, keeping in mind that Windows 10 no longer gets free security updates.

Stop the update from reinstalling straight away

Windows Update does not know you removed an update on purpose. On its next check it will usually download and install it again, sometimes within hours. To give Microsoft time to release a fix:

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Use the Pause updates control to pause for a week or pick a later date.

Pausing is temporary and has a maximum length; when it ends, Windows installs the latest updates. Our guide on how to pause Windows 11 updates covers the limits and related settings such as active hours. Do not try to block an update permanently with registry edits or third-party tools: the next cumulative update usually contains the fix you want, plus security patches you need.

Security caveats and when to stop

Every month without updates leaves known vulnerabilities open on your PC, so treat uninstalling as a short-term workaround, not a fix:

• Check Update history after a week or two and resume updates when a newer cumulative update is out.
• If the same problem returns with the newer update, it is more likely a driver or app conflict. Update the driver or app from its maker before removing Windows updates again.
• If an update simply refuses to install or hangs, removal is the wrong tool; see Windows 11 update stuck instead.

If none of this helps and the PC is unstable, back up your files and work through the recovery options in order: reinstall the current version, System Restore, then Reset this PC.