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2000013: How to clear the Windows Update queue in Win10
Home › Forums › Knowledge Base › 2000013: How to clear the Windows Update queue in Win10
- This topic has 74 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 3 weeks ago.
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November 16, 2018 at 6:57 am #233671
PKCano
Manager“I hid the updates using whshowhide, but they installed anyway.”
If you have ever experienced this, here is an explanation and a way to avoid it in the future.My method for hiding/avoiding KB 4023057 (and any other updates you do not want):
Be sure your Network connections are set to metered connections each time before shutting down the computer. That way, you are on Metered connections when you boot up.
+ Boot computer with metered connections on.
+ Immediately run wushowhide. (Advanced\uncheck auto fix)
+ Hide KB 4023057 (and whatever other updates you do not want).
+ Open Services – highlight Windows Update Service, Disable, Apply, Stop the service (upper left)
+ Restart the computer (not shutdown/bootup)
+ Open Services – highlight Windows Update Service, set to Manual, Apply, DO NOT start the service. Close Services.
+ Immediately run wushowhide and verify the update(s) are hidden, then verify they are not available to be hidden.
* Restart the computer. This should allow Windows Update to search for updates without clicking on “Check for Updates.” It may take up to 36 hours for it to check on it’s own. WAIT for it.
+ Now you should be able to open Settings\Updates and Security and update without getting the hidden updates. Once you see that only the ones you want are there, turn off Metered connections and allow download.
+ Reset connections to Metered BEFORE the Restart.If you do not follow the above procedure, the updates you have supposedly hidden may not be cleared from the Settings\Updates and Security\Windows update queue and will thus be downloaded and installed in spite of the fact you THINK you have hidden them.
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March 6, 2019 at 10:06 am #338076
Lars220
AskWoody LoungerThank you PKCano for these instructions for clearing the windows update queue, I hope it is ok for me to post here and share some more information, otherwise maybe a moderator can move this post to an appropriate place. I have had good luck using the instructions offered my the Major Geeks website for re-naming the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder to .old, after stopping the Windows Update Service, and then deleting that folder – SoftwareDistribution. Note that after doing that my update history in the Settings App was empty, but in Control Panel Installed Updates still showed some. Anyway, the following links are offered for educational information, and may be useful to some people.
https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/how_to_delete_pending_windows_updates.html
https://www.ghacks.net/2017/11/16/how-to-delete-downloaded-windows-update-files/
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June 3, 2019 at 6:46 am #1766761
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June 3, 2019 at 6:54 am #1766782
PKCano
ManagerIf you have Win10 Home, and you do not use a third-party Update Blocker, until the changes to 1803 and 1809 are tested (the new”Download and Install now”), the only defense you have against forced updates/upgrades is Metered connections. And sometimes, MS will install through metered connections anyway.
We are hoping the new settings, to be delivered with the June updates, will change this. (But I don’t know if I will ever trust Microsoft again.)
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July 18, 2019 at 4:06 pm #1876602
cyclical01
AskWoody PlusHow about if you are using Win10 Pro? At one time I believe I had metered connections set to ON all the time, but I think it messed with something I needed (OneDrive sync, perhaps?) so I turned it off. Would you say it’s OK to leave Metered Connections OFF until I want to check for updates, and then follow the process above? Thanks – it’s all so convoluted (not your fault, if MS did their thing right we wouldn’t need to worry) and I just want to get it right! 🙂
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July 18, 2019 at 4:17 pm #1876603
PKCano
ManagerIf you have Win10 Pro, here are the settings I use to control updates (and the reasons for each) and information about the use of AKB2000013.
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July 18, 2019 at 5:08 pm #1876612
cyclical01
AskWoody PlusGot it. I configured all that, and understand. My question is about the last bullet in proc AKB2000013. I guess if I take the statement “+ Reset connections to Metered BEFORE the Restart.” and loop back to the first step “Be sure your Network connections are set to metered connections each time before shutting down the computer.” it follows that you’re saying keep your Network set to Metered unless following the specific step “+ Now you should be able to open Settings\Updates and Security and update without getting the hidden updates. Once you see that only the ones you want are there, turn off Metered connections and allow download.”
If that’s correct, can you validate the following summary of my understanding then?
- I’ve configured update settings and group policy as outlined in the topic “Configuring update on win10/pro”;
- Whenever I am of a mind to check for updates (every Patch Tuesday, for instance), Update and Security will display the latest patches that are on offer (and which have not previously been hidden by me using wushowhide), in a “queued for download” state;
- I can then xref the KB numbers against the master patch list and determine which patches I want to hide/unhide;
- I should then follow the proc listed under this topic (AKB2000013) in order to ensure the Windows Update cache is properly cleared, the appropriate updates are well and truly hidden; and only the updates I have elected NOT to hide are available for download; downloaded, and installed.
- Except where noted above, my network connection should be set to metered at all times to guard against as much MS sneakiness as possible. 😉
Sorry if I am being a pest, but like I said I just want to get it right and my brain is wired for checklists. LOL! Thanks again for your help and patience!!!
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August 29, 2020 at 11:03 am #2292352
jimmythesaint53
AskWoody PlusI’m currently using PKCano’s settings to manage windows updates. This month Microsoft decided my pc needs 7 Intel drivers that I have hidden using wushowhide, but day after day one driver; INTEL – System – 7/18/1968 12:00:00 AM – 10.1.7.3 returns. I would like to install Defender update, but I don’t want this driver.
Since the driver shows that it is hidden in wushowhide, but continues to show as ready to be downloaded, will going throurgh the steps in 20000013: How to clear Windows update queue have any effect on this driver?
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August 29, 2020 at 11:15 am #2292359
PKCano
ManagerIn Group Policy under windows Update:
Set “Do not include drivers with Windows updates” = Enabled
Open the box and see if there are any further settings (I do not have access to GP right now).
For a screenshot see the first attachment in #2177509.Allow WU to scan for updates to see if it clears the queue.
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August 29, 2020 at 11:53 am #2292360
jimmythesaint53
AskWoody Plus -
August 30, 2020 at 8:38 am #2292477
jimmythesaint53
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August 31, 2020 at 10:34 am #2292745
jimmythesaint53
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September 2, 2020 at 8:42 am #2293287
jimmythesaint53
AskWoody PlusAfter four days of hiding the same update with wushowhide it is becoming obvious that it is not hiding the unwanted update to allow the install of Microsoft Defender wanted updates.
PKCano, will following the steps laid out in:
2000013: How to clear the Windows Update queue in Win10
give me a different result or will I have to make a back-up and let the Intel driver install and see what happens?
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September 2, 2020 at 8:45 am #2293291
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September 2, 2020 at 8:59 am #2293289
WCHS
AskWoody Plusto allow the install of Microsoft Defender wanted updates.
You can independently, manually update Defender at:
Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus threat & protection > Virus threat & protection updates > check for updates The update will not show up in View Update History, but nevertheless you can get the latest Defender update this way.
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August 29, 2020 at 1:37 pm #2292381
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusSince the driver shows that it is hidden in wushowhide, but continues to show as ready to be downloaded,
wushowhide is buggy. I had the same problem. Use wumgr to hide the Intel drivers even though I have blocked drivers updates in GP.
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This reply was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by
Alex5723.
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August 29, 2020 at 8:45 pm #2292438
DriftyDonN
AskWoody PlusI am also using gpedit updates=2(notify dont download,hidden; note the intel offering in my hidden que-I even TRIED to let it install several weeks ago. Also note the PREVIEW .net offering for aug. I don’t believe I want a preview-like I dont want to watch commercials! Already have a different .net preview installed-twice! I also have updates ‘blocked’ as can be seen behind the download=2 setting window. but there have been some installed. I believe wushowhide is more bad code from mother msft.Nothing shows in WU Que.
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November 9, 2019 at 2:40 am #2002110
Tom-R
AskWoody LoungerPK,
Is this advice here still valid for Win 10? I’m asking because the link that you provided for downloading wushowhide doesn’t go to that utility anymore. The link goes to an MS page for their “Windows Update Troubleshooter” — which doesn’t appear to function the same as wushowhide.
Is wushowhide still supported on Win 10? If so, where would someone go to download a current copy of it?
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November 9, 2019 at 3:34 am #2002130
Paul T
AskWoody MVPThe link above isn’t correct.
This MS page has the file toward the bottom of the page under “Download the troubleshooter”
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/3073930/how-to-temporarily-prevent-a-driver-update-from-reinstalling-in-windowcheers, Paul
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November 9, 2019 at 4:51 am #2002141
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February 9, 2020 at 8:36 pm #2137594
DriftyDonN
AskWoody PlusConsidering there have been several changes since this topic started and PKCano gave us the excellent advice on controlling the updates, how about an updated version? Pause? Dont pause(new to me in ver 1903 pro…stop pause, and dl and install commences immediately. So now that I have pause enabled for 35 days, how to keep ms from pushing and installing whatever is out there? What other settings do we need to address (again) as installing win1903 seems to have changed them…I depend on Woody to let us know when to go for it BUT I do not know what msft has in store for me because of the PAUSE condition.
Thanks!
D
Actually, This should be in a different topic. I favorited this one from a different topic having to do with patching, controlling updates etc and PKCano referred to this post. I believe it was a topic for ver 1803 or perhaps 1809 but here we are in 1903/1909 which are quite different…sorry for the misstep. In any case what is the best way to control the update process in pro and home versions 1903?
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This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by
DriftyDonN.
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February 10, 2020 at 4:52 am #2137735
PKCano
ManagerI have just posted the Guide for Wuidows Update Settings in Win10. See if this answers some of your questions.
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February 13, 2020 at 5:38 pm #2140279
WCHS
AskWoody PlusI’ve read the post by @Cyclical01 here
I, too, do best when following checklists.
I’ve read “The Guide for Windows Update Settings for Windows 10”, and am asking about the section “These are the settings I use”,
The steps come in this order:
1) set the deferrals and
2) set the Group Policy Editor>Automatic Windows Update to #2.The next step is where I have a question: It’s about the order of things that come next.
a) Do you always first follow directions in ABK2000013, which includes wushowhide?
OR
b) Do you first use wushowhide by itself, and THEN IF the ones you think you have hidden still appear in the queue, you use the directions in ABK2000013, which include using wushowhide again?Having switched from my Win7 device to Win10 exclusively last month, I’ve started using the steps in “The Guide” only three weeks ago for my two 1909 devices, and I have only become familiar with using wushowhide about two weeks ago. I just realized recently that there is an AKB2000013, too. I have hidden two of the three Feb 11 Patch Tuesday updates (first hiding, but later unhiding the 3rd one, the MSRT update). I haven’t seen anything in the queue that was supposed to have been hidden but shows up anyway, but maybe I’ve just been lucky, not having known about the steps in AKB2000013.
I think I could better construct my checklist and the order of things, if I knew the answer to my question above.
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February 13, 2020 at 6:09 pm #2140284
PKCano
Managerb) Do you first use wushowhide by itself, and THEN IF the ones you think you have hidden still appear in the queue, you use the directions in ABK2000013, which include using wushowhide again?
First, you look at the queue. Is there anything there you do NOT want?
If the answer is “NO” you are good to click on “Download.”.
If the answer is “YES” you use wushowhide to hide the ones you don’t want.BUT what you see in the queue will not change to reflect the ones you hid until WU checks for updates again. So the ones you hid are still listed when you look in WU. If you click the “Download” button at this point, the ones you see in the queue will download/install (including the ones you hid if they still appear there there).
SO you can EITHER wait until WU checks for updates again on its own (may take upwards of 36 hours) at which time it will not find the ones you hid OR you can use the procedure in AKB2000013 to clear the queue of the hidden updates so you can download/install the ones you want.
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February 13, 2020 at 10:39 pm #2140375
WCHS
AskWoody PlusI have two questions now. Here’s the first one (the second one will be in another reply):
What does “look at the queue” mean? I would like to know operationally — It could mean “look at what Windows Update lists on the Windows Update screen” or it could mean “open wushowhide and see what is listed when you choose ‘Hide updates’ because what is listed there is what is waiting” Or maybe, “look in the queue” could mean either of those — i.e., same same.
I have been using the 2nd course of action, i.e., not opening Windows Update, but instead opening wushowhide to see what’s waiting and then deciding what, if any, to hide. It seems to work as I expected, but maybe that’s just luck.
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February 14, 2020 at 4:57 am #2140436
PKCano
ManagerThe Windows Update queue is what you see pending in Windows Update. You know, Settings App\Update & security\Windows Update.
wushowhide is an MS program separate from the Windows OS, It is NOT Windows Update. They do not necessarily show the same thing. For Example, Silverlight can be in wushowhide list but it never shows up in the Windows Update queue. I have never hidden it. Another example: after you hide updates, they no longer show up in wushowhide, but if they can still be in the Windows Update queue until Windows Update checks for updates again and will get installed if you click “Download.”
SO look in the WINDOWS UPDATE queue and see what is pending in WINDOWS UPDATE. That is what is going to be installed. If the things that you have hidden are still there, then you need to clear the Windows Update queue.
You are making things much more difficult than they are by dissecting everything. Just follow the instructions.
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November 9, 2020 at 12:49 pm #2310677
WCHS
AskWoody Plusafter you hide updates, they no longer show up in wushowhide, but if they can still be in the Windows Update queue until Windows Update checks for updates again and will get installed if you click “Download.”
SO look in the WINDOWS UPDATE queue and see what is pending in WINDOWS UPDATE. That is what is going to be installed. If the things that you have hidden are still there, then you need to clear the Windows Update queue.
I had a problem because I had hidden an update in “Hide updates” (which never showed on the WU screen, because I caught it there before WU had updated itself). But, the next day it was not only in “Show hidden updates”, but it was also in “Hide updates”, in other words it was in both places. I discovered this because my WU screen was showing that it was ready for me to press the “Download” button. I wondered how it could be there, since I had hidden it the day before AND WU had already refreshed/updated the queue. So, I went to wushowhide to hide it again. But, no matter how many times I tried to hide it and no matter how many times it reported that it was “fixed”, it kept appearing in both “Hide updates” and “Show hidden updates”. Several days later, after WU had time to update itself again, it was still appearing in both sections of wushowhide and it was still appearing on my WU screen with a “download” button.
So, I went to ABK2000013 to follow the instructions for clearing the update queue. My steps are listed in #2310205
Could you look them and tell me if I followed them correctly?
I ask because after executing those steps as I have listed them and in that order, WU showed an “Install now” button, which I did not click, and several minutes later, WU showed a RESTART button.
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November 9, 2020 at 1:10 pm #2310685
geekdom
AskWoody PlusBetaTest {Got backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender TRV=1909 WuMgr
offline▸ Win10Pro 20H2.19042.685 x86 Atom N270 RAM2GB HDD WindowsDefender WuMgr GuineaPigVariant
online▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.746 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox85.0b9 WindowsDefender TRV=2004 WuMgr1 user thanked author for this post.
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November 9, 2020 at 2:01 pm #2310708
WCHS
AskWoody PlusI know that this is my particular topic, but I thought I was asking PKCano to look at a specific post under that topic, namely #2310205
I have no idea how #2310669 appears under the hyperlink for #2310205. I know that I didn’t mis-type it, because I used “Copy Location” to get its URL when that particular post under my topic was on the screen. And when I was on the link screen, the correct URL was copied in the first field and when I saw ‘2310205’ there, I typed it in the second field.
#2310669 is a post that I have never accessed, ever. So, it’s a mystery to me as to why it appeared as the URL under #2310205.
But, thanks for catching that.
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November 10, 2020 at 1:41 am #2310854
Paul T
AskWoody MVPand several minutes later, WU showed a RESTART button
Windows has updated your machine despite your best efforts. This is what MS want, updated machines, so it’s not entirely surprising.
Check what updates have been installed and when.
Backup.
Cross fingers.cheers, Paul
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February 13, 2020 at 10:56 pm #2140377
WCHS
AskWoody PlusThis 2nd question is more along the lines of when to clear the Windows Update queue in Win10, rather than how.
In my short experience with this, I noticed once that there were two notifications on the Windows Update screen at the same time, but only one “Download” button The first update listed was a Defender update and the second one was MSRT, which I had unhidden earlier But, as I say there was only one “Download” button. When I clicked on it, the first one (the Defender update) disappeared from the list; I checked Update History and it was listed there as having been installed. And now there was the MSRT update listed by itself and still the “Download” button. So, I clicked on the “Download” button again and the MSRT was no longer listed. I then checked Update History and IT was listed there as having been installed.
i) So, is this true — that you will sometimes have more than one update listed and only one “Download” button? In this case, the first click on “Download” button will download the first update listed and the second click on the “Download” button will download the 2nd update listed, and so on? Or is this a special case, because one of the updates was a Defender update?ii) and is this true — if I want to download the 2nd one, but not the first, I will have to use the directions in AKB2000013 to remove the 1st one, so that when I click on the “Download” button, I will be downloading and installing only the 2nd one that was listed?
iii) could it ever happen that if I had two or more updates listed on the Windows Update screen and I clicked on the one “Download” button, all three would be downloaded and installed one after the other, with no further intervention on my part (i.e. no “Download” button to click on a 2nd time or a 3rd time)?
And if for some reason, I wanted to have control over the sequence, I would have to use AK2000013 to remove the two that I didn’t want to download and install so that the remaining one would be the one to go first, then wait for Windows Update to add the other two, then use AK2000013 to remove the one that I didn’t want to go 2nd, then wait for Windows Update to add the 3rd one, which would go last?
I had expected that each update would have its own “Download” button, but this seems not to be the case.
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February 14, 2020 at 5:02 am #2140437
PKCano
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February 14, 2020 at 10:32 am #2140564
WCHS
AskWoody Plusclarification:
so it could happen that if three updates were listed on the WU screen and the user clicked on the “Download” button, all three of them would download/install one after the other without any more action from the user (in other words, not one by one with a “Download” button after each download/install)?conditions:
Version 1909, Feature update deferral=365, Quality update deferral=0, Group Policy Editor>Automati Windows Update=#2-Notify download/install.P.S.
I know you have told me “just follow instructions” and not overthink it, but my wariness is due to the fact that one time I ‘thought’ I was following instructions, but it didn’t work like I thought I understood they would work, and so I got 1909 before I wanted it.-
February 14, 2020 at 12:25 pm #2140641
Tex265
AskWoody Plusso it could happen that if three updates were listed on the WU screen and the user clicked on the “Download” button, all three of them would download/install one after the other without any more action from the user (in other words, not one by one with a “Download” button after each download/install)?
My experience is “Yes” they will sequentially download and install without any further Download button pressing option.
I have also noted this action on occasion even when there are Defender updates involved. I think the difference is how long it has been since the Windows Updater ran and the user is pressing the Download button. If very short time has passed since the Updater ran, the Defender updates may not provide the second Download button availability.
Possibly due to the fact that even with Group Policy set to 2 and Defender updates showing on the Window Updater screen, Defender updates will automatically install after a period of time with no user intervention (you can verify by looking View Update History). If this happens, the Download button push is not re-installing them just removing their entry from the WU screen. If the time is short, they are actually being downloaded and installed at the same time as the others.
Windows 10 Pro x64 v1909 and Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64 (RIP)1 user thanked author for this post.
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March 3, 2020 at 8:39 pm #2176079
alphacharlie
AskWoody Plus* Restart the computer. This should allow Windows Update to search for updates without clicking on “Check for Updates.” It may take up to 36 hours for it to check on it’s own. WAIT for it.
I followed the checklist and confirmed that the unwanted Intel driver updates are hidden now. But what if I do not wish to wait 36 hours? I am clearly not understanding how to manually force a new Check for Updates.
Is it simply a matter of turning OFF the metered connection setting? ( I have kept it on Metered almost all the time.)
Or is it a matter of using wushowhide to hide ALL of the updates (wanted and unwanted)?
I am sure I am missing something simple here.Thank you.
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This reply was modified 10 months, 3 weeks ago by
alphacharlie.
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March 4, 2020 at 3:10 pm #2176442
alphacharlie
AskWoody PlusWe usually power down our laptops when they are not in use; and when they are on they are set to Metered Connection, with Active Hours 8am to 5pm.
Now that I have hidden unwanted driver updates with wushowhide, I am wonderig if these settings are causing a delay for WU to refresh?
I would like to get February 2020 WU finished and put it out of mind for a month (LOL).
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This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by
alphacharlie.
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March 5, 2020 at 12:13 pm #2176818
anonymous
GuestI feel ya @alphacharlie…last time WU checked for updates on my laptop was 29/2/20. Some of the updates I didn’t want were in the WU list and the “check for updates” button was replaced by the “download” button. So I went ahead and followed the steps again. The WU queue got cleared, then I checked wushowhide for the umptieth time and got [brave] and clicked the “check for updates” (cause I could swear that I clicked it a couple of times in the past without WU installing, it just refreshed the list to mirror the wushowhide list). The updates were all the ones I wanted, though this some there was some downloading going on, but to fully download I unmetered it.
Anyway, like you I just wanted to get this excrement over with 😛
And thanks a lot @PKCano for this guide, really helpful, have been using it for a couple of months and it really works for me
-M-
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August 7, 2020 at 10:07 am #2286979
Matador
AskWoody Plus* Restart the computer. This should allow Windows Update to search for updates without clicking on “Check for Updates.” It may take up to 36 hours for it to check on it’s own. WAIT for it.
An alternate step is NOT to restart the computer, just open Settings/Update & Security and pause updates again.
Then immediately Resume Updates,this allows WU to check for any updates and in the process resets the update queue. There is no need to wait days for it.
Just follow on with the remaining instructions and you will be good to go.
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August 7, 2020 at 10:32 am #2286990
PKCano
Manager-
August 7, 2020 at 11:09 am #2287003
Matador
AskWoody PlusSorry to rock the boat but this outcome has always worked for me with great success each time as I don’t wish to wait hours or days to update
I would be very interested to hear from anyone else regarding this part of the procedure.
I of course refer to this method working on a Win10 Home machine.
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August 7, 2020 at 11:28 am #2287006
PKCano
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August 7, 2020 at 12:01 pm #2287011
Matador
AskWoody PlusYes I did, for example I had the Preview .Net patch queued up which I didn’t want. At this initial stage metered connection is on.
Then by proceeding with your instructions in the article and after running wushowhide to verify that the update is hidden I replaced the instruction to
* Restart the computer. This should allow Windows Update to search for updates without clicking on “Check for Updates.” It may take up to 36 hours for it to check on it’s own. WAIT for it.
with my alternate method.
Once I see that only the updates that I want are there I turn off Metered connections to complete the download and install.
Cheers
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August 8, 2020 at 9:21 pm #2287271
DriftyDonN
AskWoody Plus
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August 7, 2020 at 1:14 pm #2287018
anonymous
GuestI have followed PK’s instructions to the letter and have had no issues whatsoever for months now. Took me a few cycles to get comfortable I understood the results but it works like a charm. Not sure why anyone needs to mess with success (i. e. I’m not understanding Matador’s use case why he is making a modification to PK’s process) but if it works, go for it.
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August 7, 2020 at 9:48 pm #2287113
Matador
AskWoody PlusMy post was in response to alphacharlie’s question above as I had similar concerns about waiting ages for it to check for updates, so I tinkered around and found an immediate solution that has so far worked great on 3 machines for the last 3 patching cycles.
I’ve never said that PK’s instructions don’t work but I’m more than happy with my ‘modified’ results as I can now update my computer in one swoop and not have to wait which for me became a bit of a nuisance.
Hope that helps
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August 8, 2020 at 3:50 pm #2287226
Elly
AskWoody MVPSorry to rock the boat but this outcome has always worked for me with great success each time as I don’t wish to wait hours or days to update
I would be very interested to hear from anyone else regarding this part of the procedure.
By failing to wait, and un-Pausing, all you did was install any available updates in your queue. They disappear from your queue, because they have been installed.
Running wushowhide does not result in the unwanted updates disappearing from the update queue until Windows Update looks for updates again… which is why you wait.
It sounds like you don’t have any problems with the new updates, but the procedure you describe installs them, not avoids them.
I’d advise anyone truly wanting to hide certain updates to follow the procedure that PKCano sets out.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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August 8, 2020 at 11:21 pm #2287287
Matador
AskWoody PlusBy failing to wait, and un-Pausing, all you did was install any available updates in your queue. They disappear from your queue, because they have been installed.
Yes that’s correct, but first WU checks for updates, refreshes the update queue after I have hid unwanted updates and then I turn metered connection off to complete the install. Works a treat, no waiting days required. I too turn of the pc when not in use.
Like I have mentioned I follow PK’s advice exactly but substitute the Restart computer(the second restart) step with my own and then continue with the rest of the remaining steps.
If I was doing it wrong, why cant I find any of the patches that I didn’t want installed in my update history or in the list of updates to be uninstalled under Control Panel?
Please someone try out my ‘modified’ procedure to prove me wrong once and for all…..and please report back.
Cheers
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August 30, 2020 at 11:56 am #2292503
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August 8, 2020 at 11:41 pm #2287290
Matador
AskWoody PlusMay I please add that in the first step after the computer has booted up with metered connection ON that you go to Settings/Update & Security and Resume Updates if you have previously paused them, otherwise wushowhide will not work and will show that there are no updates to install.
Win10 v.1909 Home
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August 8, 2020 at 9:07 pm #2287259
anonymous
Guest“My method for hiding/avoiding KB 4023057 (and any other updates you do not want):
Be sure your Network connections are set to metered connections each time before shutting down the computer. That way, you are on Metered connections when you boot up.”
PCKANO
So, Should we set to metered if using the “2” (Notify but dont download) when booting and don’t use “pause” It seems I saw in your exhaustive instructions (2000016-guide-for-windows-update-settings-for-windows-10/) NOT to use metered any longer. I can’t get rid of that preview .net for love nor money. I have hidden this thing and it is in the hidden area(but still in download que) I know about wait til windows checks and it should go away but to use metered or not to use use metered? I shut down every night, I know many leave PC on 24/7. winpro 1909
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August 8, 2020 at 9:28 pm #2287274
Elly
AskWoody MVPThe reason for using metered connections is that you can slow/limit what is downloaded… which can be useful, especially for Home, as they usually have time to run wushowhide and hide any unwanted updates. Pro, with the 2 setting, isn’t downloading anything until you click on download.
My desktop went without checking for updates itself for six days after I had hid July’s updates and tried to clear the queue manually twice, and gave up. When it finally checked, the hidden updates disappeared from the queue, and were no longer at risk of being installed. Six days. I should have documented with screen shots! I didn’t touch the download button… and eventually the queue cleared. It was fine, long before Woody cleared the July updates for installation.
I’m one of those that don’t shut down often. I don’t think that W10 installs anything when Pro is set to 2 and you shut down/boot up… but can’t say for certain.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
1 user thanked author for this post.
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August 10, 2020 at 9:55 am #2287573
DriftyDonN
AskWoody Plus-
August 10, 2020 at 10:24 am #2287586
DriftyDonN
AskWoody Plus-
August 10, 2020 at 11:11 am #2287615
Coldheart9020
AskWoody LoungerYou could download the Intel (I assume graphics) driver manually from their site. If you download the same driver version as is hidden in wushowhide, it should remove itself from the update queue as you will already have it installed and so have no need for it from WU.
As for the July .NET Preview (KB4562900), as that is a ‘preview’ of the August .NET security update which will surely follow; once that is installed (but be in no hurry to) then the July Preview update will disappear from wushowhide since the actual, completed version of the update will make it redundant. MS may even pull it altogether when the August .NET security update lands.
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August 10, 2020 at 11:16 am #2287616
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August 10, 2020 at 11:41 am #2287620
Coldheart9020
AskWoody LoungerI should have been more specific: it would no longer be pushed through the Windows Update client due to it being superseded? That is, anything in the Preview will be obsolete compared to the actual finished update.
Even if that’s not the case, it’s no trouble keeping it hidden in wushowhide. 🙂
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August 10, 2020 at 11:50 am #2287622
PKCano
ManagerUpdates stay hidden by wushowhide till they are superseded. Then they disappear from the hidden list.
Security Cumulative Updates (Patch Tues patches) contain three parts: Security updates, non-security updates, and IE CUs.
Preview CUs contain four parts: Security updates, non-security updates and IE CUs from the last Patch Tuesday Security CU, PLUS the new non-security patches/fixes that will be rolled into the following month’s Patch Tuesday Updates.2 users thanked author for this post.
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August 10, 2020 at 11:10 am #2287614
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusI’m one of those that don’t shut down often
I never shut down my laptop(s) which is on 24/7/365. I only restart when needed (Windows Update, updating some security software…)
Screen and laptop go to sleep after 10 min of no user activity. Applications like daily backup… run in the background. -
August 10, 2020 at 7:47 pm #2287751
Tom-R
AskWoody LoungerReading thru this long thread of posts on all the hoops that users need to jump thru now with Windows 10 just reinforces the feeling of how much I miss the good old days of Win 7 or Win 8.1 where it was so straightforward to be able to individually pick and choose which updates I wanted to install, and which ones I wanted to ignore and hide.
While I’m thankful for PKCano’s detailed instructions and advice on how to clear the Windows Update Queue, the larger question is why does Microsoft feel the need to create this situation in the first place?
I might understand MS setting the default behavior of Windows Update to automatically install all updates for typical home users who just rather not be bothered with the whole Windows Update process. But for folks like us here (who clearly are very concerned with what updates get installed, and when they get installed), what’s so wrong with keeping the old-style Windows Update as an optional feature? I think that’s an especially valid question for those of us who shelled out the extra dollars for Win 10 Pro. Are we not “professional” enough to decide what updates to install when?
I know I’m ranting here; but this whole process of trying to figure out how to reliably clear out the Windows Update Queue just bugs the heck out of me. (Okay … end rant.)
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August 10, 2020 at 10:21 pm #2287781
Coldheart9020
AskWoody Loungerhow much I miss the good old days of Win 7 or Win 8.1 where it was so straightforward to be able to individually pick and choose which updates I wanted to install, and which ones I wanted to ignore and hide.
I’m right with you on that one, Tom. However, it’s really not so bad once you figure out the best steps for your edition. PKCano’s steps are very helpful in which steps to take, and they’ve worked flawlessly for me.
As for why? I don’t know why Microsoft would push automatic updates on unwitting users who trust them to provide functional updates which won’t interrupt their work on their Windows machines. Often, users who are not technically inclined and just, quite reasonably, want a functional operating system for everyday use.
Still, for those interested (or concerned, as you rightly mentioned) there are tried and tested methods for keeping any unwanted updates at bay.
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August 11, 2020 at 3:44 am #2287836
CBA
AskWoody PlusW10 Pro 1809.
Today I found KB4567327 Cumulative Update Preview for .NET Framework ready to be downloaded and installed. Totally uninvited and not wanted! So, what to do:
Firstly, I ran WUShowHide and found and hid the Update Preview.
Secondly, following Matador’s advice, I clicked “Pause updates” to On and then immediately back to Off (resume). After that WU checked and found NO pending updates. All cleared, it seems. Note: I did not set the Connection to Metered and no Reboot was performed. Fwiw.
I’ll see what happens next. At this moment, all looks okay.
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August 11, 2020 at 4:17 am #2287841
CBA
AskWoody PlusW10 Pro 1809.
I posted a follow-up to Matador’s “trick” to clear the KB4567327 Cumulative Update Preview for .NET Framework from an unwanted “ready to download and install”. After a clarify edit my posting vanished.
But, the upshot is: it worked. No metered connection, no reboot, just hide in WUShowHide and a quick Pause On/Off. Only dared to do this as I have a fresh image backup.
1 user thanked author for this post.
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August 11, 2020 at 5:43 am #2287855
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August 31, 2020 at 10:46 am #2292751
DriftyDonN
AskWoody Plus-
August 31, 2020 at 11:56 am #2292764
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September 4, 2020 at 7:41 am #2293740
PFC
AskWoody PlusSorry to rock the boat but this outcome has always worked for me with great success each time as I don’t wish to wait hours or days to update
I would be very interested to hear from anyone else regarding this part of the procedure.
I of course refer to this method working on a Win10 Home machine.
I just did this today on win 10 pro v2004 and it worked for me also.
Yesterday I had a preview .net 2020-08 and a Defender update in the queue. I hide the .net update. After overnight shutdown, today both were still in the queue and the .net was also hidden. I clicked pause waited maybe 5 secs and clicked resume. Only the defender update was there and installed automatically. The .net preview is still hidden. WU says You’re up to date.
Then I checked View Optional updates (is that recent?) and there’s a CU Preview 2020-08 for 2004
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This reply was modified 4 months, 2 weeks ago by
PFC.
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This reply was modified 4 months, 2 weeks ago by
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September 11, 2020 at 4:34 am #2295580
anonymous
GuestI’ve been trying to follow PKCano’s instructions on my Win 10 Home pc.
I always have my PC on Metered to try to stop updates from installing and keep WU service on Manual,but can’t prevent the Triggered Start after a reboot, so on the second reboot on PKCano’s list WU seems to put back everything I tried to hide. Is this supposed to happen?
I also shut down my PC when not in use as electricity in the UK is very expensive so this will not be helping, I suppose? I don’t really want to leave it on until WU decides to check.
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September 11, 2020 at 4:39 am #2295588
PKCano
ManagerFirst, you need to verify in wushowhide that what you have hidden is actually hidden. If that is the case:
Start here reading the technique @Matador is using to get Windows Update to rescan. There are a number of his posts – read all of them until you understand what he is doing. Then follow his procedure.
After WU rescans, the hidden updates should disappear from the queue. -
September 14, 2020 at 3:42 am #2296169
Paul T
AskWoody MVPShutting down when not in use is a good idea. I do it with my machines and it causes no problems.
cheers, Paul
1 user thanked author for this post.
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October 23, 2020 at 4:17 am #2306418
CBA
AskWoody PlusWorks every time CBA, no sweat.
And the great thing , no rebooting or waiting up to 36 hrs required.
I thank you for giving this ‘alternate’ method a go.
I just got 2004 in the chute, but following your above “method” one more time (hide in WUShowHide and a quick Pause On/Off) it went away. That said, as I’m still on 1809, I soon have to make a move .. either to 20H1 (2004) or to 20H2.
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October 23, 2020 at 12:29 pm #2306502
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October 24, 2020 at 3:33 am #2306598
CBA
AskWoody PlusFor now the better move is to 1909 (supported until 5.2021).
I’m reluctant to do another major update in 6-7 months time. If I could get support for 1809 I would stay put forever (whatever that means).
I have ISOs for 1909 and 2004 (and will d/l the one for 20H2 as well) to have the choice. A feature update every 6 months is insane imho!
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November 9, 2020 at 3:06 pm #2310727
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusBut what if I do not wish to wait 36 hours?
If you want force run check for update then run this command : usoclient.exe StartScan
or check for update with wumgr / wumt. -
November 24, 2020 at 11:58 pm #2314239
Latka
AskWoody PlusWorks every time CBA, no sweat.
And the great thing , no rebooting or waiting up to 36 hrs required.
I thank you for giving this ‘alternate’ method a go.
I just got 2004 in the chute, but following your above “method” one more time (hide in WUShowHide and a quick Pause On/Off) it went away. That said, as I’m still on 1809, I soon have to make a move .. either to 20H1 (2004) or to 20H2.
The feature update to 2004 appeared spontaneously in the update queue today on Windows 10 Home Edition. I thwarted this upgrade in my usual fashion.
I am not afraid to click “Check for updates” or “Resume updates,” because:
- My internet connection is always set to “metered,” so that updates are never allowed to install unsupervised, on their own. I do not change to unmetered just to get updates. If the option to download update over metered connection appears, I click it only for the updates I want to install.
- After clicking “Check for updates,” and before available updates get installed, I always use WuShowHide to hide unwanted updates. Having the internet connection set to metered allows unwanted updates to be hidden before they are installed.
- If a pesky update has already been downloaded and is already installing or preparing to install, I delete all files and folders in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
It works for me.
Some of the procedures PKcano recommends were helpful on previous versions of Win 10 Home Edition, but are no longer necessary. I haven’t had to turn off the metered connection to download updates since the “download update over metered connections” option was added (Version 1903, I think). I have never set Target Release Version or altered the registry.
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This reply was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by
Latka.
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