Thank 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/

How To Clear Windows Update Cache In Windows 10

PK, should metered connections be turned on all the time?

PK,

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?

Considering 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?

I’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.

This 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.

PKCano wrote:

* 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.

We 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).

PKCano wrote:

* 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.

I 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.

Matador wrote:

Sorry 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.

“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

Elly wrote:

I’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.

Reading 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.)

W10 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.

W10 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.

Is ‘pause updates’ going to be available in 2004 if it is ever ready to be installed by the masses?

Matador wrote:

Sorry 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

I’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.

Matador wrote:

Works 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.

I soon have to make a move .. either to 20H1 (2004) or to 20H2.

For now the better move is to 1909 (supported until 5.2021).

alphacharlie wrote:

But 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.

CBA wrote:

Matador wrote:

Works 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

TonyC wrote:

usoclient.exe StartScan

cannot be used to force Windows Update to rescan for updates

The command will force ‘check for updates’

What will happen next relies on your Windows Update settings (metered, paused, GP Notify=2…

I just tried this procedure for the first time on my new computer (Windows 10 Home 20H2, never had Windows 10 before). I was as precise as I could be, though I wonder if part of it needs updating, since “Disable” was not an option anywhere in the Services box. (I tried “Stop” instead, which was the closest thing.)

In any case, 36+ hours later nothing seems to have changed in the Windows Update queue. I’ve verified in wushowhide that everything is hidden (and not available to be hidden) multiple times, but otherwise I’m at a loss. I suppose I could try what Matador did, but I’m a little wary just in case I messed up (or if things have changed since 2018). Is there a reason why this might not work now?

Windows update can take a few days between runs.

Download a copy of WuMgr and click on the refresh button (circle thingy) to get an up to date view of updates. Windows Update will eventually (hopefully) get to the same view.

cheers, Paul