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2000013: How to clear the Windows Update queue in Win10
Posted on Comment on the AskWoody Lounge- This topic has 64 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 3 days, 2 hours ago.
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“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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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/
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If 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.)
1 user thanked author for this post.
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Got 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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I’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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Thanks for responding PK. Enabled “do not include drivers” in gpedit. There were no further settings.
I will hide the update… again and see if it stays hidden tomorrow morning, so I can install defender update.
I’ll let you know.
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If the Intel driver is not in the WU queue, it won’t install. If what you are seeing is the same as #2292477, clicking on “Download” should only install KB2267602. You don’t need to clear the queue if it’s not in the queue.
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Since 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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I 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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The 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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The link has been corrected
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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?
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I have just posted the Guide for Wuidows Update Settings in Win10. See if this answers some of your questions.
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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?
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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The 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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You already have the answer to all these questions above.
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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)?
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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* 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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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).
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I 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 ballsy 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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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.
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My 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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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.
Non-techy Win 10 Pro and Linux Mint experimenter
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The 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
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Updates 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.1 user thanked author for this post.
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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.)
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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
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