Topic: 2000013: How to clear the Windows Update queue in Win10 @ AskWoody

2000013: How to clear the Windows Update queue in Win10

Posted on PKCano Comment on the AskWoody Lounge
Home › Forums › Knowledge Base › 2000013: How to clear the Windows Update queue in Win10

Tagged: clear Windows Update queue, Win10, Win10 updates, Windows Update

This topic contains 9 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by PKCano 1 week, 4 days ago.
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- November 16, 2018 at 6:57 am #233671 Reply
  
  PKCano
  Da Boss
  
  “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.
  
  10 users thanked author for this post.
  
  Dan Montague, KevinTMC, Berserker79, mirkec, ve2mrx, CYinVT, Lars220, Microfix, abbodi86, Elly
- March 6, 2019 at 10:06 am #338076 Reply
  
  Lars220
  AskWoody Lounger
  
  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
  
  3 users thanked author for this post.
  
  tjm1963, Berserker79, CYinVT
- June 3, 2019 at 6:46 am #1766761 Reply
  
  taftbaby
  AskWoody Plus
  
  PK, should metered connections be turned on all the time?
  - June 3, 2019 at 6:54 am #1766782 Reply
    
    PKCano
    Da Boss
    
    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.
    
    mirkec
    - July 18, 2019 at 4:06 pm #1876602 Reply
      
      cyclical01
      AskWoody Plus
      
      How 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! 🙂
      
      July 18, 2019 at 4:17 pm #1876603 Reply
      
      PKCano
      Da Boss
      
      If 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.
      
      July 18, 2019 at 5:08 pm #1876612 Reply
      
      cyclical01
      AskWoody Plus
      
      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!!!
- November 9, 2019 at 2:40 am #2002110 Reply
  
  Tom-R
  AskWoody Plus
  
  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?
  - November 9, 2019 at 3:34 am #2002130 Reply
    
    Paul T
    AskWoody MVP
    
    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-window
    
    cheers, Paul
    
    1 user thanked author for this post.
    
    Tom-R
  - November 9, 2019 at 4:51 am #2002141 Reply
    
    PKCano
    Da Boss
    
    The link has been corrected
    
    1 user thanked author for this post.
    
    Tom-R
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