How to Rollback Windows 10 Update & Revert to an Older Version

How to Rollback Windows 10 Update & Revert to an Older Version

/ Sed Galope

What are Rollback Windows Updates?

Rollback Windows Updates are a feature of the Windows operating system that allows users to reverse any updates they have installed. This is useful if an update causes problems with the user’s system or if they simply want to go back to a previous operating system version. With Rollback Windows Updates, users can restore their system to its pre-update state.

Automatically Repair Windows Errors

Recommended: To easily install drivers automatically, use the tool below.

Download Now
Fortect System Repair

Users can select updates to undo when using this feature and begin rolling back their system. The process typically requires only a few minutes and can be done without reinstalling their previous software or drivers from scratch. Rollback Windows Updates also allow users to preserve their data, as it will not be affected when reverting.

All applications previously installed on the user’s computer will remain intact after completing the rollback. As such, this feature prevents users from losing critical files and other data when attempting to reverse an update.

These also provide robust security features that help protect against malicious changes brought about by ill-intentioned third parties or accidental user mistakes. With this feature enabled, users have access to additional layers of protection when reversing an update and can rest assured that their systems are secure from potential threats.

Rollback Windows updates

For undoing any previous version of windows due to corruption or missing feature updates, it is preferable to get your device back to the last build. This process helps to deal with significant windows updates/minor windows updates, which could be done from the windows recovery page. Here are the steps to fix Microsoft windows.

Step 1: Launch settings from the windows main menu. Type settings in the taskbar’s search box and double-click the option in the list to launch the menu.

Step 2: Select the update and security options in the settings menu. In the update and security window, select the choice of windows update from the left pane.

windows update and security

Step 3: In the next step, select recovery in the Windows update section. Click get started to continue.

get started option

Step 4: A dialogue pop-up will appear. Select the appropriate reason for windows rollback and click next to continue.

rollback screen

Step 5: Click no thanks to proceed to the next window of checking for updates.

rollback check for updates

Step 6: Read all the recommendations and click next to continue.

Step 7: For the option of don’t get locked, select next to continue. It will let you know that if the previous version is password locked, you should have the password to continue.

dont get locked out

Step 8: In the next wizard window, click the option to go back to earlier build. Allow your device some time to roll back to the previous version.

go back to earlier build

Uninstall Minor or Cumulative Windows Update

Another way to roll back to the previous version of Microsoft Windows on the device to resolve any windows update error or due to any missing feature update file or system file corruption is to uninstall the minor or cumulative windows update. It could be done in two ways: from windows settings or command prompt action.

Recommended: Fortect System Repair Tool – Fix Errors & Speed Up Windows Automatically

(i) Rollback Windows updates using Windows Settings

Windows update history can be used for uninstalling windows update from the settings menu. Uninstalling minor, cumulative, or significant updates will roll back the device. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch windows settings from the main menu. Type settings in the taskbar’s search box and double-click the option to launch the menu.

Step 2: In the settings menu, select the options of update and security.

windows update and security

Step 3: In the update and security window, select the option of windows update from the left pane.

view update history

Step 4: In the next step, navigate to the update history link and click it to launch the update history window.

view installed updated history

Step 5: In the update history window, select all the targeted updates, i.e., either feature updates or quality updates, and click uninstall updates. Click Uninstall to confirm the action.

click uninstall updates

(ii) Rollback Windows updates using command-line

If uninstalling the windows update to roll back to the previous version is impossible via windows settings, then the command prompt utility can perform the action. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Launch the Run utility via the keyboard’s windows key+ R shortcut keys. In the run command box, type CMD and click ok to continue, and it will launch the administrative command prompt.

control find cmd

Step 2: In the command prompt window, type wmic qfe list brief /format:table and click enter to continue. It will launch the window containing all windows updates.

wmic qfe list brief cmd command

Step 3: Copy the update number/name and type wusa /uninstall /kb:4578846. Click enter to apply the command. It will uninstall the targeted windows update from the device. Restart the device to roll back to the previous build.

update number cmd command

Why Would People Rollback their Updates?

People will roll back updates for a variety of reasons. One of the most common is that the update has caused an issue on their device or computer that they weren’t expecting. This could be anything from decreased performance, hardware compatibility issues, or something unexpected.

In addition, if a user believes the update is not providing any meaningful advantages or improvements to “their device, rolling it back may be worth considering. Sometimes, people may also need to roll back an update due to its incompatibility with specific applications or services they rely on.

For example, suppose you have specific software that requires an earlier operating system version. In that case, you may need to roll back an update to preserve functionality. If you’ve saved data on your device for a particular application and updated it without realizing that the new version isn’t compatible with the old data files, rolling back might be necessary to restore all your work.

Sometimes users will roll back updates because they notice that certain features have been removed or changed in ways they don’t prefer. Rolling back can help ensure that all older features remain intact and usable. In these cases, users may be more interested in preserving legacy features than adopting new ones which aren’t necessarily needed or beneficial for them at the time.

Windows Automatic Repair Tool
Windows 10
System Information
  • Your machine is currently running Windows 10
  • Fortect is compatible with your operating system.

Recommended: To repair Windows Errors, use this software package; Fortect System Repair. This repair tool has been proven to identify and fix these errors and other Windows problems with very high efficiency.

Download Now
Fortect System Repair
Norton Digicert
  • 100% safe as confirmed by Norton.
  • Only your system and hardware are evaluated.

Frequently Asked Questions About Windows 10 Rollback Update

How do I Uninstall Updates on Windows?

Use the Control Panel to access the Programs and Features window. On the left side of this window, select “View installed updates” to open a list of all installed updates on your system. At the top right of this window, look for and click on “Uninstall” to delete any unwanted updates from your machine.

When clicking on the Uninstall Updates link in Windows, it is generally safe to click. However, there are a few caveats. If you uninstall an update needed for regular operation, you could experience some errors or compatibility issues with your software and hardware.

Will I Lose Data if I Reinstall Windows?

Fortunately, reinstalling Windows does not delete all your data. If you are using Windows 8 or 10, the installation process keeps all your documents, music, pictures, and other data intact. Some of your programs may need reinstalling, but you will not lose any critical data.

Can I Rollback Updates that were Recently Installed?

The answer to this question is yes and no, depending on your operating system. On some systems, such as Windows 10, rolling back updates is possible by accessing your System Restore settings. However, due to built-in security measures, users cannot roll back recent updates in other systems like macOS.

Can Windows Updates make My Windows PC Slow?

Windows updates can slow your Windows PC as it needs to install the new update and apply system changes. It also requires more resources from your computer, such as RAM and processing power, to run correctly. This can cause performance issues, such as lagging or freezing during the process.

What is a Creators Update on Windows?

The Windows 10 Creators Update (also known as version 1703 and codenamed “Redstone 2”) is a significant update to Windows 10, released on April 11, 2017. It brings a range of new features and changes, including the Paint 3D app, which allows users to create 3D objects from scratch or modify existing ones.

Is it Safe to Rollback a Previous Version of Windows?

It’s important to note that rolling back your system to an earlier version of Windows may cause data loss and other issues with programs and hardware devices. If you decide to roll back, ensure that your system is backed up first, and this will help restore your data if anything goes wrong during the rolling-back process.

Is it Secure to Delete Feature Updates on Windows?

It’s essential to understand the risks associated with this action and ensure you perform the task correctly. When Windows installs a feature update, it replaces or adds files to your system. These updates could include features such as improved security or bug fixes for specific applications. Deleting these updates could potentially cause system instability

How Long does it take to Rollback Windows?

Rolling back Windows can be done in as little as 10 minutes. This process requires that you have previously created a system restore point or an image backup from which you can choose to restore your computer to a previous state and undo any changes made since then.

How Many Times Can I Rollback Updates on Windows?

It is possible to roll back updates on Windows, but the number of times you can do this depends on the type of update and the version of Windows you have. For most significant updates, you can roll back the update one time within 30 days of applying the update. You can typically roll back twice in 30 days for device driver updates.

Can Rolling Back Updates Affect My Hard drive?

Rolling back updates can affect your hard drive, as some updates may require additional space on the hard drive to install. If you do not have enough free space, performing a rollback may cause issues such as errors or file corruption.

Are All Updates Essential to Windows?

Microsoft typically releases two types of updates: feature updates and quality updates. Feature updates are more significant, more comprehensive packages that add new features and capabilities to the operating system, while quality updates usually just contain bug fixes and security patches.

Can Updates Cause PC Issues on Windows?

Yes, updates can cause PC issues in Windows. Updates are intended to enhance your computer’s security, performance, and stability; however, they can sometimes lead to the opposite result. If a newly-installed update does not run as intended, it could interrupt your everyday processes, introduce instability, or even crash your system.

Sed Galope
Meet the author

Sedfrey is an experienced writer and editor. He's also a PC hardware and gaming enthusiast. In his spare time, he enjoys reading about the latest innovations in the PC market and finding fixes to hardware and software errors.