How to Hide Windows Updates in Windows 11

Introduction

In Windows 10, users had the ability to defer or ignore specific updates through a graphical interface, which was useful when an update caused compatibility issues or could not be installed. However, with Windows 11, Microsoft removed this built-in functionality, leaving users without a straightforward way to manage problematic updates. To address this, the PSWindowsUpdate PowerShell module provides a reliable method to hide unwanted updates, preventing them from being automatically installed. This guide outlines the steps to use this module effectively.

Prerequisites

• Administrative access to the system.
• PowerShell 5.1 or later (included with Windows 11).
• Internet connection to install the PSWindowsUpdate module.

Step 1: Install the PSWindowsUpdate Module

To begin, you must install the PSWindowsUpdate module and configure PowerShell to allow script execution.

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator:

• Search for “PowerShell” in the Start Menu.
• Right-click “Windows PowerShell” and select “Run as administrator.”

2. Set the Execution Policy:

• Run the following command to allow local scripts while requiring signed scripts from the Internet:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope LocalMachine -Force

3. Install the PSWindowsUpdate Module:

• Install the module from the PowerShell Gallery with this command:

Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force -SkipPublisherCheck

• If prompted to install NuGet, type Y and press Enter.
• If prompted to trust the repository, type A (Yes to All) and press Enter.

4. Import the Module:

• Make the module’s commands available in the current session:

Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate

Step 2: Identify Available Updates

To hide an update, you need its title or KBArticleID. Use the Get-WindowsUpdate cmdlet to list updates.

1. List Available Updates:

• Run the following command to display updates known to the Windows Update Agent:

Get-WindowsUpdate -Verbose

• Alternatively, use the alias:

Get-WUList -Verbose

2. Review the Output:

• The output lists updates with details such as Title, KBArticleID, and Size. For example:

ComputerName Status KB          Size Title
------------ ------ --          ---- -----
MYPC         ---    KB5034123   123MB 2024-01 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
MYPC         ---                535MB Intel Corporation - Display - 31.0.101.5388

• Note the exact Title or KBArticleID of the update to hide.

3. Filter Specific Updates (Optional):

• To narrow down the list, use the Where-Object cmdlet. For example, to find updates with “Intel” in the title:

Get-WUList | Where-Object {$_.Title -like "Intel*"}

Step 3: Hide an Update

Use the Hide-WindowsUpdate cmdlet to prevent the selected update from installing.

1. Hide Using the Title:

• For an update identified by its title, such as a driver update:

Hide-WindowsUpdate -Title "Intel Corporation - Display - 31.0.101.5388" -Verbose -Confirm:$false

2. Hide Using the KBArticleID:

• For an update with a KB number:

Hide-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID "KB5034123" -Verbose -Confirm:$false

3. Notes:

• Ensure the Title or KBArticleID matches exactly.
• The -Confirm:$false parameter skips confirmation prompts.
• The -Verbose parameter provides detailed output.

Step 4: Verify Hidden Updates

Confirm that the update is hidden by listing all hidden updates.

• Run the following command:

Get-WindowsUpdate -IsHidden -Verbose

• The output will list updates marked as hidden, including the one you just hid.

Step 5: Unhide an Update (Optional)

f you need to make a hidden update available again, use the Show-WindowsUpdate cmdlet.

1. Unhide Using the Show-WindowsUpdate Cmdlet by Title:

Show-WindowsUpdate -Title "Intel Corporation - Display - 31.0.101.5388" -Verbose

2. Unhide Using the Show-WindowsUpdate Cmdlet by KBArticleID:

Show-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID "KB5034123" -Verbose

3. Unhide Using Hide-WindowsUpdate with -Hide:$false by Title:

Use the Hide-WindowsUpdate cmdlet with the -Hide:$false switch:

Hide-WindowsUpdate -Title "Intel Corporation - Display - 31.0.101.5388" -Hide:$false -Verbose

4. Unhide Using Hide-WindowsUpdate with -Hide:$false by KBArticleID:

Hide-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID "KB5034123" -Hide:$false -Verbose

By following these steps, you can effectively manage Windows updates, ensuring system stability and compatibility.