Some Windows 11 updates cause problems after installation. You may see a blue screen, driver failure, or application crash after a specific KB update installs. Uninstalling the update is a temporary fix because Windows will try to reinstall it during the next update scan. The Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter Pack from Microsoft lets you block a specific KB update permanently until you choose to install it again. This article explains how to download, run, and use the tool to hide a specific KB update on Windows 11.
Key Takeaways: Hide a Specific KB Update on Windows 11
- Microsoft Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter Pack: A free Microsoft tool that lets you block a specific KB update from installing again after uninstalling it.
- wushowhide.diagcab file: The actual troubleshooter file you download and run. It scans for available updates and lists them so you can select which ones to hide.
- Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates: After hiding an update, you can resume normal updates without the hidden KB being offered again.
What the Show or Hide Updates Tool Does on Windows 11
The Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter Pack is a diagnostic package created by Microsoft. It was originally designed for Windows 10 but works fully on Windows 11. The tool scans your system for all pending Windows Updates and displays them in a list. You can then select an update and choose to hide it. Hidden updates are not offered by Windows Update again until you run the tool a second time and select the option to show hidden updates.
The tool does not uninstall an update. You must uninstall the problematic KB update manually before hiding it. After hiding, Windows Update will skip that KB in future scans. This is useful when a driver, security patch, or feature update breaks your system and you need to wait for a fixed version from Microsoft.
There is no built-in setting in Windows 11 to hide a specific update. The Pause Updates feature only delays all updates for up to 35 days. The Show or Hide Updates tool is the only official method to block a single KB update indefinitely.
Steps to Hide a Specific KB Update With the Show or Hide Updates Tool
- Uninstall the problematic KB update
Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Locate the KB number in the list. Select it and click Uninstall. Restart your computer when prompted. The update is removed but will be offered again during the next scan if you do not hide it. - Download the Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter Pack
Open a web browser and go to the Microsoft Download Center page for the tool. The official file name is wushowhide.diagcab. Click the Download button and save the file to your desktop or Downloads folder. Do not rename the file. - Run the troubleshooter file
Double-click the wushowhide.diagcab file. If a security warning appears, click Yes or Run. The tool opens a window titled Updates Troubleshooter. It may take 30 to 60 seconds to scan for available updates. - Select the option to hide updates
On the first screen, click the link that says Hide updates. The tool displays a list of all updates that are currently available for your computer. Scroll through the list and locate the KB number you uninstalled in step 1. Check the box next to that KB update. - Confirm and hide the update
Click Next at the bottom of the window. The tool processes the request and hides the selected update. A confirmation screen appears stating that the update has been hidden. Click Close to exit the troubleshooter. - Verify that the update is hidden
Open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Windows Update runs a scan. The hidden KB update should not appear in the list of available updates. If it still appears, repeat steps 2 through 5 and ensure the correct KB number is selected.
How to Show a Hidden Update Again
If Microsoft releases a fixed version of the hidden KB update, you can unhide it and install the new version. Run the wushowhide.diagcab file again. On the first screen, click Show hidden updates instead of Hide updates. The tool lists all updates you have previously hidden. Check the box next to the KB update and click Next. The update is now visible in Windows Update. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates to install it.
Common Issues and Limitations of the Show or Hide Updates Tool
The tool does not list the KB update I want to hide
The tool only shows updates that are currently available for your system. If Windows Update has not scanned recently or the update is not offered for your hardware, the KB will not appear in the list. Run Windows Update manually and check for updates. If the KB still does not appear, it may have been superseded by a newer update. In that case, you cannot hide the old KB because it is no longer offered.
Hidden update reappears after a Windows feature update
Installing a major feature update such as Windows 11 version 23H2 or 24H2 can reset the hidden updates list. After the feature update completes, the previously hidden KB may be offered again. Run the Show or Hide Updates tool again and hide the KB a second time if needed.
The tool does not block updates pushed through Microsoft Update Catalog
If you manually download and install an update from the Microsoft Update Catalog, the Show or Hide Updates tool does not block it. The tool only affects updates delivered through the standard Windows Update service. To block a Catalog update, you must use Group Policy or modify the Windows Registry.
Show or Hide Updates Tool vs Windows 11 Built-In Pause Feature
| Item | Show or Hide Updates Tool | Windows 11 Pause Updates |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Blocks a single specific KB update | Pauses all updates for up to 35 days |
| Persistence | Lasts until you manually show the update | Automatically resumes after the pause period ends |
| Driver updates | Can hide driver updates as well as cumulative updates | Pauses all update types including drivers |
| Requires download | Yes, you must download the diagcab file | No, the feature is built into Settings |
| Works offline | Yes, after download the tool runs locally | No, it requires an active internet connection |
The Show or Hide Updates tool gives you precise control over which update installs on your Windows 11 computer. Use it when a single KB update causes errors and you cannot wait for Microsoft to release a fix. After hiding the update, check Windows Update weekly for a new version of the same KB. Once a fixed version appears, show the hidden update and install it to keep your system secure.