Windows Update - Hide or Restore Hidden Updates

How to Hide or Restore Hidden Windows Updates in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to either hide or unhide Windows Updates to have them listed or not listed as available to install again in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

OPTION ONE

To Hide a Windows Update

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Windows Update icon. (see screenshot below)



2. After you check for updates, click/tap on the .....update(s) is available link. (See screenshot below)

3. Right click or press and hold on a listed Windows Update that you want to hide, then click/tap on Hide Update. (See screenshot below)

4. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

5. You will now notice that the now hidden Windows Update is grayed out. Repeat steps 3 and 4 if you want to hide another Windows Update. When done, click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)

6. You will now see this if you do not have any unhidden Windows Updates left to install. (See screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

To Restore a Hidden Windows Update

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Windows Update icon. (See screenshot below)

2. In the left pane, click/tap on Restore hidden updates. (See screenshot below)

3. Check all of the Windows Updates boxes that you want to restore, and click on the Restore button. (See screenshot below)

4. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes or enter the administrator's password.

5. Windows Updates will now check for updates, then your restored update(s) will now be available to be installed. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: Some updates that you try to restore might not appear in the list of updates that Windows Update offers you. This happens only when Windows Update finds a more recent update, available or already installed, that addresses the same problem as the update you tried to restore.



That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Create a "Windows Update" Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Change the Windows Update Settings in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows Updates from Automatically Restarting the Computer
• How to Uninstall a Windows Update in Windows 7
• How to View Windows Update History Details in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a Installed Windows Updates Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows Update Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Uninstalling Windows Updates in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Access to Windows Updates in Windows 7
• How to Reset Windows Update in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable the Windows Update "Who can install updates" Setting
• How to Download the Standalone MSU Installer File of a Windows Update
• How to Extract a Windows Update
• How to Check for and Install Windows Updates in Windows 8

 

[egertz]

Thanks Shawn. That was easy.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Egertz, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[Lucius Snow]

Hello,

Is there any method to hide some updates using registry or command line ? This is for a silent deployment.

Thanks.

 

[Start Menu]

Windows 7 Language Packs

Hi,

I know about the language packs but after I use the "Windows Update - Reset" and then "Check for Update"

All i want is it to Stop the crazy 500+MB Storage into %windir%\softwaredistribution

There must be a way to stop the Windows 7 language packs and Hide it as dont want that storage 500MB a waste of space so is there a new way to stop that ever it now year 2014 as only English required except many other language for no appear reason

Sorry but it now 2014 going on 2015 since Windows 7 Release

 

[Brink]

Hello Start Menu,

Language packs are optional Windows Updates that would need to be manually selected and installed. If you have them installed, then you should be able to uninstall them, and hide them to not show up in Windows Update anymore.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87313-display-language-packs-install-uninstall.html

 

[Start Menu]

the only Uninstall is English which i do not want to do that

Many Multi Languages is Hidden but 500+MB is still in the %windir%\softwaredistribution \ DataStore \ the DataStore.edb is 516.160 KB "504 MB" is the Languages that are hidden in the Windows Update list so there gotta be a way to stop Windows Update leaving 504MB of Languages in the DataStore that not ever needed

is there a away or anywhere in the registy etc or somewhere to stop the Windows Update detecting the missing Languages or a Fake file into thinking there a Languages Pack in the Windows Update hidden so there no need for a 504MB.............

When i delete the DataStore.edb and do a Check for Update there a long wait because again it doing the 504MB DataStore.edb and showing Multi Languages that OMG put back to "Hidden updates" and OMG 504MB still in the DataStore.edb

sorry if i sound repeatly

 

[Brink]

Do you have Office installed that they could be from it instead?

If you like, you might also see if this below can help free up some space in the folder.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/307546-windows-updates-remove-outdated-updates-windows-7-a.html

 

[Start Menu]

Yes i rechecked it is Windows 7 and not the Office

here the screenshot which you see hidden but file is hidden in the %windir%\softwaredistribution

 

[ThrashZone]

Sound like windows 7 Ultimate is not what you should of bought :/
Ultimate comes with language packs it's just as designed as far as I know,
Seems windows 7 Professional is the version for you ?
Cheers.

 

[ThrashZone]

You might even verify your windows update setting are set to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them"
Uncheck the box to "Give me recommended updates the same as Important updates",
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2797-windows-update-settings-change.html

It does sound like these Optional updates are Downloaded and ready for install ?

 

[Start Menu]

Mine is Ultimate Black Box, hope once time there a way to prevent from Windows Update Language Packs Fake file or something

Thank, never mind i will try MYLINK to Junk folder HDD

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I've never really understood what Hiding an update really does personally ?
I simply leave them in the optional updates section collecting dust and adjust my windows update settings to not download them,
Not sure if that makes any difference in the folder your inquiring about size or not :/
Cheers.

 

[Start Menu]

Hi TrashZone

it always been "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them", but i just now did Uncheck "Give me recommended updates the same as Important updates" so when i click Back ARROW then back in it awlay back to Check so possible the Default will stay Check for "Give me recommended updates the same as Important updates"

I cant seen to stop the Check for ""Give me recommended updates the same as Important updates" ever while checking for update i did back to change settings again it back to Checked so it seen to be Defaulted for "Give me recommended updates the same as Important updates"

 

[ae58]

thx

solution was clearly understood & effective. thank you.

 

[Brink]

Glad it could help ae58.

 

[Night Hawk]

This will definitely be a help now that the latest Window 10 version is now out and being delivered by way of the Windows Updates! If you elect to remove the 10 app by uninstalling the KB3035583 update responsible you will want to see that hidden when immediately running the check for updates to catch as it appears again!

At the moment the 10 app is busy at it announcing 10 is ready to go on as an "Unintended" update upgrade on the already existing 7 side of the dual boot with 10! Have to make sure the update is hidden from now on!

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Shawn mate I have that Windows 10 updates downloaded and installed on two of my machines and I have just reinstalled 7 back to the third now after much "fixing" I am now able to download the normal updates but want to avoid anything that has anything to do with 10.

Is there a way I can do that apart from searching through each and very update the one I do not want on the machine. I know how to hide the nag and stop the process but cannot remove that GWX from the registry (HKEY LOCAL MCHINE Software Microsoft - see pic) which I think id the 10 waiting there like some bad dream. As you may have noticed I don't like 10 after trying it and want at east one machine totally free. If there is some way the I would consider reinstalling the other two machines - reluctantly because I think the 10 update stuff has thrown spanner in the main machines works:sarc:

 

[Brink]

Hey John,

If you like, you can use the tutorials below to disable the GWX app and the upgrade to Windows 10 update. There's nothing to worry about have the GWX key in the registry if you used this below to disable it.

Get Windows 10 Icon - Remove from Taskbar in Windows 7 and 8.1 - Windows 10 Forums

Upgrade to Windows 10 Update - Enable or Disable in Windows 7 or 8.1 - Windows 10 Forums

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks so much Shawn I did see that tutorial somewhere the other day but couldn't remember where I shall try the Option 3 & 4.

Now it isn't because I don't like change but as I think I mentioned to you before somewhere I am really very annoyed with the privacy stuff, no choice re updates, and that also it still retains some of that 8.1 look with panels.

Now being a simple person I am just thinking why 7 had to be altered at all because simpler and easy to navigate system I cannot think of.

Maybe Windows 11 - I am pretty sure they must be working on it right now will be different again maybe something as simple a 7 - we live in hope