Trust in Windows 11 has reached a concerning low, particularly following the January 2026 update that disrupted fundamental applications such as Notepad and Xbox. Users reported significant issues, including an inability to shut down their PCs after the update was installed. Compounding these frustrations, the update also adversely affected gaming performance on NVIDIA GPUs, prompting widespread dissatisfaction among the user base. In a rare move, Microsoft has even recommended that users uninstall the problematic January 2026 update.
Full guide on how to uninstall Windows updates in Windows 11
Uninstalling Windows updates on Windows 11 can be a straightforward process, although some updates may necessitate entering “Safe Mode” for successful removal. Below is a step-by-step guide to assist users in navigating this process:
- Launch the Settings app on your PC, then click the “Windows Update” option from the left pane.
- Scroll down slightly and click on the “Update history” option.
- On the Update history page, note down the KBxxxxx number of the update you wish to uninstall.
- Scroll down further on the Update history page and click on the “Uninstall updates” option.
- Locate the KBxxx number and click on the Uninstall button next to it.
- Click on the Uninstall button again to initiate the uninstallation process.
- A restart may be required to complete the uninstallation. Click on the Restart button when prompted.
If the uninstallation fails, entering Safe Mode may be necessary. Here’s how to access Safe Mode on your PC:
- Launch the Start Menu and hold the left Shift key on your keyboard.
- While holding the Shift key, click on the Power Button in the Start Menu and select Restart.
- When the “Please Wait” message appears, you can release the Shift key.
- Your PC will restart and present several options. Click on Troubleshoot.
- Next, navigate to Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After your PC restarts, press 4 to select Safe Mode from the options displayed.
Once in Safe Mode, you can follow the same uninstallation steps outlined above, and the update should uninstall successfully this time.
Read more: NVIDIA believes the recent Windows 11 update is the root cause of the gaming issues
