Viewing Update History on Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to View Update History on Windows 11

Checking the update history on your Windows 11 device is a valuable way to ensure your system is running smoothly. This function provides insights into which updates were successful, which failed, and any critical information associated with updates, such as known issues or fixes introduced. In this guide, we’ll explore how to effortlessly view your update history using both the Settings app and PowerShell.

Let’s begin with an overview of why you might want to check your update history:

Confirm whether specific updates were successfully installed.
Identify failed updates and troubleshoot their issues using error codes.
Review updates related to Windows features, security enhancements, and Microsoft Defender Antivirus definitions.
Uninstall problematic updates if they create system instability.

1. Viewing Update History from Settings

Follow these simple steps to access your Windows 11 update history through the Settings app:

Launch the Settings app by pressing Windows + I or by clicking the Start menu.
Select Windows Update from the sidebar.
Click on Update history in the “More options”section.
Review the list where you’ll find details about installed updates, including quality updates, drivers, definitions, feature updates, and optional updates.

After completing these steps, you will easily identify which updates were successfully installed and any that failed. For additional information on a specific update, click on the “Learn more” link to navigate to Microsoft support for in-depth details, including the implications of the update.

If an update fails, observe the accompanying error code, which you can use in online searches to diagnose and remedy the issue.

2. Checking Update History Using PowerShell

If you prefer using the command line, PowerShell offers another method to view your Windows 11 update history. Here’s how:

Open the Start menu, type PowerShell, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
If prompted, set the execution policy by running the command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass

Then revert to the default setting with:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Undefined
Import the Windows Update module by typing:

Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate
To see all recent updates, enter the following command:

Get-WUHistory
For a summary of only the last 20 updates, use:

Get-WUHistory -Last 20

Once you execute the command, you’ll receive a complete log of the updates installed on your computer. You can modify 20 in the command to display a different number of updates.

In addition to just checking the history, PowerShell also allows you to manage updates, including installing or uninstalling updates that may be problematic after a Patch Tuesday rollout. Consider also using the Get-HotFix command for registered hotfixes, remembering that it may not list all cumulative updates.

Note that as of Windows version 24H2, the wmic command is no longer available for this purpose.

Just a reminder: The information provided here reflects the most accurate and current processes as of June 12, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I know why a Windows update failed?

If a Windows update fails, an error code will typically appear next to the update description. You can utilize this error code to search online for troubleshooting steps tailored to that specific issue.

2. Can I uninstall updates using the same methods?

Yes! Both the Settings app and PowerShell provide options to uninstall updates. In Settings, go to the update history and select the option to uninstall an update. In PowerShell, use the corresponding commands to remove updates causing problems.

3. Are all updates listed in the history?

The update history will show major updates, quality updates, and driver updates. However, some minor updates may not appear, so it’s always good to verify directly through Windows Update for a complete picture.

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