With the recent problems caused by monthly Windows Update, knowing how to massively uninstall Windows Update with SCCM is a must! This action is not available by default in SCCM.

There are 2 ways to uninstall a Windows Update. Both solutions require the command line utility WUSA.exe, that as been around since Windows Vista/Windows Server 2008 era.

In this post, we will detail both solutions to uninstall a Windows Update with SCCM.

If you are looking for how to manage Windows update with SCCM, see our SCCM Software Update Management Guide for complete instructions.

Prerequisites

  • SCCM any version
  • Windows 7 and up
  • Windows 2008 R2 server and up

SCCM Uninstall Windows Update

One method is to use a Custom Task Sequence with a run command line. The advantage of using this method is the ability to use the same task sequence on both OS Architecture.

Note

On a 64-bits system, since SCCM is a 32 bits application when a WUSA.exe is called, it will attempts to access %windir%\System32 but will be redirected to %windir%SysWOW64

Using a task sequence will work on both OS architectures because we can prevent a Run Command line to redirect file system on x64 clients.

Additional details can be fond on this MSDN article

The second method involves having a script per OS architecture. Nowadays, x64 is pretty much the main OS architecture used on workstation and server. However, there’s still some softwarethat require x86 OS Architecture to run. Using this method will require the right script to run on the right OS architecture. The advantage of this method is to use a simple package/program instead of a Task sequence.

Custom Task Sequence to Uninstall Windows Update

Create a new custom task sequence

  • Under Software Library / Operating System / Task Sequence, right-click and  Create Task Sequence
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Select Create a new custom task sequence, click Next
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Name: Uninstall KB, click Next
    • Do not select boot image as we don’t need it
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Summary, click Next
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • On the Completion screen, click Close
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Edit the task sequence
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Click Add, General / Run Command Line
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Provide the needed information needed. (Change KB number based on the need)
    • Command Line : C:\Windows\System32\wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:4014505 /quiet /norestart
    • Check: Disable 64-bit file system redirection
    • Note that even with the /norestart, the task sequence will trigger a restart. This is because the run command line returns a 3010 error code, which means Restart Required
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update

Deploy custom task sequence

  • Create a Device Collection to target your systems
  • Right-Click your Task Sequence and select Deploy
  • Select your collection, click Next
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Select Required, click Next
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Define your Schedule, click Next
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Select the desired User Experience, click Next
    • Remember that a restart is required. Plan accordingly and use Maintenance Window if needed
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Set Alert, click Next
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Leave default option, as there is no download required, click Next
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Summary, click Next
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Completion
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update

Once deployed, the Task sequence will uninstall the KB and reboot the computer.

Custom Script to Uninstall Windows Update

A simple batch file can do the trick to remove a Windows Update. As stated earlier, a special consideration must be done for x64 systems.

Create Scripts

For x64 system we will point the script to %Windir%\Sysnative.

x64 script code

cd /d %windir%\sysnative
wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:4014512 /quiet /norestart

For x86 system, we will use %Windir%\System32.

x86 script code

cd /d %windir%\system32
wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:4014512 /quiet /norestart

Save both script under the same folder.

Create SCCM Package

  • Under Software Library / Application Management / Packages, select Create Package
 SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Enter Name, Description and Source Path (where you saved your script)
 SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Select Standard Program, click Next
 SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Enter information
    • Name: Uninstall x64
    • Command line : cmd /c Uninstall-x64.cmd
    • Program can run: Whether or not a user is logged on
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Limit platform to all X64 OS
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Under the Uninstall x64 program Properties, change the After running for Configuration Manager restarts computer. Click OK
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • On the package, click Create Program
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Enter information
    • Name: Uninstall x86
    • Command line : cmd /c Uninstall-x86.cmd
    • Program can run: Whether or not a user is logged on
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Limit platform to all X86 OS
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update
  • Don’t forget to Distribute Content
SCCM Uninstall Windows Update

Now you have 2 programs that can be deployed on all systems while the OS Architecture limitation will take care of which computer runs which OS architecture!

Comments (19)

somi singh

01.21.2020 AT 03:14 AM
I want remove 1 Microsoft update from windows servers using TASk sequence, what should be the command line ? should I select disable 64 bit system redirection option ? https://latestexamresult.com/

imam

10.30.2019 AT 09:56 PM
can we uninstall a patch from application model?what is the process?

kelly

10.21.2018 AT 01:03 AM
This is so good for us now. http://screenrecorderwindows10.com

MS Surface Support Service

10.15.2018 AT 03:54 AM
SCCM is the new thing for me and I truly did not that SCCM is utilized for uninstalling the windows. I have to uninstall the windows currently utilizing SCCM. Thanks for this blog.

Microsoft Surface Pro Screen Replacement

10.11.2018 AT 04:08 AM
SCCM is the new thing for me and I really did not that SCCM is used for uninstalling the windows. I need to uninstall the windows now using SCCM. Thanks for sharing this information.

Narendra

10.03.2018 AT 01:12 AM
I tried below command also but still i am getting same above error in windows10 OS. C:\Windows\System32\wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:4014505 /quiet /norestart

Narendra

10.01.2018 AT 02:12 AM
I am trying to patch uninstallation command in windows10 Operating System it it not accepting this command. I tested this command on single system also it is getting error. Windows update could not be uninstalled because of error 2147942487 "The parameter is incorrect." (Command line: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\wusa.exe /uninstall /kb4230204.msu /quiet /log").

Jonathan Lefebvre

10.02.2018 AT 09:54 AM
Hi Narendra double check your command line. Seems you are specifying the KBxxxxxx.msu. Only put the KB number without the .MSU C:\Windows\System32\wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:4014505 /quiet /norestart Jonathan

emni petro

08.16.2018 AT 12:13 AM
Same problem. Can’t modify the name, or user specification on modules, and inverter. Same windows update. http://www.windowstechnicalsupportnumbers.com/

emni petro

08.16.2018 AT 12:12 AM
Same problem. Can't modify the name, or user specification on modules, and inverter. Same windows update.

syed khairu

08.13.2018 AT 07:56 AM
Hi Jonathan I want remove 1 Microsoft update from windows servers using TASk sequence, what should be the command line ? should I select disable 64 bit system redirection option ?

kaushal singh

01.31.2018 AT 09:16 AM
hi, We have noticed the similar command is not working on windows 10 machines for uninstallation any sugesstion.

PS Raju

09.29.2017 AT 08:58 AM
Thanks for sharing great solution, what my doubt is if we have the KB x64 and x86 bits installed on All Os version , how do we mention both bits a package, I have seen you have just choose x86 bits platform only, KBxxxx--installed on all machines,i need deploy a package for uninstall the KB, instead of chose all specified platform and making for another x86 Can anyone please suggest me and help me on this

Ryan Steele

07.11.2017 AT 01:23 PM
Hi Jonathan, Thanks for the post, but you're way over-complicating things here. wusa.exe is on the system path, so you can call it directly without having to specify its location. In my experience, the best way to remove an update is with an Application. Here are the settings I use. Content location: [Leave this blank] Installation Program: xyz [Put some random text in here as it's not allowed to be blank, but we never use it] Uninstallation Program: wusa.exe /kb:nnnnnnn /uninstall /quiet /norestart [where nnnnnnn is the KB number] Detection Method: PowerShell Script Contents: Get-HotFix | Where-Object {$_.HotfixID -eq 'KBnnnnnnn'} Deploy this to your Computer collection with the Action set to Uninstall.

Stefan

11.28.2017 AT 10:34 AM
Hi Ryan have you testet this with the new cummulative updates from Win10 (KB4048953, KB4048954, KB4048955)? I've got all the time an error 87 (the parameter is incorrect)? BR Stefan

Pär

07.12.2017 AT 06:22 AM
That's a great solution, thanks for sharing!

Lassiol

07.11.2017 AT 11:27 AM
Instead of the name of the kb you set a custom variable and you get a generic ts. You position the variable on your collection and everything becomes agile