With Windows 10, there are some changes in the Windows Updates algorithm. Now Windows Updates section is eliminated from Control Panel and all the settings in context to the feature is confined to Settings app only. This suppressed the ability of an user to select an specific update he/she wants to install in Windows 10. So they can’t specify selective updates and as a result of this, all updates are downloaded and installed automatically.
This will consume your data bandwidth, additionally. In order to let Windows Updates notify you before downloading and installing updates, you can try the steps mentioned here:
How to prevent Windows Updates from automatically download and install in Windows 10
You can also natively defer upgrades if you like. Defer upgrades features is not applicable to postpone security updates. Read more about it, here:
How to configure “Defer Upgrades” in Windows 10
Today, in this article, we’re going to show how you can select the updates which you want to install. This will give you the freedom to install only those updates which are relevant for you. Hence, using this way, you can save your valuable data which could have wasted in downloading irrelevant updates. Also you’ll save your time by preventing installation of those updates which you don’t need.
Without wasting time anymore, here is the how-to part:
How To Install A Specific Windows Update In Windows 10
Follow these steps carefully, and make sure to create a System Restore point before starting. You may also need to signed in as administrator of your system.
1. First of all download the Windows Update PowerShell Module from following link:
Download Windows Update PowerShell Module
The module is in ZIP format, so you can easily extract it using in-built decompression ability of Windows 10. Right click on .zip file and select Extract all.
2. Now press 
+ R and type this into the Run dialog box and press Enter key / click or tap OK:
%WINDIR%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules
3. Moving on, copy the extracted ZIP folder named as PSWindowsUpdate from step 1 to Modules folder so opened from step 2:
You need to provide the permissions for this operation by clicking Continue option here:
4. Press + S and type powershell in the search box. Choose Windows PowerShell form results, right click on it as select Run as administrator. In the elevated or administrative Windows PowerShell window, type following command and press Enter key:
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
Then you’ll be asked to changing execution policy for current operation. Type Y and press Enter to provide your confirmation. Then type these commands followed by Enter key:
Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate
Get-WUList
This will list all available Windows Updates for you. To install a specific update, type following cmdlet and Enter key then:
Get-WUInstall -KBArticleID KB<UPDATE NO.>
* Substitute your desired update KB ID with <UPDATE NO.>. For example, to install update KB3081441, I’ll use cmdlet as Get-WUInstall -KBArticleID KB3081441.
As soon as you typed cmdlet and press Enter, you’ll be asked for confirmation. Type Y and press Enter key. Now, the update will be downloaded depending upon speed of your Internet connection and will be installed automatically as well. You can then close Windows PowerShell if you like.
That’s it! Go here to learn how to manually reset Windows Update components.
ethan scmidt
Hey just checked it on my windows 10 n it works. Thanxx a lot man l great find!!
Kapil Arya
^^ Glad it worked! Thanks for feedback :)
David Paul
” Get-WUInstall KBArticleID KB” . A “dash is required before KBArticle as shown in your screen-shot. Thus the correct syntax is: ” Get-WUInstall -KBArticleID KB” This correction just above the screen-shot will be highly appreciated. Thanks for the cute article. – David
Kapil Arya
^^ Corrected, thanks for pointing it out :)
S. Williams
^ awesome post — just awesome! Let more come ;-)
Gary F
Unfortunately Windows 10 isn’t letting me install the module because the files aren’t digitally signed. I did say ‘yes’ to changing the execution policy. Any advice please? The error shown is:
Import-Module : Errors occurred while loading the format data file:
C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\PSWindowsUpdate\PSWindowsUpdate.Format.ps1xml, ,
C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\PSWindowsUpdate\PSWindowsUpdate.Format.ps1xml: The file was skipped
because of the following validation exception: File
C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\PSWindowsUpdate\PSWindowsUpdate.Format.ps1xml cannot be loaded. The
file C:\Windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\Modules\PSWindowsUpdate\PSWindowsUpdate.Format.ps1xml is not digitally
signed. You cannot run this script on the current system. For more information about running scripts and setting
execution policy, see about_Execution_Policies at go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170..
At line:1 char:1
+ Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [Import-Module], RuntimeException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : FormatXmlUpdateException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.ImportModuleCommand
Kapil Arya
^^ Try using
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypasscmdlet. This will work for a single session and when once PowerShell window closed, you need to run it again. Let me know if this helps.Sara
^^ Thanks – your alternate suggestion works for the issue reported by Gary F
Kapil Arya
^^ Glad it worked! :)
Umut AKIN
I got the following message:
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-WUInstall -KBArticleID KB3012973
Confirm
Are you sure you want to perform this action?
Performing the operation “Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, version 1511, 10586[3 GB]?” on target “AKIN-NVY”.
[Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S] Suspend [?] Help (default is “Y”): y
X Status KB Size Title
– —— — —- —–
2 Accepted KB3012973 3 GB Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, version 1511, 10586
3 Failed KB3012973 3 GB Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, version 1511, 10586
WARNING: Don’t found any downloaded Updates to Install
Kapil Arya
^^ Seems like the method may have an exception for large update downloads. Make sure your data bandwidth is not Metered one and retry to download, see if it helps.
roper
Mine failed to install. What could be the problem? Thnx!
Kapil Arya
^^ Any error message/code you recieved?
Dryheatwriter
I receive a “Failed” trying to install KB3012973:
PS C:\Windows\system32> Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
Execution Policy Change
The execution policy helps protect you from scripts that you
do not trust. Changing the execution policy might expose you
to the security risks described in the
about_Execution_Policies help topic at
go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170. Do you want to
change the execution policy?
[Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S] Suspend
[?] Help(default is “N”): y
PS C:\Windows\system32> Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-WUList
ComputerName Status KB Size Title
———— —— — —- —–
DESKTOP-O… —— 7 MB AMYUNI Technologies -…
DESKTOP-O… —— 305 KB Realtek – LAN – Realt…
DESKTOP-O… —— 15 MB Alps – Keyboard – Len…
DESKTOP-O… —— 2 MB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 3 MB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 1 MB Intel Corporation – O…
DESKTOP-O… —— 1 MB Intel Corporation – O…
DESKTOP-O… —— 3 MB Lenovo Ltd – Other ha…
DESKTOP-O… D—– KB3012973 3 GB Upgrade to Windows 10…
DESKTOP-O… —— 783 KB Intel Corporation – B…
DESKTOP-O… —— 3 MB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 3 MB Intel – WLAN – Intel(…
DESKTOP-O… —— 46 KB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 46 KB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 46 KB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 46 KB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 46 KB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 46 KB Intel – Other hardwar…
DESKTOP-O… —— 216 KB AMD – Other hardware …
DESKTOP-O… —— 5 MB Realtek – Camera, Oth…
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-WUInstall -KBArticleID KB3012973
Confirm
Are you sure you want to perform this action?
Performing the operation “Upgrade to Windows 10 Home, version
1511, 10586[3 GB]?” on target “DESKTOP-O4K65KC”.
[Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S] Suspend
[?] Help(default is “Y”): y
X Status KB Size Title
– —— — —- —–
2 Accepted KB3012973 3 GB Upgrade to Windows 10 Home, …
3 Downloaded KB3012973 3 GB Upgrade to Windows 10 Home, …
4 Failed KB3012973 3 GB Upgrade to Windows 10 Home, …
I was able to successfully install another KB (for Siverlight update).
Thoughts?
Kapil Arya
^^ Please refer previous comments for hint :)
Blazej
Hi, update installed successfully – at least PS said that, but I have still issues when I reboot PC, the “clocklike” installer appears with 0% on screen for just few miliseconds, windows boots and no update was installed.
I run PS Get-WUList and the same update ready for install is still there… I tried google hundred times, nothing helped.
Also KB3012973 update on DELL laptop…
Kapil Arya
^^ This means Windows was failed to configure the update and hence reverted changes. See if this fix helps you: https://www.kapilarya.com/failure-configuring-windows-updates-reverting-changes
Alexandru Gagea
Nothing happens after the ” Get-WUList ” command. Can’t even type anymore in powershell.
Kapil Arya
^^ Make sure you installed the module correctly.
Enchanted Starlight
Also…. just type Get-WUInstall and then hit enter, you will be prompted for all of the updates and can choose then to install them or not. Easier than inputting each one separately.
Kapil Arya
^^ That is equivalent to downloading/installing all updates under Settings app 😊