You turn on your computer and get a notification that the latest update (KB5055461) is available and ready to be installed. But then you notice the strange KB letters and start wondering what they actually mean. Behind every KB number is a Microsoft Knowledge Base article—an official record that explains exactly what the update addresses, what vulnerabilities it patches, and whether any known issues exist.
For IT admins and security teams, these aren’t just routine updates—they’re mission-critical security events. Microsoft’s Windows operating system remains the most widely used OS globally, which also makes it a top target for attackers. Vulnerabilities in Windows are published constantly, and Microsoft responds with regular patches—particularly on “Patch Tuesday,” their monthly update cycle. These cumulative or standalone KB updates help secure millions of systems around the world.
And while many Windows devices automatically receive these updates, the same can’t be said for isolated or unmanaged environments—like OT systems or legacy networks. That’s where things get risky. When updates are delayed or skipped, it’s up to your IT team to identify what’s been installed, what’s missing, and what risks remain unpatched.
In this guide, we will talk about Windows KB updates, answer most of your questions, and provide valuable insights about how to install and verify these updates, as well as how to roll them back in emergency situations.
What Are Windows KB Updates?
KB updates, or Knowledge Base updates, are Microsoft’s systematic approach to delivering patches, security fixes, and feature improvements to your Windows operating system and other Microsoft programs.
Each update is identified by a unique KB number—for example, KB5055461—which you can use to search for detailed information about what it addresses. Microsoft releases these updates to close newly discovered software vulnerabilities, fix bugs that improve your system stability, and introduce the latest features for improved user experience.
Windows Update automatically downloads these patches and updates once they are released, typically on Patch Tuesday (the second Tuesday of each month), and allows you the flexibility to install them immediately or schedule them for later installation within a window of 1 hour to 35 days if you want to avoid operational disruptions. However, we strongly recommend minimizing these delays to maintain optimal security.
Regarding the KB numbering system, it helps you track exactly which fixes have been deployed to your machine(s). Whether it’s a cumulative update that contains multiple fixes or a standalone patch addressing a critical security vulnerability, each KB update provides a clear paper trail for system changes.
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Importance for Security, Stability, and Performance
KB updates are your best protection against the constantly evolving cyber threats, since they keep your system up-to-date. Security patches fix vulnerabilities that cybercriminals actively exploit, making timely installation critical for protecting your business data.
Moreover, these updates improve your endpoints’ stability by fixing Windows OS and application bugs, compatibility issues, and performance bottlenecks that could cause disruptions to your daily operations or even make your systems unresponsive, leading to unexpected downtime.
How are KB Updates Named?
Microsoft follows a straightforward approach when naming KB updates, where each patch receives a unique identifier that always starts with “KB” (Knowledge Base) followed by a sequential number, like KB5028166, KB5012170, or KB4589212. The KB prefix connects directly to Microsoft’s article repository, where your IT administrators can search and find detailed information about what each specific update addresses.
However, as many of you know, the naming also includes short descriptive titles that provide immediate context about the update’s purpose, such as “Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5053598)” or “Security Update for Internet Explorer.” The descriptive names help your team immediately understand what to expect, whether the patch addresses critical security vulnerabilities, adds new features, or fixes system stability issues
What a KB Number Looks Like?
KB numbers follow a consistent format that makes them easy to identify. The structure is simple: “KB” + a numerical sequence. KB numbers, as we know them today, contain 7 digits, like KB5053598. You can see these numbers appearing in several places across your Windows system—in the Windows Update service interface, installed programs list, and even system logs.
When checking the update history, you will see these KB numbers listed along with their installation dates, making it easier to track which patches have been applied to each device in your organization.
How to Decode/Update Versions?
While KB numbers themselves don’t contain encoded version information, they connect to a wealth of data in Microsoft’s support database. So when you search for a specific KB number on Microsoft’s website, you will find detailed information about which Windows versions the update affects, what issues it resolves, and prerequisites for installation.
Keep in mind that KB numbers are chronologically sorted—higher numbers indicate the most recent releases, helping you easily determine whether your computers have the latest patches installed.
How Does Microsoft Аssign Тhem?
Microsoft assigns KB numbers sequentially to avoid duplications, meaning each patch has its own unique reference. Once the patch is tested and released, it’s immediately being added to a knowledge base entry and becomes available for deployment through Microsoft Update, Windows Update, or the Microsoft Catalog.
Where to Find the Latest Windows KB Patches?
Looking for the latest Windows updates but tired of waiting for your system to automatically find them? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Below, we will discuss where you can find the latest updates to keep your systems secure and running at peak performance.
Using the Windows Update Catalog
The Windows Update Catalog is one of the best sources provided to users by the tech giant, which serves as your central hub for finding and downloading specific KB updates. You can easily access it through the following link: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/. There you can find patches by their KB number, product name, or even specific keywords like “cumulative” or “security.”
Whether you want to deploy updates to individual computers or across your entire organization, this catalog offers direct download links, detailed information, and release notes for each update. System administrators can also export update metadata, check whether their machines are compatible for the updates, and even grab CAB files for use with Microsoft Configuration Manager or deploying to offline devices.
Manual vs. Automatic Updates
Depending on your business’s specific needs, you can either manually or automatically patch your endpoints.
Automatic updates help your devices stay current with the latest security fixes with minimal or no human intervention needed. The Windows Update agent is designed in a way to completely automate the process—it checks for available updates, downloads patches, and installs them immediately or according to your pre-configured schedule.
Manual updates need constant intervention from your IT team, making it a time-consuming process, but it gives complete control over each phase, deciding when and which patches to install on your machines.
Organizations that have not equipped themselves with third-party patching tools and need to thoroughly test updates in controlled environments before widespread deployment benefit from this method. With it, your IT team can download specific KB updates from the Microsoft Update Catalog and install them based on your company’s needs to avoid operational disruptions.
Patch Tuesday Explanation and Schedule
Microsoft uses a strictly followed release schedule called “Patch Tuesday,” occurring on the second Tuesday of each month. This enables IT teams to strategize ahead for testing, installation, and compliance checks throughout their networks. During Patch Tuesday, the tech giant releases cumulative updates that include multiple patches bundled together, along with security patches for critical software vulnerabilities.
However, between regular Patch Tuesday releases, Microsoft issues out-of-band updates for addressing critical security vulnerabilities that are actively exploited and require immediate actions to stop the domino effect across organizations of all sizes.
How to Install and Verify KB Updates on Windows?
Keeping every single endpoint in your organization’s network updated is a top priority without any doubt. But have you found yourself staring at a critical security patch, wondering whether it actually installed correctly across your systems? Or keeping your fingers crossed, hoping the patch works as expected and doesn’t cause new issues because you deployed it without thoroughly testing it?
We’ve all been there, because installing KB updates is only half the battle—verifying they’re properly applied and knowing how to handle problematic patches is as important as their deployment for maintaining your organization’s security posture. So let’s now discuss how to properly install and verify updates and, if unexpected issues occur, how to roll back the problematic ones.
Using Windows Settings and Command Line (PowerShell, CMD)
Windows offers multiple methods to install updates, each with its advantages and limitations. The easiest and most straightforward approach is to use Windows Settings: Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, then click “Check for updates.”
Note that this method is reliable for individual endpoints but lacks the granular control that IT professionals often need.
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Installing Microsoft KB Updates via PowerShell:
For advanced management, PowerShell provides specific commands that give you the needed visibility into the update process. However, keep in mind that this requires the PSWindowsUpdate module.
Step 1. To install PSWindowsUpdate, open PowerShell with administrator privileges. Then execute the following command:
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force.
Step 2. Once the installation is complete, proceed with the next command:
Get-WindowsUpdate—to list all of the available patches.
Step 3. To target specific updates from the list, execute the next command:
Install-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KB5055461 -AcceptAll -AutoReboot
Parameters you might find useful:
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-AcceptAll—Accepts all prompts automatically
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-AutoReboot—Automatically reboots if required
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-IgnoreReboot—Installs without rebooting even if required
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-Confirm:$false—Skips confirmation prompts
Or alternatively, you can use a different command:
Get-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KB5055461 | Install-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll
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Installing Microsoft KB Updates via Command Prompt:
Step 1. Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges by typing in the menu search bar “cmd” or “Command Prompt,” then right-click it and select “Run as Administrator.”
Step 2. Next, run the following command:
usoclient StartScan
NOTE: This will force an immediate check for available updates. However, keep in mind that you won’t see any response; this is normal behavior for usoclient—it runs silently in the background and doesn’t display progress or completion messages like wuauclt did.
Step 3. Proceed with the next command:
usoclient StartDownload
Now, pending updates will start downloading.
Step 4. To install the downloaded updates, execute this command:
usoclient StartInstall
NOTE: These commands run silently without displaying progress and cannot target specific KB updates—they only work with whatever updates Windows finds automatically.
Checking Update History
To confirm successful installations or detect failed ones, you can check the update history in multiple ways that we are going to discuss below.
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Check update history using Windows Settings:
Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history.
There you will find all recent installs, failed attempts, and rollback events.
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Check update history using PowerShell:
Step 1. PowerShell offers detailed information about update installations. To access that data, open PowerShell with administrator privileges.
Step 2. Execute the following command, which displays installed patches with their KB numbers and installation dates:
Get-HotFix
For comprehensive logging, check the Windows Update log files using this particular command, which creates a readable log file from the cryptic ETW traces that Windows generates during the update process:
Get-WindowsUpdateLog
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Check update history using Command Prompt:
Step 1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Enter the following command, which shows the count of hotfixes, not the actual KB numbers.
systeminfo | findstr /B /C:”Hotfix”
How to Rollback or Uninstall Problematic Patches?
Unfortunately, Microsoft KB updates sometimes cause more problems than they solve; a problematic patch or update can lead to costly downtime or cause compatibility issues. In such cases, rollback capabilities serve as a life-saving option for business continuity and minimizing the impact the problematic patch causes.
Windows provides several rollback options depending on the update type and how recently it was installed, but in most cases we’re talking about updates deployed recently or 2–3 days before the problems emerged.
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Using Windows Settings:
To rollback an update, navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates. This opens the classic Programs and Features window where you can uninstall specific KB updates. However, keep in mind that not all patches can be uninstalled—cumulative updates and certain security fixes are permanent once deployed.
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Using PowerShell:
Step 1. Open PowerShell with administrator privileges.
Step 2. Execute the following command to list all installed updates chronologically and identify the problematic one:
Get-HotFix
Step 3. Next, run the following command to uninstall the specific update that caused the issues:
Start-Process “wusa.exe” “/uninstall /kb:5055461 /quiet /norestart”
Alternatively, if you have the PSWindowsUpdate module installed, you can use:
Remove-WindowsUpdate -KBArticleID KB5055461 -AcceptAll
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Using Command Prompt:
Step 1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
Step 2. Execute the following command to uninstall a specific update:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5005565 /quiet /norestart
or
Start-Process “wusa.exe” “/uninstall /kb:5005565 /quiet /forcerestart”
KB Patch Failed to Install – What should you do?
Most IT professionals have at least once faced the unpleasant feeling of watching the same Windows KB update fail repeatedly and wondering what’s wrong and how to fix it. Unfortunately, failed update installations are more common than you’d think, and they’re rarely as catastrophic as they appear. Finding the root cause of the problem is the first step to fixing it, so below we’ll discuss how to handle failed patches.
Stuck KB updates
When updates get stuck in an endless download or installation loop, the problem can be solved in minutes, not hours, by stopping the Windows Update service, clearing its cache, and restarting it.
Just follow this step-by-step guide to get updates back on track:
Step 1. Stop Windows Update Services: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and execute these commands in sequence:
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net stop wuauserv
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net stop cryptSvc
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net stop bits
Step 2. Clear the Update Cache: Navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and delete all files. This step clears the corrupted download cache that may be causing your headaches.
Step 3. Restart Windows Update Services: Execute these commands in sequence:
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net start wuauserv
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net start cryptSvc
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net start bits
After completing all these steps, restart the computer and try again to install the update.
Alternative Method: If the problem persists, try downloading the standalone MSI or CAB files directly from Microsoft’s Update Catalog and install them manually. This bypasses the problematic Windows Update service entirely.
Compatibility Issues
Some patches fail because they conflict with existing software, drivers, or system configurations in your environment. These compatibility problems often manifest as error codes during installation or immediate system instability afterward.
Check your system’s compatibility by reviewing the KB article on Microsoft’s support page for known issues and prerequisites. Many updates require specific .NET Framework versions, Visual C++ redistributables, or other programs to be installed first.
Driver conflicts represent another common culprit—especially with graphics, network, or storage drivers. Update your critical drivers before attempting patch installation, as outdated drivers frequently block security updates from completing successfully.
Fixing Errors Using Windows Update Troubleshooter
Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter, which is designed for resolving the most frequent update problems, and if we have to be sincere, it is surprisingly effective. Starting with the troubleshooter is always a good idea before taking any additional actions.
To access it, just navigate to Settings > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters > Windows Update.
Once hitting the “run” button, it will automatically search for and detect issues related to corrupted update components, fix registry issues, and reset Windows Update configurations to their default state. Moreover, it checks and tests your internet connection stability, since network interruptions during downloads often cause installation failures. And they tend to happen more frequently than you think.
If that does not solve your update problems, a good practice is to run the troubleshooter 2-3 times, as some issues require multiple passes to be completely resolved. After each completed scan, the tool generates detailed logs that help identify specific error patterns affecting your systems.
More drastic measures include the option to use the reset script provided by Microsoft, which performs more aggressive cleanup operations intended for complex update problems if basic troubleshooting can’t resolve them.
Using KB Updates to Strengthen Windows Security
Microsoft security vulnerabilities reached an all-time high in 2024, with 1,360 flaws reported across its products. But the real issue isn’t the number—it’s the active exploitation of these weaknesses by threat actors who know how to move fast. And while large enterprises are always in the spotlight, it’s often small and mid-sized businesses that suffer the most, especially when they lack a consistent patching strategy.
What’s the most helpful step your organization can take right now? Make KB updates (Knowledge Base updates) part of your core security process. Microsoft releases these updates frequently to fix exploitable flaws across Windows OS, Microsoft 365, Exchange, and other critical products. If your company skips them—or delays them—you’re essentially leaving a window open for attackers to walk right in.
Role in Closing Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
Zero-day vulnerabilities are every business owner’s biggest nightmare—when cybercriminals discover security flaws before Microsoft does. In such cases, hackers have enough time to exploit these specific flaws because no existing patch can fix them, making organizations powerless to protect their systems. However, when the tech giant’s software engineers identify these threats first, they create and release emergency KB updates outside the regular Patch Tuesday schedule.
You should always deploy these updates as soon as they are released, since hackers often weaponize zero-day exploits faster than you can imagine—not in days, but within hours of discovery—making rapid KB deployment essential for protecting your sensitive data and systems.
Why Enterprise Environments Prioritize KB Management
Enterprises are well aware of the risks that unpatched systems pose across their network, and they avoid taking unnecessary risks by delaying or neglecting KB updates. Because their environments contain thousands of interconnected devices, a single unpatched vulnerability in even one endpoint can compromise their entire network.
Systematic KB management is essential for maintaining their security posture; they implement automated testing environments where updates are validated before being deployed across every single device in the organization. The primary objective is to ensure that patches do not interfere with their business operations while simultaneously addressing the identified security vulnerabilities.
Patching in the Role of Cybersecurity Hygiene
Microsoft KB updates are critical for strengthening your organization’s security posture against vulnerability exploitation. Regular patching maintains what security professionals call “cybersecurity hygiene,” the highly important practices that keep your systems protected and resistant to attacks.
Patch management is not a process that must be done once a month or every quarter; it is an ongoing process. Once an update has been released for your operating system or third-party application, it must be deployed as soon as possible, of course after being thoroughly tested to verify that it works as expected.
Patching your systems reduces your attack surface significantly. When your IT team maintains current KB update levels across all Windows systems, you minimize the chances of becoming a victim to the cybercriminals.
Common Questions Regarding Windows KB Updates
We’ve all been in the situation of looking at KB updates and wondering, “Do I really need this update?” “Is it addressing a critical security vulnerability and needs to be deployed immediately, or does it introduce the latest feature improvement that can wait a day or two?”
Managing Windows updates can undoubtedly feel overwhelming, especially without a reliable patch management tool to automate the process. Balancing security with business continuity is easier said than done. That’s why below, we’ll answer the most important questions IT teams commonly ask about patch deployment—clearly, directly, and with just the helpful details you need.
What is the Difference Between Cumulative and Standalone Updates?
A cumulative update bundles multiple updates into a single package, including both newly and previously released updates. When you install a cumulative update, you are basically getting months of patches rolled into one comprehensive package, addressing security vulnerabilities, fixing bugs, and enhancing system performance, with the goal to keep your endpoints secure and operating at their peak efficiency.
Standalone updates address specific vulnerabilities, bugs, or features in isolation. Each standalone update contains only the particular fix or feature it’s designed for, without including previous patches.
Do KB Updates Require a Restart?
Yes—but not always. Most KB updates, especially security fixes and updates to system files or core Windows components, do require a restart to complete the installation process. Updates that patch running services or kernel-level files won’t apply until the system reboots.
However, hotpatch updates, for instance, take effect immediately after deployment without requiring a restart.
How to Know if a KB Patch is Critical or Optional?
Microsoft classifies updates by severity, visible in Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog. Critical updates address security vulnerabilities or system stability issues and appear as “Important” or “Critical”—install these immediately. Optional updates include driver improvements or feature enhancements that aren’t security-essential.
If a KB links to a Microsoft security bulletin, treat it as mandatory, especially in business environments where data protection is crucial.
What is the Difference Between Feature Updates and KB Microsoft Updates?
Feature updates are major releases that introduce new Windows functionality and change how your OS behaves—like upgrading from Windows 11 23H2 to 24H2.
KB updates are smaller, regularly released patches focusing on addressing software vulnerabilities, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
Simply put, feature updates transform or upgrade your OS, while KB updates secure, stabilize, and improve it.
What Role Does Windows Update Agent Play in KB Patches?
The Windows Update Agent (WUA) is the background service that scans for updates, downloads them, and manages installation. It checks the Microsoft servers or your internal update sources like Windows Update for Business or Microsoft Endpoint Manager to ensure the correct updates reach the right devices. If the WUA malfunctions, KB updates may not install properly—or at all.
That’s why keeping the WUA up-to-date and properly configured is crucial for managed environments using automatic updates.
About Action1
Action1 is an autonomous endpoint management platform that is cloud-native, infinitely scalable, highly secure, and configurable in 5 minutes—it just works and is always free for the first 200 endpoints, with no functional limits. By pioneering autonomous OS and third-party patching – AEM’s foundational use case – through peer-to-peer patch distribution and real-time vulnerability assessment without needing a VPN, it eliminates costly, time-consuming routine labor, preempts ransomware and security risks, and protects the digital employee experience. Trusted by thousands of enterprises managing millions of endpoints globally, Action1 is certified for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
The company is founder-led by industry veterans Alex Vovk and Mike Walters, American entrepreneurs who founded Netwrix, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry-leading cybersecurity company.
