Reviewing the Windows Update History

by Barry Dysert
(last updated April 4, 2019)

Whenever you attempt a Windows Update installation, a behind-the-scenes update history log is modified. In earlier versions of Windows, this log is in a file called "C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log". Windows no longer directly produces a WindowsUpdate.log file in more recent versions of Windows. While the WindowsUpdate.log file is humanly-readable, if available, it's encoded to the point where you're probably better off reviewing the Windows Update history through the Windows Update system. Follow these steps:

  1. Display the Control Panel.
  2. Click the Programs category.
  3. Under the Programs and Features heading, click View Installed Updates. Windows displays the Installed Update screen. (See Figure 1.)

    4. Figure 1. Windows Update history screen.

    Windows shows the name of each update and, if you scroll the screen to the right, the date on which it was installed. When you're finished reviewing your updates, just close the Control Panel.

 This tip (5646) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Barry Dysert

Barry has been a computer professional for over 35 years, working in different positions such as technical team leader, project manager, and software developer. He is currently a software engineer with an emphasis on developing custom applications under Microsoft Windows. When not working with Windows or writing Tips, Barry is an amateur writer. His first non-fiction book is titled "A Chronological Commentary of Revelation." ...

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