Hi Dan,
Right click Start, click Run and type in
regedit, click OK. Follow this path to the
correct key
When you get to the Windows SelfHost key right click and Delete
Then close Regedit and Restart the PC.
Windows Update To 25H2
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Dan McDermott
150
Reputation points
I have W11 and Windows wants to update to 25H2 but I already have Windows 26H2 Installed
Windows Insider program | Windows Insider preview | Other
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Dan McDermott 150 Reputation points
2026-09-12T16:37:49.4666667+00:00 The version of Windows 26H2 that I have Installed is "Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview" and not the full up version of 26H2. Before that, I had 25H2. Also, I can't seem to stop W11 from wanting to install "Windows 11 Pro Insider Previews" even though my W11 says I am unenrolled. Crazy loop I'm in so I paused for 1 week the request that wants me to update to 25H2. I hoping a 1 week delay is long enough.
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Abhishek U 170 Reputation points2026-09-12T16:42:26.9533333+00:00 You’re stuck in a loop because you’re on an Insider Preview build (26H2) while Windows Update still thinks you need the stable 25H2 release. Even though you unenrolled, cached update data keeps offering Insider packages. Pausing updates for a week just delays it — the real fix is to reset the update components (stop services, rename SoftwareDistribution and catroot2) and then hide the unwanted 25H2 update so it won’t reappear. That way, your system stays on 26H2 without nagging you to downgrade.
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9 answers
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CrazyKats 19,415 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2026-09-12T17:18:44.4066667+00:00 -
CrazyKats 19,415 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-09-12T17:01:42.81+00:00 Hi Dan,
Unenrolling doesn't automatically
remove you from the Insider Program
until the next Feature Update is released
in Oct.
Try deleting this Registry Key and then
restart the PC. This should remove you
from the Insider Channel you have selected.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost
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Dan McDermott 150 Reputation points
2026-09-12T17:54:14.4733333+00:00 When the next Feature Update is released
in Oct, what do I do then? Will it just install another Preview or do I have time to un-enroll?
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Dan McDermott 150 Reputation points
2026-09-12T16:43:44.96+00:00 Sounds like this is dangerous to do. Is it?
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Dan McDermott 150 Reputation points
2026-09-12T17:12:47.6166667+00:00 can u expand on this for us newbies
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Dan McDermott 150 Reputation points
2026-09-12T17:35:51.3433333+00:00 do you mean "delete the whole Key" shown below - I don't see a folder
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost"
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Abhishek U 170 Reputation points
2026-09-12T16:31:19.08+00:00 Hello @Dan McDermott
The reason Windows Update is trying to push 25H2 even though you’re already on 26H2 comes down Cache files that may have been stored on the device.
The way to stop that is by resetting the update components so Windows doesn’t keep retrying the wrong feature update Open Command Prompt (Admin) Windows + X and search for Command Prompt and select Run as admin.
Run these one by one:
cmd
:: 1. Stop update services net stop wuauserv net stop bits net stop cryptsvc :: 2. Rename update cache folders ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old :: 3. Create a system restore point wmic.exe shadowcopy call create Volume='C:\' :: 4. Restart services net start wuauserv net start bits net start cryptsvcAfter this reset, check Windows Update again Or restart the device.
Hope this helps.
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Abhishek U 170 Reputation points
2026-09-12T16:42:44.4866667+00:00 No — it isn’t dangerous. Stopping the Windows Update services and renaming the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders is a standard Microsoft‑recommended troubleshooting step. All you’re doing is clearing cached update files so Windows rebuilds them fresh.
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Abhishek U 170 Reputation points
2026-09-12T16:45:15.3366667+00:00 Microsoft's Support article lists several separate methods to fix update errors, but all I did was compile them into one streamlined step — stop the update services, rename the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders, then restart the services. It’s the same process they describe, just simplified into a single workflow.
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