Dell Support Assist

Hi

I doubt this is relevant, but...........

• Dell Update is the consumer-oriented updater that Dell retired.

• Dell Command | Update is a separate enterprise/managed tool and is not the same product as Dell Update

you are a consumer oriented user.

So I believe your logic is correct.

• Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps or Control Panel > Programs and Features.

• Find Dell Update or Dell Update for Windows Universal and choose Uninstall.

• Restart the PC after removal so the service and updater components are fully unloaded.

• Go to Dell’s SupportAssist download page and download the installer.

• Run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts to complete installation.

• When it finishes, launch SupportAssist from the Start menu and let it check for updates.

If Dell Update or related pieces refuse to uninstall, Dell’s own guidance for SupportAssist troubleshooting uses the Windows uninstall troubleshooter and a clean removal approach.

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In SupportAssist, open the gear icon, go to Settings, then Automate Scans and Optimization, and disable Scan Your System and Drivers at automatic updates/scans.
After that, use SupportAssist manually only when you actually want to check for updates.

When SupportAssist shows a list of updates, expand Optional updates and uncheck anything you do not want before installing.
That prevents the “old or unwanted” items from being pushed through in one batch.

But when I run dell support assist, It tells me there's one software update which is the support assist plug in for Dell update. Well if I install That plug I'm plugging into something that Dell is retiring anyway so why does it tell me that?

Hi byas2:

What is your Dell computer model and the version and OS build number of your Windows operating system [open a Run dialog box (Windows key + R) and enter winver]?

AFAIK you only need the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update v5.5.x if Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery v5.5.x (also called Dell SupportAssist Remediation) is installed on your system and you use a utility like Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.5.0 or Dell | Command Update v5.6.0 to check for available updates for your system.  See the description of this plugin on the download page <here> for the latest Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update v5.5.16.0 (rel. 30-Apr-2026).

If Dell has already retired Dell update and is migrating everything to Dell support assist, why would I need a for Dell update? I have a feeling that if I install that update then support assist will stop working again.

Support for the "classic" Dell Update / Alienware Update products ended in December 2024 per the Dell support article Alienware Update and Dell Update End of Life (EoL) Announcement, but since then Dell has released newer product lines like Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.5.0 and Dell | Command Update v5.6.0 for many Dell computer models. Many users find that Dell SupportAssist is too buggy and consumes too much RAM and CPU, and they prefer to use a Dell Update / Alienware Update utility to check for available updates instead.

If you browse to https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/products and enter your unique Service Tag this should redirect you to the correct support page for your Dell computer model, and you might find a compatible installer for one of these newer v5.5.0 or v5.6.0 Dell Update utilities if you click "Select Drivers" on the Drivers & Downloads tab. If you're happy with SupportAssist, however, there's no need to install it.

Like SupportAssist v5.0.x, these re-designed Dell Update utilities now require installation Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime v8.0x as a pre-requisite.  I didn't like the amount of unnecessary bloat that Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.5.0 added to my Inspiron 5584 laptop [see my topic Dell Update v5.5.0 (rel. 01-Apr-2025) Installs Unnecessary Bloat], but it did run correctly when I tested it in April 2025.  I eventually decided to uninstall this app because Dell hasn't released a BIOS or hardware driver update for my 7-year-old Inspiron 5584 laptop since 2023. 

FYI, I removed ALL SupportAssist-related software (including Dell SupportAssist, Dell SupportAssist Remediation, and Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin for Dell Update) in March 2023 after my Dell service warranty expired - see my 08-Feb-2025 post in ygil’s BSOD Issues After Windows Updates. The only Dell software I currently  have on my system is the My Dell v2.2.6.0 UWP app and the companion Fusion Service this app requires.
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Dell Inspiron 15 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.7184 * Firefox v150.0.2 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.26030.3011-1.1.26030.3008 * Malwarebytes Standard v5.5.5.253-155.0.5587 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * My Dell v2.2.6.0 * Fusion Service v2.2.14.0