On Windows 10, cumulative updates download and install automatically as soon as they become available. Although this approach allows laptops and desktop computers to receive security updates to patch vulnerabilities, improve performance, and bring enhancements without user interaction, it is a very controversial feature.
Typically, it’s because updates contain bugs that can negatively affect the experience in many ways. For example, they could break existing features, introduce driver and application compatibility problems, or cause the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), and they require a system restart to complete the installation, which can disrupt your workflow.
If you experience more problems than benefits during updates, or if you have a good reason to use a device without updates, depending on your edition of Windows 10, you can disable automatic updates using the Settings app or permanently with Group Policy and Registry.
This guide will walk you through the steps to prevent Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing updates on Windows 10.
How to disable automatic updates using Settings
You do not need to disable Windows Update permanently if you want to prevent the system from downloading a specific update immediately. Instead, you could pause updates for up to seven days.
To disable automatic updates temporarily, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click the «Pause updates for 7 days» option.
Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will no longer download for the time you specified. When the system reaches the pause limit, you will need to install the latest patch available to make the option available again.
You can always undo the changes with the instructions outlined above, but on step 4, choose the Select date option. Alternatively, you can accomplish the same effect by clicking the Resume updates button.
How to disable automatic updates using Group Policy
On Windows 10 Pro, the Local Group Policy Editor includes policies to permanently disable automatic updates or change the update settings to choose when patches should be installed on the device.
Disable Windows 10 updates
To disable automatic updates on Windows 10 permanently, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for gpedit.msc and click the top result to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
- Navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
- Double-click the «Configure Automatic Updates» policy on the right side.
- Check the Disabled option to turn off automatic Windows 10 updates permanently.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
After you complete the steps, Windows 10 will stop downloading updates automatically. However, the ability to check for updates manually will continue to be available on Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and clicking the Check for updates button to download the most recent patches as needed.
If you want to enable automatic updates on the computer again, you can use the same instructions outlined above, but in step 5, make sure to select the Not Configured option.
Limit Windows 10 updates
The Local Group Policy Editor also lets you choose how to disable automatic updates.
To manage Windows Update automatic downloads with Group Policy on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for gpedit.msc and select the top result to launch the experience.
- Navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
- Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.
- Check the Enable option to turn on the policy.
- Under the «Options» section, select the option to prevent updates from downloading automatically on Windows 10:
- 2 — Notify for download and auto install.
- 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
- 4 — Auto download and schedule the install.
- 5 — Allow local admin to choose setting.
- 7 — Auto Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
- Quick tip: The best option to disable automatic updates is the 2 — Notify for download and auto install option, but you can make a different selection. If you choose option 2, updates won’t download automatically. Instead, you will now see an «Install now» button to manually trigger an update on the Windows Update settings page.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
Once you complete the steps, automatic updates will be permanently disabled on Windows 10. However, when new updates become available, you can install them manually from the Windows Update settings page.
How to disable automatic updates with Registry
You can also use the Registry in two different ways to disable automatic updates on Windows 10.
Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky and can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don’t do it correctly. Before proceeding, it’s recommended to make a backup of your PC.
Disable updates
To disable Windows 10 updates permanently by changing the Registry settings, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for regedit and click the top result to launch the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
- Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select the New submenu and choose the Key option.
- Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
- Right-click the newly created key, select the New submenu, and choose the Key option.
- Name the new key AU and press Enter.
- Right-click the AU key, select the New submenu, and choose the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
- Name the new key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter.
- Double-click the newly created key and change its value from 0 to 1.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart the computer.
After you complete the steps, automatic updates will be disabled permanently on the device. However, you will still be able to download updates by clicking the Check for updates button on the Windows Update settings page.
If you want to undo the changes, you can use the same instructions outlined above, but on step 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate key, select the Delete option, then reboot the computer to apply the settings.
Limit updates
Finally, you can use the Registry to configure the system settings to decide how to get updates on Windows 10.
To use the Registry to stop automatic updates (but choosing how to receive updates), use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
- Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select the New submenu and choose the Key option.
- Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
- Right-click the newly created key, select the New submenu, and choose the Key option.
- Name the new key AU and press Enter.
- Right-click the AU key, select the New submenu, and select the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
- Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
- Double-click the newly created key and change the value (number only) to:
- 2 — Notify for download and auto install.
- 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
- 4 — Auto download and schedule the install.
- 5 — Allow local admin to choose settings.
- 7 — Auto Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
- Quick note: These options are the same as the Group Policy settings, and option 2 is the closest to disable Windows Update permanently.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart the computer.
Once you complete the steps, cumulative updates will no longer download and install automatically. However, when a new update becomes available, you will find the option to install it manually from the Windows Update settings.
You can use the same instructions outlined above to restore the original settings, but on step 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate key, select the Delete option, and reboot the computer.
Updates are essential to fix security vulnerabilities, resolve issues, and improve the overall experience, no matter the version of Windows you use. However, you may still need to disable this feature in some situations. For instance, when you want to have complete control over updates on Windows 10, when you want to avoid issues since bugs are common in most rollouts, or when you are using a critical app or equipment and you do not want to encounter any compatibility issues.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
- Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
- Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he’s a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.
In this guide you’ll find several methods to disable the automatic updates in Windows 11 and how to permanently prevent Windows 11 from installing updates.
Windows 11 is the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system that comes with many new features and improvements. One of the major changes in Windows 11 is the way updates are handled.
Microsoft automatically pushes updates to ensure that all devices are up to date with the latest security patches and bug fixes. However, it’s common for some updates to be released with issues that can negatively impact the experience. Also, some users prefer to have more control over when and how updates are installed on their devices.
If you’re one of those users, you’ll be glad to know that you can prevent Windows 11 from automatically downloading and installing updates by following one of the methods below.
How to Temporarily or Permanently Stop Automatic Updates in Windows 11.
- Pause Windows 11 Updates.
- Stop Windows Updates Temporarily.
- Stop Windows Updates with Metered Connection.
- Disable Automatic Updates with Registry.
- Turn Off Automatic Updates with Group Policy.
- Permanently Disable Windows Updates.
Method 1: Pause Windows Updates for 1-5 weeks.
If you want to temporarily stop Windows 11 updates, you can do so by pausing them for 1-5 weeks.
1. Right-click on the Start button and choose Settings.
2. In Settings window, click Windows Update at the left
3. Under the «More options» area, click the Pause updates drop-down arrow and select for how long you want to stop the automatic updates. (You can stop automatic updates for 1-5 weeks) .*
* Note: When you pause updates, Windows 11 will stop downloading and installing updates for the selected period. Remember that stopping updates is only a temporary solution, and after the selected time period, updates will be automatic.
Method 2: Stop Windows 11 Auto Update Service.
Another temporary solution to stop Windows updates, is to disable the Windows Update Service. *
* Note: After completing the below steps, Windows updates will be temporarily disabled, because Windows periodically checks whether critical services (such as the «Windows Update» service) are disabled and automatically turns them on.
1. Type «services» in the Search box and then right-click «Services» app and click Run as administrator.
2. Scroll down to find the Windows Update service and double-click on it to open its properties.
3. Click the Stop button to stop the Windows Update service.
4. Then, at Startup type select Disabled from the dropdown menu and click Apply > OK to save the change.
* Note: To re-enable Windows Updates, change the Startup Type to Automatic.
Method 3: Prevent Automatic Updates by Setting your Connection as Metered.
The first way to permanently stop Windows 11 updates is to set up your network as metered connection. When you set up a metered connection, Windows 11 will treat it as a limited data connection and won’t download or install updates automatically.
1. Right-click on the Start button and choose Settings.
2. Click Network & Internet on the left side of the Settings window.
3. Now open the Properties of the network you are connected to.
4. Set the Metered connection switch to On. From now on, Windows 11 will consider your network connection limited and will not automatically download updates. *
* Note: Please note that this method may prevent some other services or applications from using the internet, so it is not recommended as a permanent solution.
Method 4: Turn Off Automatic Windows 11 Updates Using Registry Editor
Another method to disable automatic updates on Windows 11, is by using the Registry Editor. However, it’s important to note that editing the registry can be risky, and you should only do it if you have experience with it.
1. Type cmd in the search box, then click Run as administrator.
2. In command prompt windows copy and paste the below command and press Enter:
- REG ADD «HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU» /f /v «NoAutoUpdate» /t REG_DWORD /d 1
3. Restart the computer to apply the change and you’re done! No more automatic updates. Of course whenever you want you can download and install updates manually.
To re-Enable Automatic Updates:
1. Open Registry Editor. To do that:
1. Simultaneously press the Win
+ R keys to open the run command box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
+ R keys to open the run command box.
2. At the left pane, navigate to this key:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
3. In the right pane either delete the «NoAutoUpdate» REG DWORD, or open it and change its value data from «1» to «0«.
Method 5: Disable Automatic Updates in Windows 11 with Group Policy Editor.
If you have Windows 11 Pro edition, you can use the Group Policy Editor to disable automatic updates.
1. Right-click on the Start button and choose Run
2. Type gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Group Policy Editor.
3. In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to:
- Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience.
4. In the right pane, double-click at Configure Automatic Updates policy.
5. In the policy settings window, select the Disabled option to turn off automatic updates and click Apply > OK to save the changes. *
* Notes:
1. If the status for this policy is set to «Disabled, any updates that are available on Windows Update must be downloaded and installed manually.
2. To re-enable the Automatic updates, set this policy to Not Configured.
Method 6. Permanently Disable Windows Updates on Windows 11/10.
Using the above methods you’ll temporarily stop Automatic Updates in Windows 11/10 and to update Windows manually when you want to. But if you want to stop Windows updates from being downloaded and installed either automatically or manually, follow the instructions below.
1. Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following path:
-
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv
2. Right-click at «wuauserv» key on the left and click Export.
3. Type a name for the file (e.g. «WindowsUpdate») and Save it on your desktop.
4. Now, right-click again at «wuauserv» key and select Delete. Then click Yes to confirm the decision)
5. Restart your PC.
6. After restarting, the automatic updates will be disabled permanently and when you try to check and install updates manually you’ll receive the error (0x80070424).
* Note: To re-enable the Windows Update again:
1.Navigate to your desktop and double-click to open the «WindowsUpdate.reg» file.
2. Click Yes to confirm your decision.
3. Restart your computer.
That’s it! Which method worked for you?
Let me know if this guide has helped you by leaving your comment about your experience. Please like and share this guide to help others.
To keep Windows safe and at the forefront of technology, Microsoft “borrowed” Linux’s approach of “rolling updates”. Unlike older versions of Windows, patches with new features and tweaks to existing functionality for Windows 10/11 are now released months, weeks, or even days apart. Fixes for security-related issues may reach your PC hours after they’re created. But there’s a catch.
Sometimes those patches and fixes can break things. A new desktop feature may be incompatible with an app you’re using. A security patch may “interfere” with an older driver.
Thankfully, updating isn’t mandatory. Read on to find out how to stop Windows 10 updates by disabling the Windows update feature temporarily or permanently.
🗨️
If you’re interested in disabling updates on Windows 11 instead of 10, rest assured this guide is all you need. Despite being officially deemed a new version of Microsoft’s operating system, Windows 11 is not a radical departure from its predecessor. Plus, the methods for disabling updates have mostly remained unchanged since Windows 7.
How to Stop Windows 10 Update Permanently
The best way to ensure an update won’t “break” your OS or an app you rely on is to completely turn off automatic updates on Windows 10/11. This way, you can have a Windows update only when you decide it’s time to do so.
Let’s see all the ways you can do that.
👀
If what you want isn’t to stop Windows 10/11 Updates, but to recover the files you lost after such an update, make sure to check our guide on how to recover deleted files after a Windows update.
Method 1: Turn Off Windows Update Service
One way to disable automatic updates on Windows 10/11, since the feature relies on an active background process known as “a service”, is to completely turn off this Windows Update service.
To turn off the Windows Update service:
- Open the Start menu or Windows Search and start typing “Services” to locate the services management app. Choose to Run (it) as administrator.
- Scroll down the Services (Local) list to locate Windows Update.
- Double-click on the Windows Update service or right-click on it and choose Properties to edit it. Change its Startup type to Disabled to forbid it from running automatically.
- If the Windows Update service is active in the background, you can terminate it by clicking the Stop button. Click OK to return to the services management app and then close it. Any changes should be effective immediately.
Method 2: Apply Changes In Group Policy Editor
If you are using Windows 10 Home Edition, feel free to skip this method. Otherwise, if using Windows 10 Education, Pro, or Enterprise, the following is another excellent way to stop Windows 10 updates permanently.
⚠️
This method should also work on the “more feature-complete” versions of Windows 11 except for the “base” Home edition.
To turn off automatic updates on Windows 10/11 through the Group Policy Editor:
- Use the Start menu or search functionality and perform a search for “Group Policy Editor” (or start typing “gpedit“). When you see the edit group policy entry, launch it.
- Use the navigation pane on the left of the Local Group Policy Editor‘s window to locate Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components.
- Inside Windows Components, find Windows Update, but instead of expanding that entry, click on it to select it. You will see a list of variables related to Windows Update on the right of the window. Among them, find Configure Automatic Update, and double-click on it to edit it.
- Change the Configure Automatic Update entry’s state (from the options on the top left of the window) from Not Configured to Disabled. Click OK to accept the changes. Then, close the Local Group Policy Editor’s window and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Method 3: Enable Metered Connection
Instead of trying to disable Windows Update on Windows 10, there’s a cunning way to trick the OS into stopping downloading updates: set your Internet connection as metered.
⚠️
This method will only work on wireless connections. Although Windows 10/11 allows you to set Ethernet connections as metered, strangely, that’s only for show! The OS treats all “cabled” connections as unrestricted and unlimited. That is unless Microsoft updated that after this article was published.
To set your Internet connection as metered:
- Search for “network status” using the Start menu or Windows 10’s search functionality—then “open” the entry.
- Select your network connection and click Properties in its Settings window.
- Flick the switch under Set as metered connection to On. You can now close your connection’s Settings window.
- Use the Start menu or Search and seek “Windows Update Settings“. Then launch it.
- In the Windows Update Settings window, click on Advanced Options.
- Ensure the switch under Download updates over the metered connection (extra charges may apply) is set to Off. You may have to disable and re-enable your Internet connection or restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Method 4: Disable Windows Updates With Update Blocker
If you don’t mind downloading and using an extra piece of software to block Windows updates, you can use a third-party updating disable tool to turn off automatic updates on Windows 10. This can help you completely block Windows updates with a few clicks without having to hunt down hidden options in Windows’ convoluted settings.
To do that with one of the most popular solutions for the task, Update Blocker:
- Visit Windows Update Blocker’s official site and download it to your computer. Extract the archive to a folder and enter it with your favorite file manager (like Windows File Explorer).
- In the folder, you will find two executables, Wub and Wub_x64, for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows, respectively. Double-click on the correct one for your version of Windows to launch it.
- Change the Windows Updates Option to Disable Update to block all Windows updates. Also, enable Protect Services Settings to ensure your tweak won’t revert to its initial state. Then, click on Apply Now. The changes will take effect when you restart your PC.
How to Temporarily Disable Windows Update
You might want to keep using Windows Update and only temporarily disable automatic updates on Windows 10. You may only want to skip a new update incompatible with your hardware. Or to ensure you have enough time to back up your OS before a significant upgrade to a new Windows version.
Thankfully, it’s easier to disable Windows Update on Windows 10 temporarily than it is to stop Windows Update permanently.
Pause Windows Updates
The easiest way to temporarily disable Windows Update is by pausing it for a week.
👀
This option isn’t available on Windows 10 Home or Windows 11 Home. On those “base” editions, Windows updates are mandatory. You can pause updates manually on:
- Windows 10 Education
- Windows 10 Pro
- Windows 10 Enterprise
- Windows 11 Pro
Pausing updates for a week is as easy as the following:
- Use the Start menu or Search to seek “Windows Update Settings“, then open the entry.
- Click on Pause Updates for 7 days in the Windows Update Settings window.
- Close the window, and you’re set: your PC shouldn’t receive any new updates for the next seven days.
Do you need to postpone updates for longer? That’s possible, too, although a bit more convoluted.
To disable Windows Update on Windows 10 for more than 7 days:
- Use the Start menu or Search to find Windows Update Settings and open it.
- Click on Advanced Options.
- Scroll down to locate the Pause Updates section.
- Click on the Select Date pulldown menu and choose for how long you want to postpone updating your Windows installation.
With both methods, the adjustments should work immediately.
Pause Updates in Microsoft Store
In the latest versions of Windows, there is an additional path for software updates: the Microsoft Store. Many apps included with Windows, like Windows Notepad or Windows Sound Recorder, are also available on the Microsoft Store and can be updated from there.
Thus, to fully disable all Windows updates, including those of apps accompanying the OS, you must also skip updates from the Microsoft Store.
To pause updates in the Microsoft Store:
- Use the Start menu or Search to seek, find, and open the Microsoft Store app.
- Click on your account’s thumbnail to access your account’s menu, and click on Settings.
- Flick the switch next to App updates to Off to stop automatically updating apps from the Microsoft Store.
⚠️
Updates can help keep your Windows modern and secure, but they can’t “freshen up” your OS. If you’d prefer to reinstall Windows for that brand-new zippy feeling, make sure to also check our article on how to reinstall Windows without losing your data. And if you already did (reinstall Windows) but forgot to check our article and lost some files, don’t fret: we’ve got a guide on how to recover files after reinstalling Windows, too!
FAQ
It’s not suggested you turn off Windows 10 updates since they can keep your PC running smoothly, securely, and with the latest features.
Disabling Windows 10 updates is justified when you know one of them will disrupt how you use your computer.
Use the Start menu or Search to find and launch CMD “as administrator”. There, follow the steps below:
- Check the status of the Windows Update service with: sc.exe query wuauserv.
- Forbid the Windows Update service from auto-starting with: sc.exe config wuauserv start= disabled.
- Stop the Windows Update service with: sc.exe stop wuauserv.
- Recheck the service’s status with: sc.exe query wuauserv. This time it should report it’s Stopped.
Run Notepad.exe. Copy the following from here and paste it into your Notepad document:
sc.exe config wuauserv start= disabled
net stop wuauserv
Press CTRL + Shift + S, change the “Save as type” to “All files”, and save your batch file by adding “.bat” at the end of its filename instead of the default “.txt” extension for Notepad.
Right-click on your newly-created batch file, and choose Run as administrator to run it and have it issue both commands for disabling the Windows Update service in one go.
- Use the Start menu or Search to seek the “registry editor” (or “regedit” for short). Run it “as an administrator”.
- Use the navigation pane on the left of the Registry Editor’s window to find: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows .
- Right-click on the Windows folder (directly in the navigation pane on the left) and select New > Key. Give your new key the name “WindowsUpdate”.
- Right-click on your newly created WindowsUpdate key and repeat the process, making a new sub-key. Name it “AU”.
- Right-click on your new AU sub-key, and choose New > DWORD (32-Bit) Value. Name your new value “NoAutoUpdate”. Then, double-click on it to edit it, and change the number in the field under Value data to “1”. Click OK to save your edits.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Conclusion
Although Microsoft “borrowed” Linux’s “rolling updates” approach, it didn’t allow Windows the same freedom in controlling which updates should be applied and when.
As we saw, it’s easy to disable Windows Update temporarily for a specific timeframe as long as you know where to find the options that enable you to do so.
If you want to stop Windows 10/11 updates permanently, you have to dive deeper. It’s possible, but it can get complicated when navigating the Registry or issuing obscure commands using tools you rarely use (if ever).
Still, now you know how to do it, and after applying those tweaks once, you shouldn’t have to redo them.
Odysseas Kourafalos started playing with technology over thirty years ago, with a Commodore 128. Instead of gaming with it, he ended up trying to learn what made games — and tech, in general — tick. Since then, he’s used thousands of applications, from music trackers to video editing suites, on multiple platforms, and lived to write about them.
Andrey Vasilyev is an Editorial Advisor for Handy Recovery. Andrey is a software engineer expert with extensive expertise in data recovery, computer forensics, and data litigation. Andrey brings over 12 years of experience in software development, database administration, and hardware repair to the team.
Windows always installs the updates when you are trying to shut down your computer or laptop. In general, it is a troublesome issue for most users and many users wonder whether there is a way to disable Windows 10 update permanently. In this post, we will show you how to stop Windows 10 update while in progress via multiple ways.
The Issue of Windows 10 Automatic Update
Nowadays, many computer users complain that Windows always automatically installs some updates. And they want to know whether there is any solution to disable Windows 10 update permanently because some extra problems will occur after Windows update. For example, Windows update may give rise to data loss. Or a Windows update can’t be installed successfully due to error 0x800F0830-0x20003.
Thus, do you know how to stop Windows 10 updates automatically downloading? If no, this post will show you how to stop Windows 10 update permanently with 7 effective solutions. So, just keep on your reading.
Quick Video
Solution 1. Disable Windows 10 Update Service
In order to turn off Windows 10 update, you can try to disable Windows Update service which automatically downloads and installs the Windows 10 updates over the Internet. And in the following part, we will show you how to stop Windows 10 Update Assistant with step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Open Service window
- Press Windows key and R key together to open the Run dialog.
- Type services.msc in the box.
- Click OK or hit Enter to continue.
Step 2: Disable Windows Update service
- In the services window, please find out the Windows Update service and double-click it.
- In the popup window, change the Startup type to Disabled. Then change the Service status to Stop.
- Click Apply and OK to execute the changes.
After you have finished all steps, you can restart your computer to take effect to stop Windows 10 update.
Solution 2. Change the Group Policy
As for how to stop Windows 10 update, you can try to change the Group Policy. And the following steps will show you how to change the Group Policy in detail to stop Windows 10 update download in progress.
Step 1: Open the Local Group Policy Editor
- Press Windows key and R key together to open Run dialog, and type gpedit. msc.
- Click OK to continue.
Step 2: Find out the Configure Automatic Updates
- In the left panel of Local Group Policy Editor window, please navigate to the Windows Update folder according to the path: Computer Configuration > Administrator Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
- Then choose Configure Automatic Updates in the right panel and double-click it.
Step 3: Configure automatic updates
- In the popup window, choose Enabled to continue.
- Then choose Notify for download and auto install from the drop-down menu in the Configure automatic updating section.
- Click OK to continue.
When you have finished all the above steps, you can reboot your computer to turn off Windows 10 update.
Solution 3. Change the Registry to Stop Windows Update
Now, we will show you the third solution to how to stop Windows 10 auto update. As a matter of fact, you can try to disable Windows 10 update registry to solve this problem. The following contents will show you the detailed steps.
However, one important thing you need to know is that changing registry is pretty risky since it may give rise to irreversible damage to your computer if you operate incorrectly. Thus, you had better create a system image before proceeding.
To back up Windows 10, you can try the professional Windows backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker.
MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
After having backed up the Windows 10, you can go on to change the Registry.
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor
- Press Windows key and R key together to open the Run dialog.
- Type regedit in the box and click OK to continue.
Step 2: Find out Windows folder
Navigate to the Windows folder based on the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
Step 3: Change Value
From the right panel, double-click on the NoAutoUpdate (REG_DWORD) and set its value to 1. Click OK to confirm. After that, restart your computer to stop Windows 10 update download.
Tip: If you are unable to find the WindowsUpdate\AU path, you can manually create one.
Solution 4. Disable Windows Update Tasks
In order to stop Windows 10 Update, you can try to disable Windows Update Tasks in Task Scheduler. We will show you how to disable Windows Update Tasks with step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Find out Windows Update in Task Scheduler
- Type Task Scheduler in Windows search box and choose the best-matched one.
- Open the Task Scheduler to enter its main interface.
- Navigate to the WindowsUpdate folder according to the path: Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > WindowsUpdate.
Step 2: Disable Windows Update
- Right-click the Scheduled Start which is in the right panel.
- Then choose Disable to continue.
After that, you can close the Task Scheduler window and then you have successfully stopped Windows 10 update.
Solution 5. Meter Network Connection
As to how to stop Windows 10 update in progress, you can try to meter your network connection. But please note that this method only works on a Wi-Fi connection. So, it is not working for an Ethernet connection.
And now, we will show you how to meter the network connection to disable Windows 10 update.
Step 1: Select the Network & Internet
- Right-click Start button of Windows 10 and select Settings to continue.
- In the popup window, choose Network & Internet.
Step 2: Meter your network connection
- In the popup window, choose Status from the left pane to continue.
- Next, select Change Connection Properties.
- Then turn on Set as metered connection under Metered connection section.
In this way, you can disable Windows 10 update since it required massive network connection.
Solution 6. Pause Windows Update for 35 Days
In this part, we will show how to stop Windows update in Windows 10 by pausing Windows update for 35 days. So if you want to stop Windows 10 update temporarily, you can try this way.
Step 1: Open Update & Security
- Right-click Start button of Windows 10 and click Settings to continue.
- In the popup window, choose Update & Security to continue.
Step 2: Pause Windows Update for 35 days
- In the popup window, please locate at the Windows Update in the left pane and choose Advanced Options in the right pane to continue.
- In the popup window, please locate at the Pause Updates section and turn on the button.
After that, this function enables you to stop Windows 10 update for 35 days. However, after the pause limit is reached, you’ll need to install the latest updates before you pause updates again.
Note: If you are using the Windows 10 1903, Windows 10 Pro 1809, or Windows 10 Enterprise 1809, you can pause update for 7 days. And after the pause limit is reached, you also need to install the latest updates unless you can pause again.
Related article: How to Fix: Windows Update Stuck on Checking for Updates
Solution 7: Restore Windows 10 to Previous Version
At last, there is an available solution for you to stop Windows 10 auto update. It is to go back to previous version with the backup image. The precondition of this solution is that you have created a system image in advance.
In this way, you can go back to the previous version with this backup image even though you have updated your computer to the latest version.
Useful Suggestion
From above solutions to how to stop Windows 10 update while in progress, you can find that the system backup image is important since it can help you to keep your data safe and even help you to restore your computer to an earlier state.
Thus, do you know how to create a system image?
In fact, to back up Windows 10, you can take advantage of a piece of professional PC backup software. Thus, MiniTool ShadowMaker is strongly recommended.
MiniTool ShadowMaker is a backup tool which can help you to back up the files, folder, disks, partitions and the operating system. It helps you to perform some recovery solutions with the backup images.
And it is also a piece of file sync software which can effectively keep your data safe.
On top of that, MiniTool ShadowMaker is also a clone tool which can help you to clone OS from HDD to SSD without data loss.
Therefore, with so many powerful features, try MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial immediately or purchase an advanced version.
MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
And now, we will show you how to back up the operating system.
Step 1: Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker
- Download and install MiniTool ShadowMaker.
- Launch it.
- Click Keep Trial to continue.
Step 2: Choose Backup Source
- In the popup window, please go to the Backup page, and click SOURCE to continue.
- Choose Disk and Partitions.
- Select the system disk and click OK to continue.
Step 3: Choose Backup Destination
- Returning to the main interface of MiniTool ShadowMaker, click DESTINATION to continue.
- There are four destination paths. Choose the available one and click OK. It is recommended to choose an external hard drive.
Step 4: Start to back up
- After selecting the backup source and destination, click Back Up Now to perform the backup task immediately.
- Or choose Back Up Later to delay the backup task and restart it on the Manage page.
Step 5: Create bootable media
- After backing up, go to the Tools page to create the bootable media which can be used to boot your computer when it can’t boot from the operating system.
- Click Media Builder to continue.
When all steps are finished, you have successfully created the system image and bootable media. When you want to go back to previous Windows 10 version, try this system image.
MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
MiniTool ShadowMaker is a powerful program, successfully assisting me to go back up previous version of Windows 10. Click to Tweet
Bottom Line
To sum up, this post has introduced 7 solutions to how to stop Window 10 update. If you need to disable Windows 10 update permanently, try these solutions.
If you have any better solution to how to stop Windows update in Windows 10, you can share it on the comment zone.
And if you have any problem with MiniTool program, please feel free to contact us via the email [email protected] and we will reply to you as soon as possible.
How to Disable Windows 10 Update Permanently FAQ
How do I permanently turn off Windows Update?
- Disable all Windows update service.
- Change the Group Policy.
- Change the Registry Editor to stop Windows update.
- Disable Windows update tasks.
For more information, you can refer to the above part.
How do I turn on automatic update for Windows 10?
To turn on automatic update for Windows 10, you can follow on the below instructions.
- Press Windows key and I key together to open Settings.
- In the pop-up window, choose Update & Security to continue.
- Then choose Advanced options.
- Select the Automatic (recommended) under Choose how updated are installed to continue.
- After that, your computer will update automatically.
How do I update from Command Prompt?
- Run Command Prompt as administrator.
- Type the following commands and hit Enter after each command.
- UsoClient StartScan
- UsoClient StartDownload
- UsoClient StartInstall
- UsoClient RestartDevice
- UsoClient ScanInstallWait
You can read the post Two Efficient Ways to Do Windows Update from Command Line to learn more instructions.
How do I know which version of Windows?
To know the version of Windows, you can check that through the Windows Settings.
- Press Windows key and I Key together to open Settings.
- Click System.
- Click About on the left panel to continue.
- In Windows Specification section, you can learn about the Windows version.
Of course, you can also read the post What Version of Windows Do I Have? Check Version and Build Number to more ways to check Windows version.
In 2015 Microsoft Cooperation produced a significant release in the operating system market which we all know as Windows 10. Since then, Microsoft releases several updates to this operating system to keep the system up to date. On the other hand, there are certain times, when their automatic updates keep annoying their users, which also results in a forceful shutdown of the system.
While installing the updates on the device, it consumes a lot of time & data to complete the whole process. So, there is no doubt that you might think to stop Windows 10 updates on the machine. This is why we’re going to discuss how to disable Windows updates.
We will now be discussing a list of required methods to disable updates on Windows 10 without causing any errors.
How To Stop Windows Update?
Method 1: Using Services
Step 1: At first, open the Search Box & write down Services there. Now, the Service option will be available & click on it.
Step 2: A big list will appear in the next window. Search for the Windows Update option & right-click over there.
Step 3: A new popup window will be opened. From the Startup Type dropdown menu, select the Disable option. And just below it, click on the Stop button. In the end, click on the Apply button to save the changes.
Hence, we have successfully stopped Windows 10 updates using the Services on the device.
Method 2: Using Group Policy
Step 1: Agin open the Search bar in Windows 10 & Search for the “gpedit.msc”. Just press Enter to move ahead.
Step 2: Now, the window for the Group Policy will be opened. In the left sidebar, first, expand the Administrative Templates. And inside that, again expand the folder Windows Components.
Step 3: Now, on the right-hand side of the screen, double-click on the option Configure Automatic Update
Step 4: On the left-hand side of the screen, three-button options are present. Click on the option Disable & close the windows.
Hence, we have successfully stopped Windows 10 updates using the Group Policy on the device.
Method 3: Using Register Policy
Step 1: To stop Windows 10 from update, run the “regedit” command in the Search Box on the device. Press Enter to move ahead.
Step 2: Now, a new window will be opened & the below-mentioned path should be followed by expanding folders on the Left Hand Side of the Screen. After reaching the endpoint of the path, Right Click on the folder Windows. Some more options will be available. Among them click on the New option.
Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Step 3: A new subfolder will be created inside the Windows folder. Give the name “WindowsUpdate”.
Step 4: Inside the “WindowsUpdate” using the same process create another subfolder. And provide its name as “AU”.
Step 5: On the right-hand side of the screen, right-click anywhere. Under the New option, select the option DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Step 6: Now, a new value will be added there & the value will be “NoAutoUpdate”. Then press Enter to save the changes & close all the windows.
Hence, we have successfully stopped Windows 10 updates using the Register Policy on the device.
Method 4: Using Task Scheduler
Step 1: To stop updating Windows 10, search for the Task Scheduler in the Search bar on the device. One option will be available with the same name, click on that to move ahead.
Step 2: On the left-hand side of the screen, expand the folder Task Scheduler Library. Under such folder, again expand the folder Microsoft. Inside the Microsoft folder, the Windows folder will be available.
Step 3: In the right-hand side window, a Schedule Start option is present. Right-click on the option & click on the Disable option to complete the process.
Hence, we have successfully stopped Windows 10 updates using the Task Scheduler on the device.
Method 5: Pause Updates
Step 1: Open the Settings. Inside the Setting window, click on the Update & Security option.
Step 2: In the next window, click on Advanced Options under the Update Settings.
Step 3: Inside the next window, the Pause Updates option will be available & enable the button. It will pause the updates in Windows 10 for 35 days.
Hence, we have successfully stopped Windows 10 updates using the Pause method on the device.
Method 6: Using Metered Connection
Step 1: At first, the Settings window will be opened. Then among so many options move for the Network & Internet option. Click on it to open.
Step 2: In the next window, from the left-hand side click on the option Ethernet.
Step 3: On the next window, an option will be present as the Metered Connection. Enable the button present below.
Hence, we have successfully stopped Windows 10 updates using the Metered Connection method on the device.
Step 7: Uninstall Updates
Step 1: In this case also, the Setitngs of the Windows will be opened. And in that window, click on the Update & Security option.
Step 2: In the next window, in the left-hand sidebar, click on the option Windows Update from so many options present there.
Step 3: After that, click on the View Update History option to move ahead.
Step 4: In the next window, click on Uninstall Updates to remove the installed updates from the device.
Hence, we have successfully stopped Windows 10 updates by Uninstalling Updates from the device.
Conclusion
These are some simple methods discussed to clear the Windows 10 update problem. But using some of the methods might not give a proper & permanent solution to it. All of the methods should be used one by one. Otherwise, you might receive another Windows 10 update patch on your device. So, following all the methods will only be the solution.