How To Disable Windows Automatic Updates

On Windows 10, cumulative updates download and install automatically as soon equally they become bachelor. Although this approach allows laptops and desktop computers to receive security updates to patch vulnerabilities, improve operation, and bring enhancements without user interaction, information technology is a very controversial feature.

Normally, it'southward considering updates incorporate bugs that tin negatively affect the feel in many means. For instance, they could break existing features, introduce driver and application compatibility problems, or cause the Blue Screen of Decease (BSoD), and they require a system restart to complete the installation that can disrupt your workflow.

If you experience more problems than benefits during updates, or if you have a skillful reason to employ a device without updates, depending on your edition of Windows 10, you can disable automatic updates using the Settings app or permanently with the Group Policy and Registry.

In this Windows 10 guide, nosotros will walk y'all through the steps to foreclose Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing updates on your computer.

How to disable automated updates using Settings
How to disable automatic updates using Grouping Policy
How to disable automatic updates using Registry

How to disable automatic updates using Settings

If you take to prevent the system from downloading a specific update, yous do not need to disable Windows Update permanently. Instead, you should only pause Windows Update until the side by side Patch Tuesday arrives. The Settings app includes an option to stop updates for up to 35 days on Windows 10.

To disable automatic updates temporarily, employ these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Avant-garde options button.

Source: Windows Primal
Under the "Break until" section, use the drop-down menu and select how long to stop updates.

Source: Windows Central

In one case y'all complete the steps, Windows Update will no longer download for the time you specified. When the system reaches the intermission limit, y'all volition need to install the latest patch available to make the option available again.

You tin always undo the changes with the instructions outlined above, but on pace v, choose the Select date option. Alternatively, you can reach the same effect past clicking the Resume updates button.

How to disable automated updates using Grouping Policy

On Windows ten Pro, the Local Group Policy Editor includes policies to permanently disable automated updates or modify the update settings to choose when patches should be installed on the device.

Disable Windows 10 updates

To disable automated updates on Windows x permanently, apply these steps:

Open up Start.
Search for gpedit.msc and click the top outcome to launch the Local Grouping Policy Editor.
Navigate to the following path:

Figurer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.

Source: Windows Central
Check the Disabled option to plow off automated Windows 10 updates permanently.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.

After you consummate the steps, Windows 10 volition terminate downloading updates automatically. However, the ability to bank check for updates manually volition continue to be available on Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and clicking the Bank check for updates button to download the near recent patches every bit needed.

If yous desire to enable automatic updates on the figurer once more, you tin can use the verbal instructions outlined above, only on step v, make sure to select the Non Configured option.

Limit Windows 10 updates

The Local Group Policy Editor also lets you lot choose how to disable automatic updates.

To manage Windows Update automated downloads with Group Policy on Windows ten, utilise these steps:

Open Start.
Search for gpedit.msc and select the acme event to launch the experience.
Navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration > Authoritative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Check the Enable option to turn on the policy.
Under the "Options" section, select the choice to prevent updates from downloading automatically on Windows x:
- 2 — Notify for download and motorcar install.
- 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
- iv — 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 selection to disable automatic updates is the two — Notify for download and auto install option, but y'all can make a different option. If you choose option 2, updates won't download automatically. Instead, you will now see an "Install now" push to manually trigger an update on the Windows Update settings page.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK push button.

In one case y'all complete the steps, automatic updates volition be permanently disabled on Windows 10. However, when new updates get available, y'all will be able to install them manually from the Windows Update settings page.

How to disable automatic updates with Registry

You lot tin can as well use the Registry in ii different means to disable automatic updates on Windows 10.

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky and tin crusade irreversible harm to your installation if you don't do information technology correctly. Before proceeding, it's recommended to make a full backup of your PC.

Disable updates

To disable Windows 10 updates permanently irresolute the Registry settings, use these steps:

Open Get-go.
Search for regedit and click the meridian result to launch the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Right-click the Windows (binder) primal, select the New submenu, and cull the Key option.

Source: Windows Primal
Name the new fundamental WindowsUpdate and printing Enter.
Right-click the newly created central, select the New submenu, and choose the Key option.

Source: Windows Central
Proper name the new key AU and press Enter.
Right-click the AU fundamental, select the New submenu, and choose the DWORD (32-bit) Value choice.

Source: Windows Primal
Proper name the new key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter.
Double-click the newly created key and change its value from 0 to 1.

Source: Windows Central
Click the OK button.
Restart the computer.

After you complete the steps, automatic updates will be disabled permanently on the device. However, you lot will yet be able to download updates by clicking the Check for updates button on the Windows Update settings page.

If you desire to disengage the changes, you can use the aforementioned instructions outlined higher up, only on step 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate primal, select the Delete option, then reboot the computer to utilise the settings.

Limit updates

Finally, you tin can use the Registry to configure the system settings to decide how to get updates on Windows 10.

To apply the Registry to stop automatic updates, but decide how to receive updates, utilise these steps:

Open up 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
Correct-click the Windows (folder) fundamental, select the New submenu, and choose the Key option.

Source: Windows Key
Name the new cardinal WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Correct-click the newly created central, select the New submenu, and choose the Key pick.

Source: Windows Central
Proper noun the new key AU and printing Enter.
Right-click the AU key, select the New submenu, and select the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.

Source: Windows Central
Proper noun the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
Double-click the newly created central and modify the value (number but) to:
- 2 — Notify for download and car install.
- 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
- iv — Auto download and schedule the install.
- 5 — Allow local admin to choose settings.
- seven — Machine Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
These options are the aforementioned as the Grouping Policy settings, and pick 2 is the closest to disable Windows Update permanently.

Source: Windows Central
Click the OK button.
Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, cumulative updates volition no longer download and install automatically. However, when a new update becomes available, yous volition observe 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 stride 4, correct-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 apply. However, you lot may notwithstanding need to disable this feature in some situations. For case, when you lot want to have complete control over updates on Windows x, when you want to avoid problems since bugs are mutual in most releases, or when you are using a disquisitional app or equipment, and you lot practice not want to encounter any compatibility issues.

More Windows resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions most Windows 10 and Windows eleven, visit the following resource:

Windows 11 on Windows Primal — All you need to know
Windows xi help, tips, and tricks
Windows x on Windows Cardinal — All you need to know

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