 How to stop automatic Windows 10 updates ?
Windows security updates are important for keeping up with current security threats and exploits. With Windows 10, however, Microsoft is also evolving the OS semi-annually, changing its interface and features. The OS also forces auto-updates that may cause hardware issues, or may not be desirable by the user.
Below are a few options to gain back some user-control of Windows and delay or disable the automatic-updates:
Local Group policy editor
If you have the "Professional" or "Enterprise" edition of Windows 10, you can control the Windows Update service through the local Groups Policy editor. Search for "gpedit.msc", start it and navigate to:
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update -> right-click "Configure Automatic Updates" policy. The options are as follows:
2 - "Notify for download and notify for install."
3 - "Auto download and notify for install."
4 - "Auto download and schedule the install."
5 - "Allow local admin to choose settings."
We recommend option 2, it will simply notify you of available updates.
Windows Registry
If you have Windows 10 Home edition (no gpedit.msc), you can still control Windows update through the Windows Registry. To start the Registry Editor, Search for "regedit" and start it, then do the following:
- navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
- right-click the "Windows" folder, create a new "Key" named "WindowsUpdate"
- right-click "WindowsUpdate" key, create a new "Key" named "AU"
- under that key, create a DWORD (32-bit) named "AUOptions", and set its value to one of these:
2 - "Notify for download and notify for install."
3 - "Auto download and notify for install."
4 - "Auto download and schedule the install."
5 - "Allow local admin to choose settings."
We recommend setting the value to "2", as it will only notify you of new updates.
Stop the Windows update service
You can also prevent any updates by simply stopping the Windows update service. We do not recommend doing this, since you will be missing on some important OS security updates. To do this:
Search for "Services.msc" (Desktop app), start it and look for "BITS" (Background Intelligent Transfer Service), right-click > Properties > change "Startup type" to "Disabled" or "Manual", then click to "Stop" the service. You may also stop the "Windows Update" service.
Set your connection as "Metered"
Setting your internet connection as "metered should also stop Windows updates, you can do this as follows:
- click on the gear icon by the Windows/Start button.
- choose "Network and Internet"
- click on "Change Connection Properties"
- enable "Metered connection"
Delay Windows 10 Updates
You can simply delay updates for a month by choosing the proper setting.
Navigate to: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options button > Use the "Pause until" drop-down menu and select when to resume automatic updates. Unfortunately this currently only allows for about a month of delay.
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