7 Ways to Disable Windows 10 Automatic updates

This was inevitable even though Microsoft tried as hard as possible to avoid it.

Users are getting sick and tired of the automatic updates and the feeling of helplessness they create to the end-user.

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Now it actually was well intended by Redmond.

They wanted to set up a logical bug testing rhythm and cadence that started at Microsoft and ended up on the consumer’s desk.

Unfortunately customers who don’t have the flexibility of professional or enterprise update delay options are rebelling.

There have been a few high profile cases of Windows updates that went awry and so some options to disable Windows 10 automatic updates have sprung up.

It is what it is.

Update: Here’s a Video from Lane walking through some of the options to disable updates in Windows 10


Disable Windows Updates with Settings App

Disabling the updates permanently is of no benefit, because updates bring important security measures and other features. So you must rather disable or pause it for a period of time. For that, the Windows settings could be used.

  1. Go to Update & Security Setting

    Open Settings by pressing Windows icon + I, and click on Update & Security.Windows update and security

  2. Use Pause Updates for 7 days Option

    From here you can directly pause update for 35 days by clicking on Pause updates for 7 days five times. Move to next step if you want to stop update till a particular date.Pause Update for 7 Days

  3. Go to Advance Options

    Under Windows Update look for Advanced Option and click on it.Windows Update Advance Settings

  4. Pause Updates

    Scroll down to Pause updates section, select the date till you want Windows updates to be paused.Pause Updates select date


Setting up a metered connection

So this is actually a pretty ingenious way of getting Microsoft to leave your PC alone.

In Windows 10, if you’re on Wi-Fi, Microsoft have this option for you to explicitly specify that you’re on a metered connection.

This is just for wi-fi users who are paying for their data usage and wish to conserve their data plans.

To enable the setting, bring up the Start Menu and perform a search for Change Wi-Fi settings.

Open the resulting option and navigate to Advanced Options.

Locate the Set as metered connection toggle and enable it.

windows 10 metered connection
windows 10 metered connection

This tells Windows 10 not to download updates to your system because you are being conservative with data usage.


Stop the Windows Update Service

To do this, open the Run command and then type “services.msc” and press the “Enter” key. The Services list should appear.

From here, you can find the Windows Update service. Open it.

Under the General tab, change “Startup Type” into “Disabled.” and then restart. The Windows Update Service should be disabled at this point.

Here’s an image of the 3 screens. Click on it for a larger version.

Stop Windows Update
Stop Windows Update

If you want to re-enable it in the future, go through the steps again but this time change “Startup Type” to “Automatic”.


Using the Group Policy Editor

Here are the steps to disable Windows 10 updates via the Group Policy Editor

  1. Press the Windows key to bring up the Start Menu. Type in Group Policy Editor and open the tool from the results.
  2. Navigate to Computer Configuration and expand the Administrative Templates folder.
  3. Within the folder, select All Settings and then locate the Configure Automatic Updates entry in the subsequent screen.
  4. Double-click the entry and enable it by clicking the Enabled radio button at the top-left.
  5. Open the combo-box and select the final option: Allow local admin to choose the setting.

Click to see a larger image.

Group Policy Editor
Group Policy Editor

Now that you’ve successfully managed to enable the option to allow advanced control over the updates, you need to access it.

  • Open up Control Panel and navigate to the System and Security settings.
  • Open Windows Update and select Change settings. There, you’ll be presented with the option to Check for updates, but let me choose whether to download and install them. Set your system to this setting and save it. Now, your system will regularly check for updates and show you a list of available updates; from there you can choose the ones you want to install at your discretion.

Stop Windows 10 Updates entirely

This is NOT recommended at all. Do not try this at home!!

You can also disabling update checking altogether.

  • Open up Group Policy Editor, using the method detailed above.
  • Navigate to the Configure Automatic Updates setting from the All Settings folder.
  • Set the toggle to Disabled.
Disable Updates Totally
Disable Updates Totally

And that’s it.

After this, your computer will no longer even check to see if any updates are available for the system.


Using Registry Editor

Since group policy editor is only accessible for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions, the other edition users can use the Registry Editor to disable Windows Update.

1. Open Run Windows using Windows icon + R combination.

2. Type regedit to reach Registry Editor.

Regedit

3. Enter the following path on the Registry Editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

4. Right-click on Windows and select New->Key

Create Windows Key

5. Name this key WindowsUpdate

6. Now right-click on WindowsUpdate and create a new key named AU.

7. Under AU on right-panel right-click and select New->DWORD

8. Name the DWORD as NoAutoUpdate. Double click on it and set it Value data as 1.

NoAutoUpdate DWORD

9. Click on OK to save the settings, close the Registry Editor and reboot your device.

After configuring the registry and rebooting, Windows will only notify you of any available updates. To download and install those updates, you have to trigger them from the Settings app manually.


Disable Selective Windows 10 Updates

Microsoft has also released a tool that can be used to hide or disable Windows 10 updates selectively.

All you need to do it, download it from Microsoft’s website, and install it on your computer.

Follow the instructions on the website to disable the problematic update you are having trouble with.

There you have it. 5 ways to stop updates.

You’re welcome.  🙂

22 thoughts on “7 Ways to Disable Windows 10 Automatic updates”

          • strange. I’m the only user and also the only administrator. I’ve got full rights, I can change the GPO but the Windows Update control page still doesn’t appear. Are you sure this works with Windows 10 Pro?? Are we saying that the Windows Update control page is still in Windows 10 but hidden? I thought it got stripped out with the upgrade from 8.1 to 10. Unless I’m missing something simply re-enabling a GPO that is left over from Windows 7/8.1 wont re-install a removed component (ie the Windows Update control panel)

          • but there is no screen shot of the windows update control page after the GPO is enabled, the above only shows the gpedit screen shots. Please can you post a dump of what your Windows Update control panel looks like after the GPO is enabled because both PeeJayCee and I can’t see any additional options or controls.

          • Maybe it’s a version thing or something but I don’t think that enabling this policy (as per No.3 above) will give you back the old missing Windows 8.1 update control panel (especially if your one of the users where upgrading to Windows 10 Pro has stripped it out – and I thought that was everybody).
            Further more, once you have attempted to enable this policy you will be left with the same ‘Some Settings are Managed by your organisation’ message that both PeeJayCee and I are getting. Even after you set the policy back to ‘Not Configured’ this will remain, so you then lose the drop down option to ‘Choose how your updates are installed’.
            Basically it has the potential to make the already bad Windows Update choices even worse so my advice would be to stay clear of No.3 because the effects are not consistent. Maybe it works with some versions or maybe MS already pushed out an update to counter this GPO’s affects – who knows……

          • gpupdate /force then reboot has restored things back to default. Please can someone else test if no.3 works for them because it would be really useful if it does.

          • I have tested it and no.3 doesn´t work, also as build-in admin. When Onuora says it works, then must he give us the screenshots!

          • I couldn’t get mine back to default, but after several gpupdates and reboots, then checking for updates somehow it got rid of the ‘Some Settings are Managed by your organisation’ message. But I concur, No.3 doesn’t appear to work 🙁

          • Okay Andy, your advice helps! “Some Settings are Managed by your Organisation” is disappeared. Thanks!
            Now we wait for the screenshots of Onuobi, how to access the #3 option. He said, on his Windows 10 Pro it runs. I´m stretched.
            But “Windows Update” in Control Panel/categories/System and Security, this must be another Windows10 he has.

          • The solution for the problem is here:
            So you need to let Windows
            Update check for new updates at least once after you make changes in
            Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.

          • getting the same, no windows updates option in the control panel, so I still can’t control how my updates are received 🙁

  1. I recommend to my users the uninstall the update: KB3035583. Then restart & find KB3035583 in listed in updates to be downloaded again. Right click on the update to HIDE it and the Windows 10 will not happen to that PC.

    Reply
    • Sorry, I read too quickly. The Qs refers to updates AFTER you have upgraded to Win10. oops (many of my users don’t want to upgrade)

      Reply
  2. You can create a simple batch file somewhere with ‘net stop “wuauserv” ‘ and put an ‘run as an administrator’ enabled shortcut in your ‘Startup’ folder. Then, it will be automatically disabled when you boot up and if you want to update, all you do is run the ‘Update & security’ in ‘Settings’.

    Reply
  3. Have you try the Try the $25 tech Support 25dollarsupport its a Fix $25 price Computer Tech support company for Windows 10 updates fix.

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