Windows 10 is one of the most widely used operating systems and is second only to Microsoft’s own Windows 7. While it is an improvement over its predecessors in almost all areas, it is far from perfect. As the last Windows version, it receives frequent updates which can be quite annoying. The sad part about this is that Windows 10 doesn’t really let you check for these updates and from time to time these updates are installed automatically. However, although you cannot find any settings to disable Windows 10 updates on their own, there are other ways to manage them. Before we discuss the different ways, let’s find out why you want to stop Windows 10 updates in the first place.
Why Do You Want to Stop Updates?
While updates provide better security and stability for an operating system, Windows 10 offers them at the expense of your convenience. AT times, updates offered by Microsoft downloads and installs on your computer without any notice. This can cause Windows to slow down and require frequent reboots, so your inconvenience is gone. Because everything is in the background, there are also many updates that you wouldn’t download otherwise. These can change a setting or remove a feature you like to use.
Criticized by many of its users for this, Microsoft finally offered a few options that you can change to stop Windows updates. Unfortunately, these options are built deep into the Windows architecture, making them harder to find. Luckily for you, we’ve both found and tested them to conclude that they actually work. So without wasting any more time, here How to stop automatic installation of Windows 10 updates:
Note: The steps outlined below were tested on a system with Windows 10 Pro. Some or all may not work with other versions of Windows 10.
Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates Using Windows Update Service
Since no more new versions will be released in the Windows lineup, Microsoft has decided to turn Windows 10 into a service. However, all the updates you get now are part of this service. Therefore, stopping them completely means stopping one of the Windows services. Read the steps outlined below to know which one and how to stop it.
- Open run command by pressing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. Here, Type “services.msc” and Click “OK”.
- This will open the Windows Services window. From the list of services you see, Double click on “Windows Update”.
- You should now see the properties window popup. Here, In the “Startup type” dropdown select “Disabled”. Now you can Click OK To save these changes
It’s that simple, you can try the different options available. And if you want to update your Windows 10 computer, you can always change the “Startup type” to “Automatic”.
Disable Windows 10 Updates Using Registry Editor
Almost every Windows setting can be changed in the Registry Editor. The story is no different when it comes to Windows updates. You can take full control of updates with a free Registry tweaks. Read the steps below to find out how.
- open run command by pressing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. Here, type “regedit” and press enter.
- This opens the Registry Editor. If you have an Address Bar enabled here, you can: copy path belowand if not, you have to go there manually.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
- Here, in the left pane Registry Editor, Right click on “Windows”hover over “New”and finally Click on “Key”.
- This will create a new key. Rename it to “WindowsUpdate”. Once done, right click hover over this key “New”and Click on “Key”.
- This creates another key – this time under “WindowsUpdate”. Rename this to “AU”, double click on and after right click anywhere in the right pane. Now, Hover over “New” and select “DWORD (32-bit) Value”.
- Rename this key to “AUOptions”and then double click on to edit. select Base as “hexadecimal”login “Value data” Select any of the below and then click “OK”.
‘2’: Notify for download and install updates automatically
‘3’: automatically download and notify for updates to be installed
‘4’: schedule automatic download and installation of updates
‘5’: allow local administrator to configure these settings
This method gives control over Windows 10 updates, just like its previous version. Personally, I keep “Value data” as 2 as I want to decide which updates I want to download.
Block Windows 10 Updates Using Local Group Policy Editor
Like Registry Editor, Local Group Policy Editor gives you more than a single way to manage system updates. Actually, it is much easier than the previous method, but it cannot be applied in Windows 10 Home edition as the version does not come with Local Group Policy Editor. Having said that, below are the steps to block Windows 10 updates using the Local Group Policy Editor.
- open run command by pressing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. Here, type “gpedit.msc” and click “OK”.
- This opens the Local Group Policy Editor. Here, go to the road below.
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update
- Below the list of settings you see, double click on the reader “Configure Automatic Updates”.
- in opened windows, enable setting and look for an option called “Configure automatic update” with a drop-down menu. To stop updates from downloading automatically, 2- Select the option that says Notify for download and automatic installationand then click “OK”.
You can try the different options in the drop-down menu to best suit your needs. If you want to revert to default, select “3- Auto download and notify for installation”.
Quick Solution to Stop Windows 10 Updates: Use Metered Connection
In this method, you will make Windows believe that your internet connection is a metered connection and then it will not download all the updates automatically. Note that some priority updates will be downloaded regardless of using this method. If this is not a problem for you, read the steps below to perform this method.
- Open your computer’s settings By pressing the Windows + I keys. Click here “Network and Internet”.
- Under “Network and Internet”go “Wireless Internet”and then Click on the name of the network you are connected to. (If you want to do this for a different network, click “Manage known networks” to find the list of networks your computer has previously connected to. If you choose this option, click the desired network name and then click “Properties”.)
- Here, Under “Metered connection”You will find a toggle called “Set as metered connection”. Open this and you’re done.
Now Windows 10 will assume that you have a limited data plan on this network and will not automatically download all updates over this network.
SEE ALSO: How to Play Private Voicemail on Windows 10 Startup
Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10
While the automatic download of Windows 10 updates can annoy most people, now you know more than just one way to stop it. So go ahead and take full control over your Windows 10’s system updates. Also, if there are other ways to stop Windows 10 updates that you know of, let me know in the comments section below.
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