How to stop Windows 10 auto updates

Windows 10 software updates install on your device automatically (whether

you like it or not), but this guide can help you retake control and decide when
to install them.
MAURO HUCULAK
26 JAN 2017 72

On Windows 10, you no longer have absolute control over software updates. They're
mandatory, and they download and install automatically to ensure your device stays
up to date with the latest security patches and improvements. This approach is
convenient for many users, but it's not one that everyone wants.

If you're running Windows 10 Pro or higher, it's possible to retake control and prevent
the OS from downloading and installing updates automatically using the Local Group
Policy Editor or the Registry.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to prevent updates from
automatically installing on your computer.
  How to prevent automatic updates using the Local Group Policy Editor
 How to prevent automatic updates using the Registry

How to prevent automatic updates using the Local Group

Policy Editor
If you run Windows 10 (Professional, Enterprise, or Education ), you can use the
Local Group Policy Editor to quickly change the settings to prevent Windows 10 from
automatically downloading and installing updates.

Here's how to change the Local Group Policy Editor settings:

1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
2. Type gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Browse the following path:

Computer Configuration\Administrative
Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update

4. On the right side, double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy.

5. On the left side, check the Enabled option to enable the policy.
6. Under Options, you'll find a number of ways to configure automatic updates,
including:
o 2 - "Notify for download and notify for install."
o 3 - "Auto download and notify for install."
o 4 - "Auto download and schedule the install."
o 5 - "Allow local admin to choose setting."

You should select the update option you want to configure. If you select option
4, you can specify exactly when to install new updates. You can also choose to
install updates during automatic maintenance, on a particular day and time, and
you can even check the option to include other Microsoft product updates when
updating the OS.
 7. Click Apply.
8. Click OK to complete the task.

While you can pick from any of the available options, your best choice is probably 2 -
Notify for download and notify for install. This option will not only prevent the OS
from downloading updates automatically, which can save you data when using a
metered internet connection, but you'll get a notification when new updates are
available.
When new updates are released, you'll receive a notification in Action Center, but
updates won't download and install until you're ready and do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Download button.

5. Click the Restart button to complete the task.

How to prevent automatic updates using the Registry

Instead of using the Local Group Policy Editor, you can also change the Windows 10
updates using the Registry.

Important warning: Editing the registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible
damage to your installation if you don't do it correctly. It's recommended that you
make a full backup of your computer before proceeding.

1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
2. Type regedit, and click OK to open the Registry.
3. Browse the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Window
s

4. Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click Key.

5. Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.

6. Right-click the newly created key, select new, and click Key.
7. Name the new key AU and press Enter.
8. Inside the newly created key, right-click on the right side, select New, and click
on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
9. Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
10. Double-click the newly created key and change its value using one of the
following options:
o 2 - "Notify for download and notify for install."
o 3 - "Auto download and notify for install."
o 4 - "Auto download and schedule the install."
o 5 - "Allow local admin to choose settings."
 11. Click OK.
12. Close the Registry to complete the task.

Although you can use any of these available values, your best choice is to change the
value to 2 to configure the "Notify for download and notify for install" option.
Using this value prevents Windows 10 from downloading updates automatically, and
you'll get a notification when new updates are available.

After tweaking the Registry, when new updates become available, you'll receive a
notification in Action Center, but updates won't download and install until you're
ready and do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Download button.
 5. Click the Restart button to complete the task.

Wrapping things up
The steps mentioned in this guide are meant to prevent regular updates that patch
security vulnerabilities and improve the overall performance of Windows 10. If you're
looking to prevent the OS from installing feature updates, such as the Windows 10
Fall Creators Update, you need to use this guide to defer major updates.

We do not recommend using a computer without the latest updates, because they're
often key to keeping your Windows 10 PC running properly. However, there will be
times when you may want to manually apply new updates, when you want to install
them during a particular time, or because you want to wait until you're sure the update
will not cause issues.

If you only want to prevent your computer from restarting when you're actively using
it you can configure Active Hours in the Settings app.

More Windows 10 resources

For more help articles, coverage and common questions about Windows 10, check out
the following resources:

 Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know

 Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
 Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Windows 10 Forces Me to Update

"Every time I try to shut down my computer, I was forced to update my Windows 10.
But I really don't want to update my operating system because the automatic update
might take up the system and network resources. Is there anybody can help me solve
this problem and disable Windows 10 update? Thanks in advance."

Windows 10 is a service, which means automatic updates are turned on by default and
your PC always has the latest and best features. But some users will not want
automatic updates as it might take up the system and network resources when they are
doing critical work. So, how to stop Windows 10 from Automatically update?
Read on to know the solutions on how to turn off automatic updates in Windows 10

How to Stop Windows 10 from Automatically Update

Whenever you are faced with Windows 10's automatic update notification like:
Install updates automatically
Download Updates but choose when to install them
Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them
Never check for updates

What would you do? Here, we have the following solutions.

Solution 1. Disable Windows Update Service

The most effective way to stop Windows update is to disable it. Windows Update
service can detect, download and install the Windows updates and programs. Here are
the directions:

1. Press the Windows logo key + R at the same time to invoke the Run box.

2. Type services.msc and press Enter.

invoke run box and type services.msc

3. Scroll down to Windows Update, and double-click it.

find windows update and double-click it

4. In Startup type, select Disabled. Then click Apply and OK to save the settings.

disable the windows update service

Tips: Once disabled, you can not use the Windows automatic update feature, and
programs will not be able to automatically download and install. So if you want to
update your Windows 10, you can go to the Windows Update service, and select
Automatic to enable the service. Then you will be able to update your Windows.
Solution 2. Change the Setting of the Group Policy Editor

You can also use the Group Policy Editor to change the settings to prevent Windows
10 from automatically updating. The group policy editor will notify you of new
updates without automatically installing them.
Press the Windows logo key + R then type gpedit.msc and click OK.
Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components
> Windows Update.
Double-click Configure Automatic Updates.
Select Disabled in Configured Automatic Updates on the left, and click Apply and OK
to disable the Windows automatic update feature.

Note: If you need to update your Windows version later, you can repeat the steps
above, then select Enabled to turn on this feature, so that you can continue to
download the updates.

Solution 3. Change Device Installation Settings

If you don’t want to automatically update your device drivers on your computer, you
can try these steps:

Step 1. Type control panel in the search box, and click Control Panel.

Step 2. Click System.

open control panel and click system

Step 3. Click Advanced system settings.

choose advanced system settings

Step 4. Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Installation Settings.

select "No" to change the device installation settings to stop windows 10's automatic
update

Step 5. Select No (your device might not work as expected) and click Save changes.

select no to stop windows 10's automatic update

Step 6. Click OK to finish the settings. Then your device drivers will not
automatically download from the manufacturers.

Solution 4. Meter Your Network Connection

If your computer is connected to WiFi, you can try this to stop Windows 10 automatic
updates.

1. Click the Start button at the bottom left on your desktop, then click the Settings
app.

2. Click Network & Internet.

click network and internet to meter your network connection

3. Click WiF in the left pane, then click the name of your Wi-Fi connection.

4. Click to turn on Set as metered connection.

Extra Tips: To avoid the data loss that will be caused by the operations above, you'd
better backup your data before you make any changes. All you need to do is use this
free backup software to back up your data in three steps:

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How to Stop Windows 10 Update [Top Tips]

4 Easy Ways to Disable Windows 10 Auto Update!

By Lillian Lai – Last Updated: 3 weeks ago in Technical Tips Tags: Windows Update

As a Windows 10 user, you may have noticed that you are always forced to install the Windows
automatic updates (whether you like it or not). It seems impossible to disable Windows 10 update, no
matter with Control Panel or the Settings app. This is annoying, isn’t it? Whenever you are working on
your computer, Windows automatically updates the system, and you cannot even save the current work
before the computer restarts, and you have to restart the system very often, spending much on
restarting and updating.

How Can I Stop Windows 10 Auto Update?

Don’t be upset! There are several solutions to stop Windows 10 update. This article outlines 4 easy
methods about how to stop Windows 10 update. You don’t need to try them all; just work your way
through until it solves your problem.

Way 1: Meter your network connection to stop Windows 10 update

Way 2: Disable Windows Update service to stop Windows 10 update
Way 3: Change Group Policy Settings to stop Windows 10 update
Way 4: Change Device Installation Settings to stop Windows 10 update

Options to update are not available in Windows 10

With Windows 8.1 and earlier versions, you can choose to update your Windows in the following four
options:

1. Install updates automatically (Recommended)

2. Download Updates but choose when to install them
3. Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them
4. Never check for updates (Not Recommended)

So you can decide when to download the updates as you prefer. But these options are not available in
Windows 10 now, and you are forced to automatically install updates in your computer (whether you
like it or not).

It can prevent or fix problems, improve Windows performance and save your time to keep your
Windows up-to-date. However, sometimes you may get into a situation where the new updates may
interfere with the current work you are doing. To avoid this happening, you may prefer to choose when
to install the Windows updates as you wish. You can try the ways below to disable Windows 10 update.

Way 1: Meter your network connection to stop Windows 10 update

Many people may not notice that there is a simple way to stop Windows 10 automatic updates. You can
set your WiFi network as metered connection. So if your computer is connecting to WiFi, you can try
this:
1) Click the Start button at the bottom left on your desktop, then click the Settings app.

2) Click Network & Internet.

3) Click WiF on the left pane, then click the name of your Wi-Fi connection.
4) Click to turn on Set as metered connection.
In doing this, Windows will assume that you have limited data plan when using WiFi. So it won’t push
installing updates in your computer. However, if your computer is connecting to Ethernet, Windows will
assume that you have unlimited data plan, and this method will not work. You can also try the following
methods to turn off Windows 10 update.

Way 2: Disable Windows Update service to stop Windows 10 update

Windows Update service can detect, download and install the Windows updates and programs. Once
disabled, you can not use the Windows automatic update feature, and programs will not be able to
automatic download and install. Follow these instructions:

1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key + R at the same time to invoke the Run box.

2) Type services.msc and press Enter.

3) Scroll down to Windows Update, and double click it.

4) In Startup type, select Disabled. Then click Apply and OK to save the settings.
5) If it’s the first time that you stop the Windows Update service, you may also need to take one more
step:

Still on the Windows Update Properties pane, click the Recovery tab, select Take No Action in the First
failure section, then click Apply and OK to save the setting.
6) Restart your PC to make it take effect.

Note: If you disable the Windows Update service, your computer will not be able to download the
updates. When you manually click to update, you will see a message that updates were not installed
because computer was stopped. So if you want to update your Windows 10, you can go to the Windows
Update service, and select Automatic to enable the service. Then you will be able to update your
Windows.

Way 3: Change Group Policy Settings to stop Windows 10 update

You can also use the Group Policy Editor to change the settings to prevent Windows 10 from
automatically updating.

1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key + R at the same time to invoke the Run box.

2) Type gpedit.msc and click OK.

3) Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows
Update.

4) Double click Configure Automatic Updates.

5) Select Disabled in Configured Automatic Updates on the left, and click Apply and OK to disable the
Windows automatic update feature.
Tips: When you need to update your Windows version later, you can repeat the steps above, then select
Enabled to turn on this feature, so that you can continue to download the updates.

Note: It’s not recommended to disable it because you may sometimes miss the important Windows
update. It’d better to select Enabled, then choose: 2 – Notify for download and auto install. In doing so,
you will receive notifications about new Windows update, and you can to choose when to download the
update as you wish.
Way 4: Change Device Installation Settings to stop Windows 10 update

If you don’t want to automatically update your device drivers in your computer, you can try these steps:

1) Type control panel in the search box, and click Control Panel.
2) Click System.
3) Click Advanced system settings on the left.

4) Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Installation Settings.

5) Select No (your device might not work as expected) and click Save changes.

6) Click OK to finish the settings. Then your device drivers will not automatically download from the
manufacturers.
Tips: It’s possible there’re problems with some drivers, as the outdated or missing drivers can cause
problems as well. So please turn on this setting when you plan to update your drivers.

Automatic update your drivers

If you are not familiar with playing around with drivers, it’s recommended to do it with Driver Easy. With
Driver Easy, not only you can install the correct drivers, but also choose when to install them.

You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But
with the Pro version it takes just 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee):

1) Download and install Driver Easy.

2) Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect
any problem drivers.
3) Click the Update button next to a flagged device to automatically download and install the correct
version of this driver (you can do this with the FREE version).

Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are
missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade
when you click Update All).

4) After updating, restart your computer to make it take effect.

There are the helpful methods to stop Windows 10 update. Hope it works for you. If you have any
questions, feel free to comment below and we will see what more we can do to help.

Share with your friends and families and help them with similar problems!
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