How Do I Turn Off Automatic Windows Updates?

On Windows 10, cumulative updates download and install automatically every bit soon as they get bachelor. Although this approach allows laptops and desktop computers to receive security updates to patch vulnerabilities, improve performance, and bring enhancements without user interaction, it is a very controversial feature.

Usually, information technology's considering updates contain bugs that can negatively affect the feel in many ways. For instance, they could break existing features, innovate driver and awarding compatibility problems, or cause the Bluish Screen of Death (BSoD), and they crave a organisation restart to complete the installation that can disrupt your workflow.

If you feel more than problems than benefits during updates, or if yous accept a proficient reason to use a device without updates, depending on your edition of Windows ten, you lot can disable automatic updates using the Settings app or permanently with the Group Policy and Registry.

In this Windows ten guide, we will walk you through the steps to foreclose Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing updates on your reckoner.

How to disable automatic updates using Settings
How to disable automatic updates using Group Policy
How to disable automatic updates using Registry

How to disable automatic updates using Settings

If you lot have to prevent the organization from downloading a specific update, you do not need to disable Windows Update permanently. Instead, you should simply pause Windows Update until the adjacent 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, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options push.

Source: Windows Central
Under the "Pause until" department, use the drop-downwards menu and select how long to stop updates.

Source: Windows Central

One time you complete the steps, Windows Update will no longer download for the fourth dimension yous specified. When the system reaches the pause limit, you will need to install the latest patch available to brand the choice bachelor once again.

You can always undo the changes with the instructions outlined above, but on stride five, choose the Select date option. Alternatively, you can accomplish the same effect by clicking the Resume updates push.

How to disable automatic updates using Group Policy

On Windows 10 Pro, the Local Group Policy Editor includes policies to permanently disable automatic updates or modify the update settings to choose when patches should be installed on the device.

Disable Windows 10 updates

To disable automatic updates on Windows 10 permanently, use these steps:

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

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

Source: Windows Primal
Cheque the Disabled option to plough off automatic Windows 10 updates permanently.

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

After you complete the steps, Windows x will finish downloading updates automatically. However, the ability to check for updates manually will continue to be available on Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and clicking the Check for updates push to download the about recent patches as needed.

If yous want to enable automatic updates on the estimator again, you can use the verbal instructions outlined to a higher place, but on footstep 5, make sure to select the Non Configured selection.

Limit Windows 10 updates

The Local Group Policy Editor as well lets you choose how to disable automated updates.

To manage Windows Update automated downloads with Group Policy on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open up Start.
Search for gpedit.msc and select the top result to launch the experience.
Navigate to the post-obit path:

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

Source: Windows Central
Check the Enable option to plow on the policy.
Nether the "Options" section, select the selection to foreclose updates from downloading automatically on Windows 10:
- ii — Notify for download and motorcar install.
- 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
- 4 — Automobile download and schedule the install.
- five — Let local admin to cull setting.
- 7 — Auto Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
Quick tip: The all-time option to disable automatic updates is the 2 — Notify for download and automobile install option, simply you can make a unlike selection. If yous cull option ii, updates won't download automatically. Instead, yous will now see an "Install at present" button to manually trigger an update on the Windows Update settings page.

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

Once yous complete the steps, automatic updates volition be permanently disabled on Windows x. However, when new updates become available, you will be able to install them manually from the Windows Update settings page.

How to disable automated updates with Registry

You can also use the Registry in 2 different ways to disable automatic updates on Windows ten.

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

Disable updates

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

Open Start.
Search for regedit and click the top result to launch 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 cull the Key option.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Proper name the new primal WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Right-click the newly created key, select the New submenu, and cull the Key option.

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

Source: Windows Central
Proper name the new central NoAutoUpdate and printing Enter.
Double-click the newly created key and change its value from 0 to ane.

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

After you consummate the steps, automated updates volition be disabled permanently on the device. However, you volition still be able to download updates by clicking the Check for updates push on the Windows Update settings page.

If you want to undo the changes, yous tin can utilise the aforementioned instructions outlined to a higher place, but on step 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate fundamental, select the Delete pick, and then reboot the computer to utilize the settings.

Limit updates

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

To utilize the Registry to stop automatic updates, merely decide how to receive updates, apply these steps:

Open Start.
Search for regedit and click the tiptop result to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the post-obit path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select the New submenu, and choose the Fundamental selection.

Source: Windows Central
Name the new fundamental WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Correct-click the newly created key, select the New submenu, and choose the Cardinal option.

Source: Windows Key
Proper name the new primal AU and press Enter.
Right-click the AU central, select the New submenu, and select the DWORD (32-bit) Value selection.

Source: Windows Central
Proper name the new key AUOptions and printing Enter.
Double-click the newly created key and modify the value (number simply) to:
- 2 — Notify for download and motorcar install.
- 3 — Motorcar download and notify for install.
- 4 — Auto download and schedule the install.
- v — Permit local admin to choose settings.
- 7 — Auto Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
These options are the aforementioned every bit the Group Policy settings, and option 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 will no longer download and install automatically. However, when a new update becomes available, yous will find the option to install it manually from the Windows Update settings.

You can use the aforementioned instructions outlined to a higher place to restore the original settings, simply on step 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate primal, select the Delete option, and reboot the computer.

Updates are essential to fix security vulnerabilities, resolve problems, and ameliorate the overall feel, no matter the version of Windows you use. However, y'all may still need to disable this characteristic in some situations. For instance, when you want to have complete control over updates on Windows 10, when you want to avoid issues since bugs are mutual in most releases, or when you are using a critical app or equipment, and you do not desire to encounter any compatibility issues.