How To Disable Windows 10 Updates

On Windows 10, cumulative updates download and install automatically as soon equally they become available. Although this arroyo allows laptops and desktop computers to receive security updates to patch vulnerabilities, improve performance, and bring enhancements without user interaction, information technology is a very controversial feature.

Ordinarily, it'due south because updates comprise bugs that can negatively affect the experience in many ways. For case, they could break existing features, introduce commuter and application compatibility problems, or cause the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), and they crave a system restart to consummate the installation that can disrupt your workflow.

If yous experience more problems than benefits during updates, or if you have a good reason to use a device without updates, depending on your edition of Windows ten, you tin 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 lot through the steps to prevent Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing updates on your figurer.

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 have to forestall the system from downloading a specific update, y'all exercise not demand to disable Windows Update permanently. Instead, you should merely pause Windows Update until the adjacent Patch Tuesday arrives. The Settings app includes an option to cease updates for up to 35 days on Windows ten.

To disable automatic updates temporarily, use these steps:

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

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

Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will no longer download for the fourth dimension yous specified. When the arrangement reaches the pause limit, y'all volition need to install the latest patch bachelor to brand the selection available again.

You lot can always undo the changes with the instructions outlined to a higher place, just on step 5, choose the Select date option. Alternatively, y'all 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 Grouping Policy Editor includes policies to permanently disable automated updates or modify the update settings to choose when patches should be installed on the device.

Disable Windows x updates

To disable automatic updates on Windows ten permanently, employ these steps:

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

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

Source: Windows Central
Check the Disabled option to turn off automatic Windows ten updates permanently.

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

After you complete the steps, Windows x will terminate 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 Bank check for updates push button to download the well-nigh recent patches as needed.

If you want to enable automatic updates on the computer once again, you lot can use the exact instructions outlined above, simply on step 5, make sure to select the Not Configured pick.

Limit Windows 10 updates

The Local Group Policy Editor also lets yous cull how to disable automatic updates.

To manage Windows Update automatic downloads with Group Policy on Windows x, utilise these steps:

Open Start.
Search for gpedit.msc and select the meridian result to launch the experience.
Navigate to the following path:

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

Source: Windows Primal
Check the Enable option to turn on the policy.
Under the "Options" section, select the selection to prevent updates from downloading automatically on Windows 10:
- 2 — Notify for download and auto install.
- iii — Auto download and notify for install.
- four — Auto download and schedule the install.
- 5 — Allow local admin to choose setting.
- seven — Car Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
Quick tip: The best option to disable automatic updates is the 2 — Notify for download and auto install option, but y'all can make a different selection. If yous cull option two, updates won't download automatically. Instead, yous will now see an "Install now" button to manually trigger an update on the Windows Update settings folio.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Employ button.
Click the OK button.

Once yous consummate the steps, automatic updates will be permanently disabled on Windows 10. However, when new updates become bachelor, you will be able to install them manually from the Windows Update settings folio.

How to disable automated updates with Registry

You can also utilize the Registry in two different ways to disable automated updates on Windows 10.

Alarm: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky and tin cause irreversible impairment to your installation if you don't do it correctly. Before proceeding, information technology'southward recommended to make a full backup of your PC.

Disable updates

To disable Windows ten updates permanently changing the Registry settings, use these steps:

Open Offset.
Search for regedit and click the top effect to launch the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the post-obit path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Right-click the Windows (binder) key, select the New submenu, and cull the Cardinal pick.

Source: Windows Central
Proper name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Right-click the newly created key, select the New submenu, and choose the Central option.

Source: Windows Central
Name the new key AU and press Enter.
Correct-click the AU primal, select the New submenu, and choose the DWORD (32-bit) Value selection.

Source: Windows Primal
Name the new key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter.
Double-click the newly created key and change its value from 0 to 1.

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

After you complete the steps, automatic updates will be disabled permanently on the device. However, you will still exist able to download updates by clicking the Check for updates push button on the Windows Update settings page.

If you want to disengage the changes, you lot can use the same instructions outlined above, but on step 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate key, select the Delete selection, then reboot the computer to utilise the settings.

Limit updates

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

To apply the Registry to terminate automatic updates, but decide how to receive updates, use these steps:

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Correct-click the Windows (folder) key, select the New submenu, and choose the Key option.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Right-click the newly created key, select the New submenu, and choose the Key choice.

Source: Windows Central
Name the new primal AU and press Enter.
Right-click the AU key, select the New submenu, and select the DWORD (32-fleck) Value option.

Source: Windows Central
Name the new key AUOptions and printing Enter.
Double-click the newly created central and change the value (number only) to:
- 2 — Notify for download and auto install.
- 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
- iv — Motorcar download and schedule the install.
- 5 — Permit local admin to choose settings.
- 7 — Machine Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
These options are the same equally the Group Policy settings, and pick 2 is the closest to disable Windows Update permanently.

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

One time y'all consummate the steps, cumulative updates will no longer download and install automatically. However, when a new update becomes available, you will find the option to install information technology manually from the Windows Update settings.

Y'all can use the same instructions outlined to a higher place to restore the original settings, only on step 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate key, select the Delete selection, and reboot the reckoner.

Updates are essential to fix security vulnerabilities, resolve bug, and improve the overall feel, no affair the version of Windows you use. However, you may even so need to disable this characteristic in some situations. For instance, when you lot want to have consummate command over updates on Windows 10, when you want to avert bug since bugs are common in nearly releases, or when y'all are using a critical app or equipment, and you do not want to encounter any compatibility problems.