Microsoft regularly pushes windows updates with bug fixes and security improvements to ensure the proper functioning of a system and maintaining its security. And Windows 10 is set to download and install updates automatically, means whenever new updates available windows updates automatically down and installs them on your system. But some of the users found Windows update is very annoying and it breaks the system. And windows 10 no option to turn off automatic updates. If you are looking for Disable Automatic Updates on Windows 10, follow the steps below.
Disable Windows 10 update permanently
Before proceeding, remember that some of the automatic updates will be security updates or important stability improvements that you will want to have installed on your system. Keep this in mind if you choose to keep automatic updates turned off for an extended period of time.
You can disable Windows 10 update using the Local Group Policy Editor by following the steps below.
Note: Group policy Feature only available on windows pro and higher editions. If you are Windows 10 Home Basic user skip this Step.
- Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc and ok to open Local Group Policy Editor.
- Here navigate to the following folder:
- Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update
- Now on the right side, double-click on the Configure Automatic Updates policy from the Setting list.
- Check the Enabled option to enable the policy.
- Under options select option 2 – “Notify for download and auto install” to stop the automatic installation of updates.
- Click Apply And ok To make Save changes.
Also 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.
If you ever wish to change it back to default, just select option 3 – “Auto download and notify for install”.
Stop auto-updates in Windows 10 Home
If you have Windows 10 Home edition, Group Policy Editor is not available for disabling Windows updates. That cause you can tweak Windows Registry Editor to prevent windows 10 Automatic Update installation.
Press Windows + R, type regedit and ok to open the windows registry editor.
Backup registry database, and navigate to the following key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
If you didnt find the Windowsupdate or AU DWORD key then Right click on windows select New -> key and name it to Windowsupdate.
Again Right click on Windows update New -> key and name it AU.
Click on the Au key then on the right-side panel, right-click anywhere, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option and Rename this key as AUOptions and hit Enter. Now, double-click on the AUOptions key and then change its Value data as per your choice. You can find out what these values mean:
- 2 – Notify for download and for install
- 3 – Auto Download and notify for install
- 4 – Auto Download and schedule the install
- 5 – Allow local admin to choose setting
For Example, If you want to stop Windows 10 from automatically updating your PC then set the Value data as 2. That’s all Now click OK and close Registry Editor. Then Restart windows To take Effect the Changes.
Stop Windows Update Service
Here another effective way to disable automatic updates permanently on Windows 10.
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc and ok
- Scroll down and look for Windows Update service
- Right, click on windows update service and select properties.
- Here, in the drop-down menu of “Startup type”, select “Disabled”.
- And click on Stop to Disable the Service next to Service status.
- That’s All Restart windows now onwards the update service is not started and windows never check for latest windows updates.
Note: If any time you can start the service and change startup Type Automatic To Check and install windows updates.
Defer feature updates in Windows 10
If you are looking to prevent windows 10 feature upgrades, and receive regular updates only. That cause you defer feature updates, which doesn’t affect security updates, but it does prevent you from getting the latest Windows features as soon as they’re available
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update .
- Under Update settings, select Advanced options.
- From the boxes under Choose when updates are installed, select the number of days.
- you would like to defer a feature update or a quality update.
Note: If your PC is managed by an organization, you may not be able to defer updates.