Disable Automatic Updates Using Group Policy (Windows 10) If you rather not have Windows silently downloading and installing updates in the background - you and I are on the same boat. For security reasons, it's a good idea to have the latest patches and fixes installed on your system but sometimes you might want to have some control of when you want those updates. How to Disable Automatic Driver Downloads on Windows 10. Windows 10 still has the option to avoid installing drivers as part of Windows Updates. For most of us, the drivers are a welcome. One of the controversial features of Windows 10 is a new way that the operating system handles updates.Cumulative updates are installed automatically when Windows decides to do it. This can be extremely frustrating for Windows 10 users as they are often forced to restart their machine at an inopportune time. Jan 16, 2018 How to Prevent Windows 10 From Automatically Downloading Updates Prevent Automatic Downloading of Updates on a Specific Connection. Stop Windows Update From Automatically Rebooting Your Computer. Prevent Windows Update From Installing Specific Updates and Drivers. Use Group Policy to Disable. There are some remedies available for this annoying and potentially disruptive problem. You need to disable automatic updates for Window 10. We are going to show you how to do that and have a little more control over your Windows system. Here are 3 options for you to use to stop automatic updates in Windows 10: Turn Off the Windows Update Service.
On Windows 10, quality updates (or cumulative updates) always download and install automatically as soon as they're ready for your device. While this approach makes sure that every computer has the latest security patches, performance, and stability improvements, it's also among one of the features that users complain the most.
Typically, it's because to apply updates, users are required to restart their devices, and because updates are also known to (sometimes) cause problems negatively affecting the user experience.
Whatever the reason it might be, depending on your edition of Windows 10, you can regain control and stop automatic updates using Group Policy and Registry.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to block Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing updates on your computer.
How to disable automatic updates using Settings
If you're looking to postpone updates, you don't need to disable the feature permanently. You can pause updates until you're ready to install them. Using the Settings app, you can pause updates up to 35 days.
Disabling all updates
To temporarily disable automatic updates on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options button.
Under the 'Pause updates' sections, use the Pause until drop-down menu, and select how long to disable automatic updates.
Once you complete the steps, your device will no longer receive updates of any kind until the day you specified. When your device reaches the pause limit, you must allow Windows 10 to download and install the latest updates to make the option available again.
If you want to undo the changes, you can use the same instructions, but on step No. 5, choose the Select date option. Alternatively, you can click the Resume updates from the Windows Update settings page.
Disabling security updates
In addition to temporarily disabling all updates, Windows 10 also offers an option to defer only quality updates up to 30 days.
To disable security updates on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options button.
Under the 'Pause updates' sections, use the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page, and select the number of days that you want to defer quality updates (if applicable).
After you complete the steps, your computer will not download and install monthly quality updates until the schedule reaches its limit.
How to disable automatic updates using Group Policy
On Windows 10 Pro, you can use the Local Group Policy editor to disable automatic updates permanently, or you can change the Windows Update settings to decide when updates should install.
Disabling updates
To permanently disable automatic updates on Windows 10, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for gpedit.msc and select the top result to launch the experience.
Navigate to the following path:
Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsWindows UpdateDouble-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.
Check the Disabled option to turn off the policy.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will stop downloading updates automatically.
While automatic updates remains disabled, you can still download and install patches manually from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and clicking the Check for updates button.
If you change your mind, you can always revert the changes using the same instructions, but on step No. 5, make sure to select the Not Configured option.
Limiting updates
Alternatively, if turning off the policy isn't working, you can also try customizing the Windows Update settings using Group Policy to limit the availability of updates on your device.
To control Windows Update settings with Group Policy, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for gpedit.msc and select the top result to launch the experience.
Navigate to the following path:
Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsWindows UpdateDouble-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.
Check the Enable option to turn on the policy.
In the 'Options' section, you'll find a number of options to configure automatic updates, including:
- 2 - Notify for download and auto install.
- 3 - Auto download and notify for install.
- 4 - Auto download and schedule the install.
- 5 - Allow local admin to choose setting.
Quick tip: The closest option to disable automatic updates is the 2 - Notify for download and auto install option, but you can select the option that best fits your situation.
- Click the Apply button.
- Click the OK button.
After completing the steps, updates will stop downloading automatically. However, when a new update becomes available, you'll receive a notification to download and install updates manually from the Windows Update settings page.
How to disable automatic updates using Registry
If you're running Windows 10 Pro, you can also disable automatic updates in two different ways using the Registry.
Disabling updates
To permanently disable updates on Windows 10 modifying the Registry, use these steps:
Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don't do it correctly. It's recommended to make a full backup of your PC before proceeding.
To permanently disable Windows Update using the Registry, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for regedit and select the top result to launch the experience.
Navigate to the following path:
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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsRight-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click on Key.
- Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Right-click the newly created key, select New, and click on Key.
- Name the new key AU and press Enter.
Right-click on the right side, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name the new key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter.
Double-click the newly created key and change its value from 0 to 1.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart your computer.
Once you complete the steps, Windows Update should stop trying to download and install updates automatically on your device.
If you want to update manually, you can perform this task from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and clicking the Check for updates button.
Limiting updates
In the case that using the Registry to disable updates isn't working as expected, you can also use the Registry to customize the Windows Update settings to prevent updates from installing automatically.
To customize Windows Update settings to block updates with the Registry, use these steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for regedit and select the top result to launch the experience.
Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsRight-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click on Key.
- Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Right-click the newly created key, select New, and click on Key.
- Name the new key AU and press Enter.
Right-click on the right side, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
Double-click the newly created key and change its value (number only) using one of the following options:
- 2 — Notify for download and auto install.
- 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
- 4 — Auto download and schedule the install.
- 5 — Allow local admin to choose settings.
These options work similar to the Group Policy settings, and number 2 is the closest option to disable Windows Update permanently. However, you can always select the setting the best suits your situation.
- Click the OK button.
- Restart your computer.
After completing the steps, Windows 10 will stop installing updates automatically. However, you'll receive notifications as soon as new quality updates are available, but they won't download and install until you approve them manually.
You can always use the same instructions to restore the original settings, but on step No. 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate key, and select the Delete option. Then reboot your device to complete applying the settings.
Wrapping things up
Updates are crucial to safeguard your device and data and to improve the overall experience, as such it's never recommended to use an unpatched computer. However, there are many scenarios when disabling updates could make sense. For instance, when you may need to apply updates manually, or you want to make sure that a particular update doesn't have any issues before installing it on your laptop or desktop PC.
Also, this guide only stops monthly updates, which usually fix security vulnerabilities and improves the stability of Windows 10. If you want to avoid automatic installs of feature updates, such as the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, when the current installation is nearing the end of service, you need to modify the settings to defer major releases.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
Unlike its predecessors, Windows 10 doesn’t allow you easily turn off automatic Windows updates. The classic Windows Update panel, which allowed users to turn off automatic updates, has been dropped from Windows 10, and there is no option under Settings app to turn off automatic updates.
However, users running on Windows 10 Pro edition can make necessary changes to the default Windows Updates settings to notify users that updates are available (users can install if they wish to), and turning on this option will make sure that Windows 10 doesn’t automatically download and install updates. There is also an option to automatically download updates but notify users before installing them.
Important: Although the Registry Editor is present in Windows 10 Home edition, this method is not for Home edition.
Free music software windows 7. Users on Pro edition can go through our how to disable Windows Update in Windows 10 guide for detailed instructions.
Turn off or configure automatic Windows Updates using Registry
A number of users have asked us if it’s possible to configure Windows Update settings via Registry. The good news is that one can change the default settings of Windows Update by editing registry. Besides that, all the Windows Update setting offered in Group Policy are available in Registry as well.
In addition to that, there is a way to completely turn off automatic updates (never check for updates) in Windows 10 using Registry.
In this guide, we will see how to turn off or configure automatic Windows Update by editing Registry.
Method 1 – turn off automatic updates
Method 2 – advanced settings to configure automatic updates
Method 1 of 2
Completely turn off automatic updates
Important: We recommend you create a manual system restore point before editing the Registry just in case if something goes wrong!
Step 1: Type Regedit in Start menu or taskbar search box and then press Enter key. Click Yes button when you see the User Account Control dialog.
Step 2: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows
Step 3:Right-click on Windows key (as shown in the below picture), click New, and then click Key.
Enter the name as WindowsUpdate (no space between Windows and Update). Note that even after creating the New Key, you can right-click on it, and then click Rename to rename it as WindowsUpdate.
Step 4: Now that you have created WindowsUpdate key, right-click on WindowsUpdate key, click New, click Key, and then set its name as AU.
Step 5: Click on AU key. On the right-side, right-click on the empty space, click New, click DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it as NoAutoUpdate.
Step 6: Finally, double-click on NoAutoUpdate, and set its value data to one of the following numbers:
0 – To enable automatic updates
1 – To turn off automatic updates
When you turn off automatic updates using the above mentioned instructions, Windows will never check for updates. If you navigate to Advanced options of Windows Settings in Settings app, you will see Never check for updates as the status under Choose how updates are installed section.
Method 2 of 2
Disable Automatic Updates Windows 10 Restart
More settings to configure automatic updates
If you don’t want to completely turn off automatic updates but want to control how the updates are installed, you can do so by following given below directions.
Disable Automatic Updates Windows 10 Home Version
Step 1: Follow the instructions in the above method to create WindowsUpdate and AU keys under the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows
Step 2: Select AU key, on the right-side, create a new 32-bit DWORD and name it as AUOptions, and set its value as one of the following numbers:
2 – Notify before downloading and installing updates
3 – Auto download updates and notify for install
4 – Auto download updates and schedule the install
5 – Allow local admin to choose setting
So, if you want Windows to always notify you about an available update, you need to set the value as 2. Configuring Windows 10 to notify you before downloading updates is the best way to disable automatic updates as the updates won’t be downloaded without your knowledge.
And for those of you wondering, although Registry Editor is present in Windows 10 Home, it looks like these Registry tweaks don’t help you turn off automatic updates.