How To Turn off And Stop Automatic Windows Updates In Windows 11 and Windows 10
INTRODUCTION TO HOW TO DISABLE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS UPDATES
Are you getting frustrated with the automatic Windows updates? In this article, you will learn how to disable the auto-update in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Updates cannot be avoided because it is part and parcel of the functionality of a device. Through updates, the latest features are incorporated into the system, and bugs and performance issues become a thing of the past. We know that some Windows OS users might disagree with this.
Cumulative updates are automatically installed in Windows 10 and 11, nevertheless, a lot of users wish to turn off the automatic updates in Windows 10. In fact, we know that a lot of instances have been recorded where Windows 10 updates have caused havoc instead of resolving them.
How Can I Disable Automatic Updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Unfortunately, Microsoft has made turning off automatic updates in Windows 10 to be a herculean task. Despite the fact that you can temporarily disable the Windows 10 automatic update, trying to permanently disable them requires you to do some heavy lifting and this is also applicable to Windows 11.
We will talk about the ways through which you can disable automatic updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11 below
How Can I Disable Automatic Updates In Windows 11 and Windows 10 through Pausing Auto Updates?
One of the fastest and simplest ways to stop automatic updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is by pausing updates, nevertheless, just as the name implies, this setting can pause the updates temporarily. Follow these steps to achieve this:
1. Locate the Start then Settings and Update and Security.
2. Tap the option of Pause updates for 7 days.
3. Tap the advanced options on that same page to change the pause period.
4. Below the pause updates section, tap the Select date option.
5. Finally, choose the date in the drop-down menu.
With the use of this method, the updates can be paused for up to 35 days and once the pause period is over, Windows will install new updates automatically even before you can use the option again.
This method has been proven to be useful in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Engaging in this method can help free up your memory if you have a potato PC. In addition to this, we guess you won’t like to have updates running when playing a heavy PC game.
How Can I Disable Automatic Updates In Windows 11 and Windows 10 through Update Services?
Another way to go about turning off the automatic download permanently in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is by disabling the entire Windows update service.
- For you to achieve this, go to Start and enter Run.
2. When you open the Run utility, type the following, “services.msc” and press Enter.
3. Search for Windows Update in the service window, and double click on it.
4. Choose Disabled from the drop-down menu close to the Startup Type in the Windows update settings.
5. Finally, press OK, then reboot the PC for the changes to be put into effect.
When you are through with this process, you will find out that your PC will no longer update your system automatically and if you desire to undo this change, just go back to the Windows update settings and choose Enabled located in the drop-down menu.
How Can I Disable Automatic Updates In Windows 11 and Windows 10 through Registry?
Modifying the registry is yet another way of disabling automatic updates in Windows 10 and 11.
1. For you to achieve this, go to Start and type Regedit, then click on the Registry Editor located in the search results.
2. Secondly, copy the below path into the Registry Editor’s address bar and click Enter.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. Thirdly, right-click on the Windows folder located in the sidebar
4. The fourth step is to choose New > Key. You can give it WindowsUpdate as a name and click Enter.
5. The fifth step is to right-click on the WindowsUpdate icon and create another key again, then name it AU and click Enter.
6. The sixth step is to right-click anywhere on the right panel and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
7. The seventh step is to give a name to the key NoAutoUpdate and click Enter.
8. The eighth step is to click on it twice and change the value from 0 to 1.
9. The ninth step is to close the Registry Editor and reboot your PC.
By following the aforementioned steps, you have succeeded in permanently disabling the ability of Windows 10/Windows 11 to carry out automatic updates.
How Can I Disable Automatic Updates In Windows 11 and Windows 10 through Group Policy?
Using the Group Policy editor, you can achieve disabling automatic updates if you are running Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro.
- The first step is to go to start and type gpedit.msc, then go to the search results and click on the Group policy editor.
- The second step is to follow this path – Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
- The third step is to Double-tap on Configure Automatic Updates
- The fourth step is to choose Disabled in the new dialog box.
- The fifth step is tap the Ok icon.
If you follow these steps, you will succeed in stopping Windows 10 from downloading or updates from automatically installing.
How Can I Disable Automatic Updates In Windows 11 and Windows 10 through Windows Update Block Utility Application?
Alternatively, you can still achieve what we are talking about by installing Windows Update Blocker here that can disable automatic updates instead of going through the aforementioned steps by following the few steps listed below:
1. The first step is to Extract the Windows Update Blocker file.
2. The second step is to open the exe file and choose Disable updates.
3. The third step is to check Protect Services Settings and tap on Apply Now.
You will know that you were successful if the icon under Service status turns red.
How Can I Disable Automatic Updates In Windows 11 and Windows 10 through Metered Connection
Here is yet another solution to this problem which is to set up a metered connection. This means that you will literally be including a manual data cap on your internet connection thereby restricting Windows from automatically downloading big updates.
Follow these instructions to set up a metered connection
1. The first step is to go to Start > Settings > Network and Internet.
2. The second step is to choose Data Usage located below the Status settings.
3. The third step is to tap on Enter limit.
4. The fourth step is to choose the amount of MB you want to permit.
Truthfully, the essence of a metered network which we all know is for it to stop Windows 10 and Windows 11 automatic updates might not be applicable in every situation. This is because the data limit does not affect just the Windows update but the entire PC and you have to remove the data cap when you plan to download some.
We have exhausted some of the ways through which you can disable automatic updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Please ensure that you carefully adhere to the steps to avoid creating any unforeseen issues, in other words, make sure that you have a backup of your essential files would.
Automatic Windows Updates