How to Turn off Automatic Updates in Windows 10

About Windows 10 | Windows 10 Troubleshooting | Replacing an Older Computer | Upgrading to Windows 10

To stop Windows 10 from automatically updating your computer apply the steps below in this order. This is not a 100% guaranteed fix, but many customers report that is works successfully. There are 4 places to change settings:

1- GROUP POLICY EDIT

• By default, Microsoft has disabled the choice  to turn OFF automatic Windows updates.
• You can edit the Group Policy following the instructions below.
• This will NOT work in the Windows 10 Anniversary Edition.
• If you disable automatic updates, it is recommended that you check manually for security updates at least once a month.

There are two settings to change in this portion of the fix:

1. Access the Group Policy Editor by clicking on the Start menu and in the run box type: gpedit.msc
2. A box like the one below will appear, it looks the same for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 10.
3. ​Navigate to :  Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update.
4. Double click on Configure Automatic Updates, right click to edit that item and choose Disable.

1. ​In the left column under navigate to: USER Configuration \Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update.
2. ​Double click on the WIndows Update folder. on the RIGHT side you will see an option to “Remove access to use all Windows Update Features“
3. Double click, and Enable that setting. Note the warning message on the right. “This setting allows you to remove access to Windows Update”.  It will disable the link to the shortcut on the start menu for Check for Updates

2- Registry Edit – Advanced Users only!

If you do not know what the registry is or how it works, stop and do not change any settings.

1. Click on Start menu and type in REGEDIT.
2. Browse to : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
3. ​In the AU (Auto Update) folder, create a new KEY on the right side in the white space, RIGHT click, NEW / DWORD (32Bit) Value
4. Name the new key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter
5. ​Double-click the newly created key andchange its hexadecimal value data using one of the following options:
   1 – “Auto download and install all updates (default setting)
   2 – “Notify for download and notify for install.”
   3 – “Auto download and notify for install.”
   4 – “Auto download and schedule the install.”
   5 – “Allow local admin to choose settings.”
6. ​​NOTE: Although you can use any of these available values, your best choice is to change the value to 2 to configure the “Notify for download and notify for install” option. Using this value prevents Windows 10 from downloading updates automatically, and you’ll get a notification when new updates are available.
7. click OK and close the registry editor. Reboot the computer for it to take effect.

After tweaking the Registry, when new updates become available, you’ll receive a notification in Action Center, but updates won’t download and install until YOU are ready and do the following:

Open Settings / Update & security / Windows Update / Click the Download button.

3- Windows Update Settings

1. Click on Start Menu and type in Windows Update Settings and hit ENTER.
2. Click on Advanced Options at the bottom
3. UNcheck “Give me updates for other Microsoft products when i update Windows”
4.  At the bottom turn OFF Pause Updates
5. UNCheck “Enabling this policy will automatically download updates…”
6. Click on Delivery Optimization turn OFF “Allow downloads from other PC’s”
7. Go BACK one screen and click Privacy Settings at the bottom. UNcheck everything on that page
8. REBOOT your computer.

4- Disable Windows Update Service

Disable the Windows update service in Windows 10 following these steps below. Note this will disable the service responsible for checking, downloading and installing updates for Windows and other programs including Windows Defender. It is recommended to perform Windows updates for security updates and Windows Defender (if you use this built in antivirus program) manually at least once a month.:

Step 1: Click on START menu and type Services in Start menu or taskbar search box and then press Enter key.

Step 2: In the right column scroll down to Windows Update and double click on it.

Step 3: The box below appears, change the Startup type to Disabled. Click Apply button and then reboot your computer.

Also see Windows Troubleshooting Page for more

If your computer automatically reboots after a Windows 10 Update, you may be able to turn that off. See How.

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