Microsoft frequently keeps Windows 10 updated with quality or cumulative updates. Out of the box, the latest version of Windows is configured to check for updates regularly, then download and install them automatically. While automatic updates allow Windows-powered devices to receive security updates, performance enhancements, under-the-hood optimizations, and new features without the user’s involvement, most people find it inconvenient for several reasons.
If you didn’t know, Microsoft has recently been under the spotlight for rolling out bug-riddled Windows updates, causing various problems like boot loops, frequent BSODs (Blue Screen of Death), severe performance degradation, driver incompatibility, user file deletion, and more. On top of that, critical updates immediately require a restart to finish the installation, forcing users to disrupt their workflow.
If you also find the updates disruptive and troublesome, or you have a solid reason to run an older version of Windows, you can prevent the system from downloading and installing the latest updates in a few straightforward ways. This guide will walk you through the more accessible methods to disable automatic updates on Windows 10.
Disable automatic updates on Windows 10 from Settings
Suppose you want to skip a particular patch or update without permanently disabling Windows Update. In that case, you can temporarily pause updates until the next roll-out. Luckily, both the Home and Pro edition of Windows 10 allows users to stop system updates for up to 35 days. Here’s what you need to do:
- First, head over to the Settings app from the Start menu.
- Go to the Update & Security page and select Windows Update in the sidebar.
- Next, click Advanced options on the following “Windows Update” page.
- Now use the drop-down menu under the “Pause updates” section to select how long to pause updates.
Once you do this, you won’t receive any Windows updates until the date you selected. Once you hit the pause limit, you will have to download and install the most recent quality update to make the “Pause update” option reappear.
If you wish to unpause the Windows updates before the specified date, visit Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click the Resume updates button.
Disable automatic updates on Windows 10 with Group Policy
If you use Windows 10 Pro, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor tool to block automatic updates permanently. You also get the option to manually set a specific time for Windows to install the updates on your machine. Here’s how to use it:
Disable updates permanently
In order to turn off automatic Windows 10 updates permanently, perform the following steps:
- Go to your Start menu and start typing “gpedit.msc” using your keyboard.
- Click the top result above to launch the Local Group Policy Editor tool.
- In the new window that appears, make your way to the following path from the browser pane:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update - Now find the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right pane and double-click it.
Check the circle next to Disabled in the following window and click OK to apply the changes.
That’s it! You have permanently disabled automatic updates on Windows 10. With that said, you can continue to check for the latest cumulative patches and feature updates manually from the Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update menu and install them.
If you later wish to enable automatic updates again, repeat the step-by-step instructions above, but make sure to select Not Configured instead of the “Disabled” option on Step 5.
Limit the updates
The Local Group Policy Editor lets you change Windows Update settings in meaningful ways. If you want to limit automatic updates with the tool, use the steps below.
- Open the Start menu, search for “gpedit.msc,” and click the top result to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
- Next, go to the following directory from the left browse pane:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update - Find and double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right pane.
- Check the circle next to Enabled to activate the selected policy.
- Now select the drop-down box under Configure automatic updating inside the “Options” section. You should see 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 setting
- 7 – Auto download, notify to install, notify to restart
- We recommend selecting the “2 – Notify for download and auto install” option as it will limit updates from downloading automatically and give you the option to install an update manually. However, you can choose a different option as per your preference.
- Finally, click Apply to save the changes, and then hit OK to close the policy window.
Once you complete the steps above, Windows 10 will no longer download and install cumulative updates automatically. However, note that you can still check for new updates manually from the Windows Update settings.
Disable automatic updates on Windows 10 with Registry Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is inaccessible to Windows 10 Home users. However, you can use the Registry Editor instead to disable automatic updates on Windows 10.
Bear in mind that playing with the Registry is dangerous and can cause your Windows installation to get corrupted if something goes wrong on your end. Thus, make sure to back up your important stuff on your PC before you proceed.
- Open Start from your taskbar, type “regedit.msc,” and click the top result to launch Registry Editor.
- From the left browser pane in the window, navigate to the following directory:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows - After that, right-click the Windows folder, select New from the drop-down menu, and then click Key in the submenu.
- Now name the key “WindowsUpdate” (without the quotes), and press Enter on your keyboard to save it.
- Right-click the key (folder) you just created, click New in the drop-down menu, and then select the Key option.
- Name the new key “AU” (without the quotes) and press Enter on your keyboard to save it.
- Right-click the AU key, click New in the following menu, and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value in the submenu.
Now assign the NoAutoUpdate name to the key and press Enter to save.- Double-click the newly created key, change its value data from 0 to 1, and click OK to confirm your changes.
Finally, close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.
If everything goes correctly, automatic updates on Windows 10 will be disabled permanently. Though you still can download and install the latest cumulative patches and feature updates as you prefer from the Windows Update settings.
To revert your changes, simply follow the first two steps above, then right-click the WindowsUpdate key and select Delete. After that, you must restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Signing out
Whether you don’t want to deal with a buggy release, end up with a corrupted Windows installation, or simply wish to maintain an uninterrupted workflow, this guide has shown you the ways you can stop automatic updates on Windows 10.
However, remember that some updates also mitigate security threats, address various bugs and other issues, add new features, and improve the overall user experience. Hence, we recommend you check for critical Windows updates every now and then.
Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.
