How to stop automatic updates on

Windows 10
If you're fed up with Windows 10 installing updates automatically, then use this guide to
stop this behavior and decide when to install them.
Mauro Huculak
30 Jan 2020

Source: Windows Central

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.

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In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to block Windows Update from
downloading and installing updates on your computer automatically.

 How to disable automatic updates using Settings

 How to disable automatic updates using Group Policy
 How to disable automatic updates using Registry

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 for up to 35 days.

Disabling all updates

To temporarily disable automatic updates on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Advanced options button.
 Source: Windows Central

5. Under the "Pause updates" sections, use the Pause until drop-down menu, and
select the time range to disable automatic updates.
 Source: Windows Central

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 button
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:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Advanced options button.
 Source: Windows Central

5. 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).
 Source: Windows Central

After you complete the steps, your computer won't download and install monthly quality
updates until the schedule reaches its limit, or you change the setting back to zero.

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:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for gpedit.msc and select the top result to launch the Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows

Components\Windows Update
4. Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.

Source: Windows Central

5. Check the Disabled option to turn off the policy.

 Source: Windows Central

6. Click the Apply button.

7. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will stop downloading updates automatically.

Although the automatic updates feature will remain disabled, you can still download and
install patches manually from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and
clicking the Check for updates button.
If you want to re-enable automatic updates, 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 the Group Policy Editor to limit the availability of updates
on your computer.

To control Windows Update settings with Group Policy, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for gpedit.msc and select the top result to launch the experience.
3. Navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows

Components\Windows Update

4. Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.

Source: Windows Central

5. Check the Enable option to turn on the policy.

 Source: Windows Central

6. In the "Options" section, you'll find several options to configure automatic updates,
including:
o 2 - Notify for download and auto install.
o 3 - Auto download and notify for install.
o 4 - Auto download and schedule the install.
o 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 any other option that best fits
your situation.
 Source: Windows Central

7. Click the Apply button.

8. 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 the Pro version of Windows 10, you can also disable automatic updates
using the Registry in at least two different ways.

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:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for regedit and select the top result to launch the experience.
3. Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

4. Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click the Key option.
 Source: Windows Central

5. Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.

6. Right-click the newly created key, select New, and click the Key option.

Source: Windows Central

7. Name the new key AU and press Enter.

8. Right-click on the right side, select New, and click the DWORD (32-bit) Value
option.

Source: Windows Central

9. Name the new key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter.

10. Double-click the newly created key and change its value from 0 to 1.

Source: Windows Central

 11. Click the OK button.
12. Restart your computer.

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update should stop trying to download and install
updates automatically on your device.

If you must check, download, and install a new update manually, you can perform this task
from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update by 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:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for regedit and select the top result to launch the experience.
3. Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

4. Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click the Key option.

Source: Windows Central

5. Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
6. Right-click the newly created key, select New, and click the Key option.

Source: Windows Central

7. Name the new key AU and press Enter.

8. Right-click on the right side, select New, and click the DWORD (32-bit) Value
option.
 Source: Windows Central

9. Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.

10. Double-click the newly created key and change its value using one of the following
options (number only):
o 2 — Notify for download and auto install.
o 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
o 4 — Auto download and schedule the install.
o 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 configuration that best suits your situation.
 Source: Windows Central

11. Click the OK button.

12. Restart your computer.

After you complete 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 the
computer to complete applying the settings.