"Every time I attempt to shut down my computer, I am prompted to update my Windows 10. However, I am not keen on updating my operating system as the automatic updates might consume system and network resources. Can anyone assist me in resolving this issue and disabling Windows 10 updates? Many thanks in advance."

All solutions to disable Windows 10 updates:

Translation into English:

Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
1. Disable Windows Update Manually Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog...Full steps
2. Modify Group Policy Editor Settings Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates...Full steps
3. Monitor Your Network Connection Click "Network & Internet" in the Settings app...Full steps
4. Adjust Update Settings via Registry Enter 'regedit' and click OK to open the Registry Editor...Full steps

Whenever you encounter automatic update notifications from Windows, such as:

  • Automatically install updates
  • Download updates but let me choose when to install them
  • Notify me about updates but let me decide whether to download and install them

What would you do? Here, we propose the following solutions.

Tip
Before trying out the 4 methods to completely stop Windows 10 updates, check your Windows 10 edition (Home, Pro, Education, or Enterprise) first by going to Settings > System > About, so that you can find the most suitable solution. In addition, the 4th method that tries to control Windows 10 update via Registry is a bit risky, so remember to back up Windows 10 to an external hard drive. The details will be shown in the bonus tip section.

How to Disable Windows 10 Updates

Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 8. The steps might be slightly different for various system versions.

Solution 1: Disable the Windows Update Service

Understand the limitations of this method. Disabling the automatic update service will temporarily prevent any Windows 10 cumulative updates from occurring; however, the service will automatically re-enable itself after a specific period. Follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows logo key + R simultaneously to open the Run box.

windows + r keys

2. Type services.msc and press Enter.

invoke run box and type services.msc

3. Scroll down to Windows Update, and double-click on it.

Find Windows Update and double-click it

4. In the "Startup Type" section, choose "Disabled." Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.

disable the windows update service

Would you like a one-click solution to disable the Windows automatic update feature? If so, try the versatile tool - CleanGenius to assist you. With this tool, you can easily disable or enable Windows Update, fix hard drives, remove or apply write-protection, and perform various other tasks in just seconds.

To disable Windows Update:

Step 1. Download CleanGenius for free and install it on your computer.

Step 2. Launch CleanGenius and go to "Optimization".

Step 3. The tool will automatically detect the status of the Windows Update service. If Windows Update is currently enabled, click the switch to stop the service.

Disable Windows Update

Step 4. To verify if the service has been disabled automatically, go to "Start," type "Services," right-click "Services," and select "Run as administrator."

Step 5. In the list of services, locate "Windows Update," right-click it, and select "Properties." Under the "Service status" section, you should see that the service has been stopped.

Check Windows Update Status

Solution 2: Modify the Group Policy Editor Setting

The Group Policy feature is not included in the Home edition. Consequently, you can only utilize the Group Policy Editor to prevent Windows 10 from automatically updating when running Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise, or Education. With the Group Policy Editor, you can modify the settings to receive notifications about new updates without having them installed automatically.

    1. Press the Windows logo key + R, then type "gpedit.msc" and click OK. 2. Navigate to "Computer Configuration" > "Administrative Templates" > "Windows Components" > "Windows Update." 3. Double-click "Configure Automatic Updates." 4. Select "Disabled" under "Configured Automatic Updates" on the left, and then click "Apply" and "OK" to disable the Windows automatic update feature.

Note: If you need to update your Windows version later, you can repeat the steps above, then choose Enabled to turn on this feature, allowing you to resume downloading updates.

Solution 3: Meter Your Network Connection

Just so you know, this method won't work for Ethernet connections. You can only turn off automatic updates using this method with a Wi-Fi connection. If your computer is connected to Wi-Fi, give it a shot to stop those automatic Windows 10 updates.

1. Click the Start button located at the bottom left corner of your desktop, and then select the "Settings" app.

2. Click on "Network & Internet".

Click Network and Internet to meter your network connection

3. Click "Wi-Fi" in the left pane, then click the name of your Wi-Fi connection.

4. Click to enable Set as metered connection.

Solution 4: Alter the Method of Windows 10 Updates via Registry

Additional Tip: Editing the registry carries risks and can cause irreversible damage to your installation if done improperly. It's advised to create a full backup of your computer before proceeding. You can accomplish this by using this backup software, which will allow you to back up your data in just three simple steps:

Step 1. Click "Select backup contents" to start a backup.

create file backup step1

Step 2. There are four data backup categories: File, Disk, OS, and Mail. Click on File.

create file backup step2

Step 3. Local and network files will be displayed on the left side. You can expand the directory to choose which files to back up.

File backup

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the location where you want to save the backup.

File backup step4

Click "Options" to encrypt the backup with a password in "Backup Options" and to set up a backup schedule, as well as choosing to initiate a backup at a specific event in "Backup Scheme." Numerous other customization options are available for the backup process.

Backup options

Step 5. You can save the backup to a local disk, the tool's online service, or a NAS.

file backup step4

Step 6. Todo Backup allows users to back up data to a third-party cloud drive or its own cloud drive.

If you want to back up data to a third-party cloud drive, select Local Drive, scroll down to add a Cloud Device, add your account, and then log in.

Backup to cloud
You can also save backups to the tool's cloud storage service. Click on "tools Cloud," sign up for a tools Account, and then log in.

backup to tools cloud

Step 7. Click "Backup Now" to start the backup process. When the backup is complete, it will appear as a card on the left panel. To manage the backup job further, right-click on it.

File backup step7

With a backup created, you can now safely customize Windows 10 updates to prevent any unwanted automatic updates on your computer. Here's how to modify the Registry: 1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. 2. Type "regedit" in the Run dialog box and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. 3. A User Account Control prompt may appear, asking for permission to make changes. Click "Yes" to proceed. 4. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key: `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU` If the "WindowsUpdate" or "AU" folders don't exist, right-click on their respective parent folder (e.g., "Policies" or "WindowsUpdate") and choose "New" > "Key" to create them. 5. Once you're in the "AU" key, locate the value named "AUOptions." If it doesn't exist, right-click on the right pane, select "New" > "DWORD (32-bit) Value," name it "AUOptions," and press Enter. 6. Double-click the "AUOptions" value to edit it. In the "Value data" field, enter one of the following options based on your preference: - 1: Automatic (recommended) - Your system will download and install updates automatically. - 2: Notify before downloading - You'll be notified before updates are downloaded. - 3: Notify before installing - You'll be notified when updates are ready to install. - 4: Automatic (download updates but let me choose whether to install them) - Updates will be downloaded but not installed automatically. - 5: Never check for updates (not recommended) - Disables Windows Update entirely. 7. Choose the option that suits you, then click "OK." 8. Next, find or create another DWORD (32-bit) Value named "NoAutoUpdate" and set its "Value data" to 1 if you want to disable automatic updates completely. If you chose AUOption 1, you can skip this step. 9. To ensure your settings take effect, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named "ScheduledInstallDay" and set its "Value data" to any number from 0 to 6, representing the day of the week you prefer for updates (0 = Sunday, 1 = Monday, etc.). For no specific day, set it to 7. 10. Lastly, create another DWORD (32-bit) Value named "ScheduledInstallTime" and set its "Value data" to the time in 24-hour format (e.g., 17 for 5 PM) for when you want updates to install. 11. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Remember, modifying the Registry can be risky. Make sure you have a backup and exercise caution while making these changes.

1. Press the Windows key + R key to open the Run command.

2. Type regedit, and click OK to open the Registry. Browse to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

3. Right-click on the Windows folder, select "New," and then click "Key."

4. Name the new key "WindowsUpdate" and press "Enter".

5. Right-click on the newly created key, select "New," and then click "Key."

disable windows 10 update in registry

6. Name the new key as AU and press Enter. Inside the newly created key, right-click on the empty space on the right side, select "New", and then click on "DWORD (32-bit) Value".

7. Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter. Double-click on the newly created key and change its value to 2. This corresponds to "Notify for download and notify for install." Click "OK".

8. Close the Registry to finish the task.

By setting this value, Windows 10 will be prevented from downloading updates automatically, and you'll receive a notification when new updates are available. This allows you to effectively avoid automatic Windows 10 updates.

Here's how you can attempt to disable Windows 10/11 updates through various methods. Each method has been verified to work if your aim is to turn off all automatic updates in Windows 10.

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How to Roll Back from Windows 11 to Windows 10 - 2 Methods

After trying out Windows 11 for a few days, some users find themselves longing for the familiar Windows 10. Can they revert to Windows 10? The answer is yes. In this article, we'll guide you through the process.

Rollback to Windows 10

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on How to Disable Windows 10 Update: 1. **Why would I want to disable Windows 10 updates?** - You might want to disable updates if you encounter issues after installing them, need to preserve system stability for critical tasks, or wish to control when updates occur due to limited bandwidth or network constraints. 2. **Can I temporarily pause Windows 10 updates?** - Yes, you can pause updates for up to 7 days directly from the Settings app. Go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update" and click "Pause updates for 7 days." 3. **How do I disable Windows 10 updates completely?** - To disable updates entirely, you can modify the Windows Update service: 1. Press "Win + R" to open the Run dialog. 2. Type "services.msc" and hit Enter. 3. Locate "Windows Update" in the list, double-click it. 4. Change the "Startup type" to "Disabled." 5. Click "Stop" if the service is currently running. 6. Restart your computer. 4. **Will disabling updates affect my system's security?** - Yes, disabling updates means you won't receive crucial security patches and bug fixes, leaving your system vulnerable to potential threats. 5. **Is there an alternative to disabling updates?** - You can set your device to download updates but let you choose when to install them. In "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update," click "Advanced options" and enable "Schedule updates." 6. **Can I re-enable Windows 10 updates later?** - Absolutely, simply follow the same steps as disabling updates but change the "Startup type" back to "Automatic" and start the service. 7. **Are there any third-party tools to manage Windows updates?** - Yes, several third-party applications allow more granular control over updates, such as "Winaero Tweaker" or "Windows 10 Update Blocker." However, use them at your own risk. 8. **What happens if I don't keep my Windows 10 updated?** - Your system may become less secure, perform poorly, and eventually lose Microsoft support, which could prevent you from receiving crucial updates in the future. 9. **Will disabling updates impact my ability to use Windows features?** - Disabling updates might limit access to new features and improvements, but it shouldn't affect the core functionality of your existing Windows features. 10. **Is it recommended to disable Windows 10 updates?** - It's generally not recommended, as updates ensure system stability, security, and compatibility with software and hardware. However, if you have specific reasons, temporarily pausing or carefully managing updates can be considered.

1. Should I disable automatic updates on Windows 10?

Automatic updates ensure your computer stays safe and secure by promptly downloading and installing the most recent security patches as soon as they become available. If you turn off automatic updates, you'll have to remember to update your computer manually on a regular basis to maintain its security. Therefore, we recommend not disabling it, but you do have the option to temporarily pause the updates.

2. How do I prevent Windows 10 from updating automatically?

To prevent Windows 10 from updating automatically, you can either disable Windows Update manually, modify Group Policy editor settings, set your network connection as metered, or alter update settings through the Registry. Please refer to the corresponding article for detailed instructions.