How To Change Windows Update Settings In Windows 10

On Windows 10, cumulative updates download and install automatically as shortly equally they become bachelor. Although this approach allows laptops and desktop computers to receive security updates to patch vulnerabilities, improve performance, and bring enhancements without user interaction, it is a very controversial feature.

Unremarkably, information technology'due south because updates comprise bugs that tin negatively affect the feel in many ways. For instance, they could break existing features, innovate driver and application compatibility problems, or cause the Blueish Screen of Death (BSoD), and they crave a system restart to complete the installation that can disrupt your workflow.

If you experience more problems than benefits during updates, or if yous accept a good reason to use a device without updates, depending on your edition of Windows 10, you lot tin can disable automatic updates using the Settings app or permanently with the Group Policy and Registry.

In this Windows x guide, we volition walk you through the steps to prevent Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing updates on your estimator.

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 y'all take to prevent the arrangement from downloading a specific update, yous practise not demand to disable Windows Update permanently. Instead, you should just pause Windows Update until the side by side Patch Tuesday arrives. The Settings app includes an option to terminate updates for up to 35 days on Windows ten.

To disable automated updates temporarily, use these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options push button.

Source: Windows Central
Nether the "Break until" section, use the drop-downward menu and select how long to stop updates.

Source: Windows Central

Once you lot complete the steps, Windows Update will no longer download for the time you specified. When the arrangement reaches the break limit, you will demand to install the latest patch available to brand the pick available again.

Yous tin always undo the changes with the instructions outlined above, simply on step 5, choose the Select engagement pick. Alternatively, you can accomplish the same effect past clicking the Resume updates button.

How to disable automatic updates using Group Policy

On Windows 10 Pro, the Local Group Policy Editor includes policies to permanently disable automatic updates or alter the update settings to choose when patches should be installed on the device.

Disable Windows x updates

To disable automatic updates on Windows x permanently, use these steps:

Open Commencement.
Search for gpedit.msc and click the meridian result to launch the Local Grouping Policy Editor.
Navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
Double-click the Configure Automated Updates policy on the right side.

Source: Windows Key
Bank check the Disabled selection to plough off automatic Windows 10 updates permanently.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK push button.

After you complete the steps, Windows ten volition end downloading updates automatically. Even so, the ability to check for updates manually will keep to be available on Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and clicking the Cheque for updates button to download the nigh recent patches equally needed.

If you want to enable automatic updates on the reckoner once again, you lot can use the exact instructions outlined above, but on footstep 5, make certain to select the Not Configured selection.

Limit Windows 10 updates

The Local Group Policy Editor also lets you choose how to disable automatic updates.

To manage Windows Update automatic downloads with Grouping Policy on Windows 10, utilize these steps:

Open Starting time.
Search for gpedit.msc and select the summit result to launch the feel.
Navigate to the post-obit path:

Computer Configuration > Authoritative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.

Source: Windows Central
Bank check the Enable pick to plough on the policy.
Under the "Options" section, select the option to prevent updates from downloading automatically on Windows 10:
- 2 — Notify for download and machine install.
- 3 — Car download and notify for install.
- 4 — Motorcar download and schedule the install.
- five — Let local admin to choose setting.
- 7 — Auto Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
Quick tip: The best pick to disable automatic updates is the two — Notify for download and auto install selection, just you can brand a different pick. If you choose pick 2, updates won't download automatically. Instead, you will now run across an "Install now" button to manually trigger an update on the Windows Update settings page.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the Utilise push.
Click the OK push.

One time you consummate the steps, automated updates will be permanently disabled on Windows 10. Withal, when new updates go bachelor, you volition be able to install them manually from the Windows Update settings folio.

How to disable automatic updates with Registry

You tin also use the Registry in ii different ways to disable automatic updates on Windows 10.

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky and can cause irreversible harm to your installation if you don't exercise information technology correctly. Earlier proceeding, information technology'due south recommended to make a total backup of your PC.

Disable updates

To disable Windows 10 updates permanently changing the Registry settings, apply these steps:

Open Start.
Search for regedit and click the top outcome to launch the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Correct-click the Windows (binder) key, select the New submenu, and choose the Key option.

Source: Windows Central
Name the new primal WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Right-click the newly created key, select the New submenu, and cull the Key selection.

Source: Windows Key
Name the new primal AU and press Enter.
Right-click the AU key, select the New submenu, and choose the DWORD (32-chip) Value choice.

Source: Windows Central
Name the new key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter.
Double-click the newly created primal and change its value from 0 to one.

Source: Windows Central
Click the OK button.
Restart the computer.

Afterward you complete the steps, automated updates will be disabled permanently on the device. However, you volition still be able to download updates past clicking the Bank check for updates button on the Windows Update settings folio.

If y'all want to undo the changes, y'all can use the same instructions outlined above, but on footstep four, right-click the WindowsUpdate cardinal, select the Delete option, then reboot the computer to employ the settings.

Limit updates

Finally, y'all can employ the Registry to configure the system settings to decide how to become updates on Windows 10.

To use the Registry to stop automatic updates, but make up one's mind how to receive updates, use these steps:

Open up Start.
Search for regedit and click the superlative consequence to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Right-click the Windows (binder) key, select the New submenu, and choose the Key option.

Source: Windows Central
Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
Correct-click the newly created central, select the New submenu, and cull the Key selection.

Source: Windows Key
Name the new cardinal AU and printing Enter.
Right-click the AU key, select the New submenu, and select the DWORD (32-fleck) Value option.

Source: Windows Central
Proper name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
Double-click the newly created primal and change the value (number merely) to:
- 2 — Notify for download and auto install.
- 3 — Auto download and notify for install.
- 4 — Car download and schedule the install.
- 5 — Allow local admin to choose settings.
- 7 — Auto Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart.
These options are the same as the Group Policy settings, and option 2 is the closest to disable Windows Update permanently.

Source: Windows Key
Click the OK button.
Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, cumulative updates will no longer download and install automatically. However, when a new update becomes available, you will find the option to install information technology manually from the Windows Update settings.

You tin use the aforementioned instructions outlined above to restore the original settings, but on stride 4, right-click the WindowsUpdate key, select the Delete option, and reboot the reckoner.

Updates are essential to set up security vulnerabilities, resolve issues, and improve the overall feel, no affair the version of Windows y'all apply. Nonetheless, you may still demand to disable this feature in some situations. For instance, when you want to have complete command over updates on Windows x, when you want to avert issues since bugs are common in well-nigh releases, or when you lot are using a critical app or equipment, and you exercise not want to encounter whatsoever compatibility problems.