Technoo Expert
Windows 10 and Windows 11 are evolving every week. Microsoft is trying hard to bring in new features, security settings, patches, bug fixes, and updates. It upgrades your machine to perform its best. Windows Updates is a recurring process that may annoy you with continuous pop ups. It also consumes lots of system resources and network bandwidth.
Turning off automatic updates is sometimes essential, such as in specific network situations or performing essential tasks. During the process, Windows Update may make your PC slow as it keeps your PC busy. This detailed tutorial will show you many ways to turn off Windows updates automatically, helping you choose the best solution.
If you turn off automatic updates on Windows 10,
changes will stop quickly. Simple and practical, this way can help people who
want to stop updates without going into more complex settings:
Step
1: Press the Windows logo + R to open Run
command box. This lets you quickly access system settings and services.
Step
2: Open Services by typing services.msc and
press Enter. The Services box lists Windows Update as a service.
Step
3: Scroll down to find the Windows Update
service. Click on it twice. The properties box for the Windows Update
service will open.
Step
4: To turn off Windows Update, open the Windows
Update Properties window and click on Startup type. If you turn off the
startup type, the Windows Update service will not start automatically.
Step
5: Click Apply and OK to save changes.
Confirming your modifications turns off the service until you restart it.
Turning off Windows Update temporarily stops
updates. After a system restart or significant update, the service may return.
The Group Policy Editor is an advanced console
to make significant changes to the PC settings. It enables Windows 10 users
with more accurate updates and control. You will need to have administrator
access to use the Group Policy Editor. Here is how to stop Windows from
updating automatically.
Step
1: Press Window Key + R, type gpedit.msc, and
click OK to open the Group Policy Editor. System admins can access policy
settings through the Group Policy Editor.
Step
2: Windows Update can be found under Computer
Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components. This
route takes you to specific settings in the Group Policy Editor related to
Windows Update.
Step
3: Click on Configure Automatic Updates
twice. Automatic changes are either turned on or off by this policy
setting.
Step
4: Check the box next to Disabled in the
settings window to stop automatic updates. Turning off this setting will
stop automatic updates from downloading and installing themselves.
Step
5: To make the changes take effect, click Apply
and then OK. When you save your changes, your rules will apply to the
whole system.
Administrators or advanced users can handle
updates centrally with the Group Policy Editor. This ensures that updates
maintain necessary operations and meet specific organizational needs.
You can stop regular updates from downloading
over some types of connections if you set your network connection as metered:
Step
1: From Start Menu open Settings.. When you
open the Settings app, you can change several system and network settings.
Step
2: Go to Network & Internet. This
section handles settings and configurations related to the network.
Step
3: Click your Wi-Fi network name after clicking
Wi-Fi in the left pane. When you choose your specific Wi-Fi link, its full
settings will appear.
Step
4: Make the link metered and turn it
on. When you set your connection as metered, Windows knows that the link
has a data limit, which stops updates from downloading automatically.
Setting a Wi-Fi link to metered is helpful for
people who have limited data plans or who would instead choose when updates are
downloaded and installed.
Advanced users of the Windows Registry can
fine-tune the Windows Update options. Below, we discuss how to
stop Windows 10 updates:
Step
1: If you want to open Run, press the Windows
key + R. When you open the Run command, you can access system tools and
tasks immediately.
Step
2: When you type regedit and press Enter, the
Registry Editor opens. Users can access the system setup settings saved in the
Windows Registry using the Registry Editor.
Step 3: Go to the path -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows
This path goes to the Registry settings that
are specific to Windows.
Step
4: To create a new key, right-click on the Windows
folder, select "New," and give it the name
"WindowsUpdate." You can organize and change specific settings
in the Windows Update area by making a new key.
Step
5: Right-click on the WindowsUpdate key you just
made, select "New," and give it the name "AU." By
adding a subkey to WindowsUpdate, you can change more specific settings.
Step
6: To make a new DWORD (32-bit) value,
right-click on the right side and select "New." Give it the name
"AUOptions." You can set up automatic changes in more detail by making
a new DWORD value.
Step
7: Double-click on AUOptions and change its
value to 2. This will tell you when to download and when to run. Then click OK
to finish. Setting AUOptions to 2 will let you know when updates are
available, but you can still choose when to download and run them.
Step
8: Close the Registry Editor and save the
changes. The Registry settings you set will take effect immediately.
Using the Windows Registry allows skilled
users to update settings exactly how they want them and how their computer
works.
Above, we discuss how to stop Windows from updating, each with varying degrees of power and flexibility. You can temporarily disable Windows Update, alter Group Policy Editor policies, terminate network connections, or change Windows Registry settings. These options meet your needs. Above are techniques to manage Windows updates to fit your schedule and business demands while keeping your system safe and stable. Choose the best method to update Windows 10 properly.
