Turning OFF Windows 10 Automatic Update

Anup Shrestha

Windows 10 gives you the feature of ‘Automatic update‘ for its new features and updates. This keeps your device up to date but at the same time might irritate you as it might be against your interest or will. When you install Windows 10 in your computer, you automatically accept the Microsoft policy of automatic updates download and installation. This automatic update feature makes sure that your device has the latest security, performance, and stability but yet, this is one of the most complained features by the Windows 10 users.

Updates are downloaded to your device and installation is prompted. This process is time taking and as it is against users motive, it creates irritation. and also, disk space is consumed, and device undergoes frequent restarts in the process of installation of updates.

However, there are ways to gain manual control over this automatic feature. You can set it off or limit the download or schedule the update according to your will.

In this article, we will walk you through the ways you can use to disable or schedule Windows updates according to your will.

So, there are 2 ways you can turn off the windows automatic update:

  1. Turning off automatic updates using “Group Policy”
  2. Turning off automatic updates using “Registry”

1. Turning off automatic updates using Group Policy

You can use the ‘Local Group Policy editor‘ to permanently Disable Windows automatic updates or Shedule the update when you need to.

A) Disabling updates using Group Policy

To disable Windows 10 automatic updates on your PC, follow the steps below:

  1. Open Start or hit “Windows key + R”
  2. Search for gpedit.msc and launch the option.
  3. Now go to Computer Configuration >Administrative Templates > Windows Components

4. Scroll down to Windows Updates

5. Double-click the “Configure Automatic Updates” policy on the right column.

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

7. Click the Apply button and click on OK

Doing so will disable Windows 10 from automatically donwloading and updating.

If you want to revert the above steps and want automatic updates again then instead of checking on Disabled option, check on Not Configured option. 

B) Controlling updates using Group Policy

If disabling the policy isn’t working, you can also try modifying the Windows Update settings using Group Policy to limit or control the updates.

To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Open Start or hit “Windows key + R”
    Search for gpedit.msc and launch the option.
  2. Now go to Computer Configuration >Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
  3. Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right column.
  4. Check Enable option.
  5. In the “Options” section, you’ll find a number of options to configure automatic updates
  6. Select “2 – Notify for download and auto install” option
  7. Click the Apply button.
  8. Click the OK button.


Doing this will disable automatic download but when a new update becomes available, you’ll receive a notification to download and install updates manually from the Windows Update settings page.

2. Turning off automatic updates using Registry

If you’re running Windows 10 Pro, you can also disable automatic updates in two different ways using the Registry.

A) Disabling updates using Registry

To permanently disable updates on Windows 10 modifying the Registry, use these steps:

It is recommended that you make a full PC backup before proceeding with the registry edit.

To disable Windows Update using the Registry, follow these steps:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for regedit and select the top result to launch the experience.
  3. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
  4. Right-click the Windows key, select New, and then click on Key.
  5. Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
  6. Right click newly created key then select New, and click on Key.
  7. Name the new key AU and press Enter.
  8. Right-click on the right side, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  9. Name the new key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter.
  10. Double-click the newly created key and change its value from 0 to 1.
  11. Click the OK button and then restart your computer.

Windows automatic update should be disabled following the above steps.

B) Controlling updates using Registry

In case disabling windows auto updates using Registry isn’t working, you can also use the Registry to customize the Windows Update settings to prevent automatic updates installation. To do so, follow the steps:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for regedit and select the top result to launch the experience.
  3. Go to
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
  4. Right click the Windows key, select New and then click on Key.
  5. Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
  6. Right-click the newly created key, select New, and click on Key.
  7. Name the new key AU and press Enter.
  8. Right click on the right side, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  9. Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
  10. Double-click the newly created key and change its value to 2
  11. Click the OK button and restart your computer.

Doing this will disable automatic download but when a new update becomes available, you’ll receive a notification to download and install updates manually from the Windows Update settings page.

You can always use the same instructions to restore the original settings.

On step 4, right click the WindowsUpdate key, and select the Delete option. Then reboot your device.

Conclusion

Updates ensure that your device is up to date with security features. optimum performance and stabilization. However, there might be many reasons why you would prefer disabling Windows automatic update.

Lets us know your reason in the comment section below.