How To Turn Off Windows Auto Update

I of the controversial features of Windows ten is a new way that the operating system handles updates. Cumulative updates are installed automatically when Windows decides to do it. This can exist extremely frustrating for Windows 10 users as they are frequently forced to restart their machine at an inopportune fourth dimension.

Before proceeding, remember that some of the automatic updates will be security updates or important stability improvements that you volition desire to have installed on your system. Keep this in mind if you choose to go along automatic updates turned off for an extended flow of time.

One option which we volition non look at in depth is to make registry changes to your Windows operating system to disable automatic updates. This is a unsafe procedure and should simply be taken past experienced users who have taken a full backup of their machine before attempting the registry changes. Mistakes during this process can have serious negative effects on your figurer and its performance.

Option 1. Disable the Windows Update Service

Windows Update is essentially just another Windows Service and can exist turned off in a similar manner to other services.

Follow these steps to stop Windows ten updates:

When you want to re-enable automatic updates you but follow the same procedure except you select "Automatic" when choosing the "Startup Blazon".

Choice ii. Fix a Metered Connection

If yous are using WiFi to connect your Windows x car to the Internet, you have the option of setting up a metered connectedness. In a metered connection, bandwidth is conserved by only automatically downloading and installing priority updates.

Microsoft's method of classification may remain a mystery, just driver and software feature updates that may cause stability problems are minimized past opting for this choice for stopping Windows 10 automated updates.

To disable Windows 10 updates:

For some reason, Microsoft just offers this option if you are using a WiFi connection. If you connect to the Internet through an Ethernet cable you will not be able to set up a metered connection.

Choice three. Group Policy Editor

You can make changes to the Group Policy Editor if you are using Windows x Instruction, Pro or Enterprise editions. Users of Windows x Home edition are out of luck regarding this way of disabling Windows ten updates.

If you opt for this solution, security updates will nonetheless be installed automatically. For all other updates, you will be notified that they are available and can install them at your convenience. This is the way Windows update worked in the past. Today, Microsoft wants to eliminate the need for novice users to engage in updates, but information technology has enforced this at the cost of flexibility for more experienced users.

Here'due south how to update your Grouping Policy Editor to forbid automated Windows x updates:

From this bespeak forward Windows should notify you that updates are available and information technology is your responsibility to make sure that they go downloaded and installed.

Why Would I Need to Know How to Disable Windows 10 Updates?

Operating system, driver, and awarding updates can often lead to unexpected behavior on the computer on which they are installed. One fashion to protect yourself and your machine from unanticipated problems is to perform a backup earlier installing updates to your system.

Unfortunately, when automatic updates are existence installed without your approval, yous cannot take this precautionary step and face the possibility of having to resort to an older fill-in if you need to go dorsum past the update.

Many updates need to reboot your machine when complete and certainly accept upwards bandwidth while downloading. This can lead to slower response fourth dimension and unforeseen reboots that can cause havoc with your work life.

So there are indeed valid reasons to turn off automatic updates in Windows x. Only be careful non to turn the service off and forget to cheque for updates. While automatic updates tin can be problematic, letting your system lag behind critical updates tin can besides have serious consequences.

Jeff Cochin

Jeff Cochin is a data management and recovery good. He also serves as a technical author, testing and reviewing tech solutions in various fields. Jeff Cochin is a professional data management, warehousing and recove...

Read full bio

Jeff Cochin is a information direction and recovery adept. He also serves as a technical writer, testing and reviewing tech solutions in various fields. Jeff Cochin is a professional data management, warehousing and recove...

Read full bio

Approved by

Brett Johnson

This article has been approved by Brett Johnson, Data Recovery Engineer at ACE Data Recovery. Brett has a Bachelor's Caste in Reckoner Systems and Network, 12 years of feel.

This article has been approved past Brett Johnson, Data Recovery Engineer at ACE Data Recovery. Brett has a Bachelor's Caste in Estimator Systems and Network, 12 years of experience.