How To Disable The Windows 10 Update From Downloading Permanently

Windows Updates are carried out automatically, as is the case for the majority of modern technology. As a result, software developers are reluctant to allow end-users to perform routine maintenance on their products.

As a result, automated updates have been implemented to make your life easier while preserving your device’s smooth operation of your device’s smooth performance.

Keep your personal computer functioning safely and smoothly. In Windows, you have complete control over when and how you receive new Windows updates.

Upgrading your operating system gives you access to the latest fixes and security features, both of which will improve your computer’s performance and keep you secure.

Restarting your computer normally completes the windows update process. When you know it will install updates, ensure sure your computer is plugged in.

Why Would I Require To Know How To Disable Windows 10 Automatic Updates?

Updates to the drivers, operating system, and other applications may trigger unpredictable behavior on the device they’re installed on. Perform a backup before downloading upgrades to your device to protect yourself and your PC from unanticipated problems.

Many updates necessitate a reboot of your computer after completion, and they consume a significant amount of bandwidth when installing. It may result in slower response times and unexpected restarts, which can disrupt your workday.

So there are good reasons to disable Windows 10’s automatic updates. Only make sure you don’t forget to search for updates and don’t turn off the service. Although automatic updates can be inconvenient, allowing your device to fall behind on essential updates can be disastrous.

How To Uninstall A Windows 10 Update

Unlike other operating systems like Windows XP, Windows 10 allows you to uninstall an update whenever you want.

  • Access your PC’s Settings by following the same steps as above, then clicking on “Update & Security.” If you’ve arrived, follow these instructions:
  • Navigate to the “windows update” tab on the left panel.
  • Got to the “update history” tab in the opened window.
Disable the Windows 10 update
  •  From the newly opened window, click on “Uninstall updates.”
View update history
  • Select the update you want to uninstall. Right-click on it and select Uninstall.
Uninstall a program

You can choose to uninstall the updates as needed from here. If you’re doing this because the latest update is causing problems with other apps on your computer, do some testing before uninstalling it.

Check the driver and other updates to see if the problem is caused by something different than the Windows operating system.

Top 5 Best Ways To Stop Windows 10 Update

  1. Disable The Windows Update Service

Windows 10 Update is a Windows Utility that can be disabled similarly to other services. Here are some procedures you may follow to disable the windows 10 update.

  • Firstly, open the run command by pressing the Windows key +R key together or search run in the search bar.
  • Go to the Run command window and type “services. msc,” then press enter or press OK. 
Run command
  • Search for the “window update” service tab in the services window.
Windows update
  • Open the window services tab, and the “windows update property” window will open. 
  • In the respective window, go on startup type and select “disable” automatic updates or “manual” as required.
Windows update properties
  • This will disable windows 10 automatic updates in windows.  
  • Select “Manual” from the drop-down menu instead of ‘Automatic’ if you still want to avoid automatic updates but want the option to install updates manually.
  • If you want to re-enable automatic updates, follow the same steps as before, but this time choose “Automatic” as the “Startup Type.”
  1. Disable Automatic Updates By Local Group Policy Editor

The Windows Home edition does not have the Group Policy Editor option. You can only use the Group Policy Editor to prevent Windows 10 from automatic updates if you’re running Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise, or Education. 

  • Open Start or press the Windows + R key together to open Run.
  • Search for “gpedit.msc” and press enter or click the first result to start the “Local Group Policy Editor.”
  • Navigate to the path as shown below:
  • The path is as follows Computer Configuration ⥵ Administrative Templates ⥵ Windows Components ⥵ Windows Update.
Local group policy editor
  • Double-click on the “Configure Automatic” Updates policy on the right side window.
  • Check the Disabled option to switch off the policy and permanently stop automatic updates.
configure automatic updates
  • Select and click on the Apply button and save changes.
  • Select and click on the OK button.

After you’ve completed the measures, Windows 10 will automatically stop installing updates to your laptop. The option to manually search for updates will remain available in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click the Check for updates button while on the tab to download the most recent updates.

If you need to re-enable automatic windows 10 updates on the system, follow the same steps. 

  1. Set Up A Metered Connection 

People set up a metered connection to question their Windows 10 computer to the Internet through WiFi. Only priority updates are automatically downloaded and installed on a metered connection to save bandwidth.

While Microsoft’s classification system is unknown, this choice for stopping Windows automatic updates reduces the number of driver and device feature updates that can trigger compatibility issues.

To disable windows automatic updates via metered connection, follow the given steps.

  • Firstly, open windows settings. The methods for opening windows settings are:
    • Press Windows + I key together
    • Or go to starts and open settings
    • Alternatively, search settings in the search bar. 
windows settings
  • Open the network and Internet tab as marked above. 
  • The status tab selects the Data usage tab.
Data usage in network status
  • You can choose a data limit for your ethernet connection as per requirement.
  • If you are using a wi-fi connection, then follow the below steps.
    • After opening the network and Internet, go for the wifi tab.
    • Open “Manage known networks.”
    • Select the “network connection,” and in the “Properties” tab, toggle the “Set as metered connection” option to “ON.”

For some reason, Microsoft only gives you this choice if you’re connected to the internet through a Wi-Fi connection. Uses won’t set up a metered link if they relate to the Internet via Ethernet cable, but you can set a data limit as mentioned above.

  1. Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates Using Registry

Using the Registry, you can disable automatic updates in Windows 10 Pro in at least two ways.

Follow these steps to disable Windows 10 update by modifying the Registry permanently:

  • Go to the search bar and search “Registry Editor” or press windows key +R to open the run window and search “Regedit.” It will open the registry editor.
Registry Editor
  • On the extreme left, go to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE→SOFTWARE→Policies→Microsoft →Windows.”
Add new value in registry editor
  • Right-click on the windows and go to a newkey. Name the new key as a windows 10 update.
Add new key in registry editor
  • Right-click the newly created key, go to the “New” menu, and click the “Key” option.
  • Name the newly created key as “AU” and hit Enter.
  • Right-click the “AU” key, go to the “New” menu and select the “DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.
  • Name the newly created key as “NoAutoUpdate” and press Enter.
  • Double-click on the newly created DWORD (32-bit) Value key and replace its value from 0 to 1.
Edit DWORD Value
  • Click on the OK button.
  • Reboot your personal computer.
  1.  Pause Updates For Windows 10

In most cases, permanently disabling Windows Update settings isn’t required. You can pause notifications until the day you want to apply them if you’re going to miss them. On Windows 10 Pro or Home, you can disable windows update for up to 35 days using the Settings app.

Windows 10 settings
  • In the settings, window navigate to the windows and update tab and click on it. It will open the Windows update window.
Update and security settings
  •  In the windows update section, search for “Advance option” and click on it.
Advanced options in Windows update
  • You will find a “pause until tab” select the requisite date in the advanced options section. Till then, you need to pause the updates as shown below.
Pause Updates in Advanced Options
  • Close the window, and till the mentioned date, the window will not download any Windows 10 update.

It is not a permanent solution, but it’s helpful to know whether you need to procrastinate updates for a short period. When you pause your updates, you don’t have to worry about your PC being seriously outdated because the automatic updates will turn back independently.

Some other methods to limit windows updates services

  1. Limit Updates by Using Group Policy Editor 

Alternatively, instead of disabling Windows updates, you can opt to restrict them. Open “gpedit. msc”, then go to “Computer Configuration⤘Administrative Templates⤘Windows Components⤘Windows Update,” and double-click on the  “Configure Automatic Updates.” Instead of ‘Disabled,’ choose “Enabled” this time.

Tap the top drop-down button in the “Options” box on the left-hand side and choose one of the four options as given below:

  • Allow local admin to choose a setting
  • Notify for download and auto-install
  • Auto-download and schedule the install
  • Auto download and notify for install

The “‘Notify for download and auto-install” option may help to disable automatic downloads.

  1. Limit windows ten updates using the Registry

Instead of disabling Windows updates in the Registry, you can restrict them. To do so, go back to complete the process until you reach the point where you made the AU entry.

Right-click the blank right-hand space and select New ⟹ DWORD (32-bit) Value. Instead of NoAutoUpdate, rename the entry AUOptions and click “Enter.”

Double-click the entry and change the 0 to 2, 3, 4, or 5 in the “Value data” box.

Below are the same numbers as in the previous step, so you’ll get the following results:

  • Value 2 will “Notify for download and auto-install.”
  • Value 3 will  “Auto download and notify for install.”
  • Value 4 will “Auto download and schedule the install.”
  • Value 5 will “Allow local admin to choose a setting.”

Conclusion 

We know that windows update is essential for better functioning, but it is also a passive process as it slows the average CPU speed.

There can create constraints regarding internet data that make users disable window update permanently. After reading this technical article, you will easily be able to stop windows 10 automatic updates always.