How to Disable Automatic Updates in Windows 10/11 (Tutorial)

 

Welcome to this quick guide where I'm going to show you how to permanently turn off automatic updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Automatic updates can sometimes be disruptive, especially when you're in the middle of important work. So, let's explore five methods to help you regain control over your update schedule.

I also have a video version if you'd prefer to watch it:

Method 1: Using the Group Policy Editor

Step 1: Accessing the Group Policy Editor

1. Press the Windows key and "R" on your keyboard.

2. Type "gpedit.msc" in the Run dialog box and click "OK."

Step 2: Navigating to the Update Settings

1. In the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to "Computer Configuration."

2. Expand "Administrative Templates," then "Windows Components."

3. Scroll down until you find "Windows Update."

Step 3: Configuring Automatic Updates

1. Inside "Windows Update," locate "Configure Automatic Updates."

2. Double-click on this setting.

3. Change the option to "Disabled."

4. Click "Apply" and then "OK."

For Windows Home Edition Users:

If you don't have the Pro version of Windows, you can use "Policy Plus." You can find a guide on how to download and install Policy Plus linked below.

How to Download and Install Policy Plus

Method 2: Using the Services App

Step 1: Accessing the Services App

1. Search for "Services" and click on the best match to open it.

Step 2: Disabling Windows Update Service

1. In the Services window, click on any item and press "W" to jump to services starting with "W."

2. Scroll down to find "Windows Update" service.

3. Double-click on "Windows Update" to open its properties.

4. Stop the service if it's currently running.

5. Change the startup type to "Disabled."

6. Click "Apply."

Step 3: Adjusting Failure Settings

1. Go to the "Recovery" tab.

2. Change the first failure option to "Take No Action."

3. Set the Reset Fail counter to "999."

4. Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Method 3: Modifying the Registry

Step 1: Accessing the Registry Editor

1. Search for "RegEdit" and click on the Registry Editor app.

Step 2: Modifying Registry Keys

1. In the Registry Editor, expand "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE," then "Software," and then "Policies."

2. Expand "Microsoft."

3. Right-click on the "Windows" key and select "New Key."

4. Name this new key "WindowsUpdate."

5. Press Enter.

6. Right-click on the "WindowsUpdate" key, select "New Key," and name it "AU."

7. Press Enter.

8. Inside the "AU" key, right-click and select "New," then "DWORD 32-bit value."

9. Name this DWORD "NoAutoUpdate."

10. Press Enter.

11. Double-click on "NoAutoUpdate" and change the value data from "0" to "1."

12. Click "OK."

Method 4: Disabling Scheduled Tasks

Step 1: Accessing Task Scheduler

1. Search for "Task Scheduler" and open it.

Step 2: Disabling Windows Update Scheduled Task

1. Double-click on "Task Scheduler Library," then "Microsoft," and then "Windows."

2. Click on any folder inside "Windows" and press "W" to scroll to the Windows Update folder.

3. Inside the Windows Update folder, right-click on the scheduled task and select "Disable."

Method 5: Removing the Windows Update Assistant

1. Right-click on your Start button and select "Apps and Features" on Windows 10 or "Installed Apps" if your using Windows 11.

2. Scroll down the list of installed apps.

3. If you find a Windows 10 or Windows 11 update assistant, click on it to expand additional options.

4. Click "Uninstall" to remove the Windows Update Assistant from your computer.

5. If prompted by User Account Control, click "Yes" to confirm.

Conclusion:

These are the best ways to disable automatic updates on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Taking control of your update schedule can help you avoid interruptions and ensure that updates happen at your convenience. 

If you found this guide helpful, please like the video and explore more of my helpful guides on the channel or website. Stay tuned for the next one!

See ya!

Memory