How to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates

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Yay want to know how to stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates, because we all have faced a situation where we need to open our laptops and finish a task without wasting time or have to shut down the PC when winding up the work. However, at that very moment the Windows device shows that automatic update, which we weren’t expecting.

Windows always installs the updates when you are trying to shut down your computer or laptop.What’s worse is that these updates don’t even let you perform any other action but to stare at the screen, hoping it will install soon. However, there is a way to disable these automatic updates for as long as you want. In this post, we will show you how to stop Windows 10 update with several effective solutions.

How to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates

The Issue of Windows 10 Automatic Update

Nowadays, many computer users complain that Windows always automatically installs some updates. And they want to know whether there is any solution to disable Windows 10 update permanently because some extra problems will occur after Windows update. For example, Windows update may give rise to data loss.

You must be eager to know the way to recover lost files after Windows update if you find needed files disappear after the update is finished.

Thus, do you know how to stop Windows 10 update? If no, this post will show you how to stop Windows 10 update permanently with 7 effective solutions. So, just keep on your reading.

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Solution 1. Disable Windows Update Service

In order to stop Windows 10 update, you can try to disable Windows Update service which automatically downloads and installs the Windows 10 updates over the Internet. And in the following part, we will show you how to stop Windows 10 Update Assistant with step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Open Service window

  1. Press Windows key and R key together to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type services.msc in the box.
  3. Click OK or hit Enter to continue.
How to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates

Step 2: Disable Windows Update service

  1. In the services window, please find out the Windows Update service and double-click it.
  2. In the popup window, change the Startup type to Disabled. Then change the Service status to Stop.
  3. Click Apply and OK to execute the changes.
How to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates

After you have finished all steps, you can restart your computer to take effect to stop Windows 10 update.

Solution 2. Change the Group Policy

As for how to stop Windows 10 update, you can try to change the Group Policy. And the following steps will show you how to change the Group Policy in detail.

Step 1: Open the Local Group Policy Editor

  1. Press Windows key and R key together to open Run dialog, and type gpedit. msc.
  2. Click OK to continue.

Step 2: Find out the Configure Automatic Updates

  1. In the left panel of Local Group Policy Editor window, please navigate to the Windows Update folder according to the path: Computer Configuration > Administrator Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
  2. Then choose Configure Automatic Updates in the right panel and double-click it.

Step 3: Configure automatic updates

  1. In the popup window, choose Enabled to continue.
  2. Then choose Notify for download and auto install from the drop-down menu in the Configure automatic updating section.
  3. Click OK to continue.

When you have finished all the above steps, you can reboot your computer to turn off Windows 10 update.

Solution 3. Change the Registry to Stop Windows Update

Now, we will show you the third solution to how to stop Windows 10 auto update. As a matter of fact, you can try to disable Windows 10 update registry to solve this problem. The following contents will show you the detailed steps.

However, one important thing you need to know is that changing registry is pretty risky since it may give rise to irreversible damage to your computer if you operate incorrectly. Thus, you had better create a system image before proceeding.

After having backed up the Windows 10, you can go on to change the Registry.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows key and R key together to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type regedit in the box and click OK to continue.

Step 2: Find out Windows folder

Navigate to the Windows folder based on the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Step 3: Change Value

From the right panel, double-click on the NoAutoUpdate (REG_DWORD) and set its value to 1. Click OK to confirm.After that, restart your computer to stop Windows 10 update.

Tip: If you are unable to find the WindowsUpdate\AU path, you can manually create one.

Solution 4. Disable Windows Update Tasks

In order to stop Windows 10 Update, you can try to disable Windows Update Tasks in Task Scheduler. We will show you how to disable Windows Update Tasks with step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Find out Windows Update in Task Scheduler

  1. Type Task Scheduler in Windows search box and choose the best-matched one.
  2. Open the Task Scheduler to enter its main interface.
  3. Navigate to the WindowsUpdate folder according to the path: Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > WindowsUpdate.

Step 2: Disable Windows Update

  1. Right-click the Scheduled Start which is in the right panel.
  2. Then choose Disable to continue.

After that, you can close the Task Scheduler window and then you have successfully stopped Windows 10 update.

Solution 5. Meter Network Connection

As to how to stop Windows 10 update in progress, you can try to meter your network connection. But please note that this method only works on a Wi-Fi connection. So, it is not working for an Ethernet connection.

And now, we will show you how to meter the network connection to stop Windows 10 update.

Step 1: Select the Network & Internet

  1. Right-click Start button of Windows 10 and select Settings to continue.
  2. In the popup window, choose Network & Internet.

Step 2: Meter your network connection

  1. In the popup window, choose Status from the left pane to continue.
  2. Next, select Change Connection Properties.
  3. Then turn on Set as metered connection under Metered connection section.

In this way, you can disable Windows 10 update since it required massive network connection.

Solution 6. Pause Windows Update for 35 Days

In this part, we will show how to stop Windows update in Windows 10 by pausing Windows update for 35 days. So if you want to disable Windows 10 update temporarily, you can try this way.

Step 1: Open Update & Security

  1. Right-click Start button of Windows 10 and click Settings to continue.
  2. In the popup window, choose Update & Security to continue.

Step 2: Pause Windows Update for 35 days

  1. In the popup window, please locate at the Windows Update in the left pane and choose Advanced Options in the right pane to continue.
  2. In the popup window, please locate at the Pause Updates section and turn on the button.

After that, this function enables you to stop Windows 10 update for 35 days. However, after the pause limit is reached, you’ll need to install the latest updates before you pause updates again.

Note: If you are using the Windows 10 1903, Windows 10 Pro 1809, or Windows 10 Enterprise 1809, you can pause update for 7 days. And after the pause limit is reached, you also need to install the latest updates unless you can pause again.

Solution 7: Restore Windows 10 to Previous Version

At last, there is an available solution for how to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates . It is to go back to previous version with the backup image. The precondition of this solution is that you have created a system image in advance.

In this way, you can go back to the previous version with this backup image even though you have updated your computer to the latest version.

From above solutions to How to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates, you can find that the system backup image is important since it can help you to keep your data safe and even help you to restore your computer to an earlier state.

Bottom Line

To sum up, this post has introduced 7 solutions to How to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates If you need to disable Windows 10 update permanently, try these solutions.

If you have any better solution to How to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates , you can share it on the comment zone.

How do I permanently turn off Windows Update?

  1. Disable all Windows update service.
  2. Change the Group Policy.
  3. Change the Registry Editor to stop Windows update.
  4. Disable Windows update tasks. 

For more information, you can refer to the above part.

How do I turn on automatic update for Windows 10?

To turn on automatic update for Windows 10, you can follow on the below instructions.

  1. Press Windows key and I key together to open Settings.
  2. In the pop-up window, choose Update & Security to continue.
  3. Then choose Advanced options.
  4. Select the Automatic (recommended) under Choose how updated are installed to continue.
  5. After that, your computer will update automatically.