How to turn off automatic Windows 10 updates?

Question

Issue: How to turn off automatic Windows 10 updates?

Hi, is there any way to prevent Windows 10 from downloading and installing updates automatically? It sometimes is an issue to me, as I leave the computer overnight and I find it restarted due to the auto updates. I’m using Windows 10 Pro.

Solved Answer

Windows updates are crucial for every device, as it improves not only the quality of the operating system by packing it with new features and improvements, but also prevents malware attacks by patching security vulnerabilities.^[1] That is why Microsoft always advises users to not turn off automatic Windows 10 updates feature.

Unfortunately, even the stability, performance, and other improvements can be implemented only after a computer restart, which is applied automatically. If users are away from the keyboard, this might result in an unexpected loss of data or other disruptions.

Additionally, the patches are known to be causing numerous problems to users, sometimes even rendering their PCs useless – the endless reboot loop,^[2] start menu missing, and other issues are encountered by many. These difficulties often prompt users to find ways to turn off automatic Windows 10 updates, and let themselves to decide when to install them.

How to turn off automatic Windows 10 updates?

Although IT specialists highly recommend keeping automatic Windows Update service enabled, it’s up to you whether to keep it or not. However, if you disable automatic Windows updates, make sure that you update your machine manually as soon as new patches are out. Otherwise, you will render your computer vulnerable to cyberattacks, such as the devastating ransomware.

To protect your computer from malware, we recommend always having an anti-virus enabled. If you are infected currently or/and are experiencing any other computer problems, we advise you download and install FortectMac Washing Machine X9 – a one of a kind application that can remove malware and its damage done to the machine, as well as fix various system-related issues.

Solution 1. Pause Windows updates via the Settings menu

Instead of turning off Windows updates, you can simply pause them via the Settings menu for up to 35 days.

• Right-click on the Start button and pick Settings
• Select Update & Security
• On the right side of the Settings window, click on Advanced options
• Locate Pause updates section and toggle the switch to the right Pause updates up to 35 days via Settings
• To undo the setting, click on the switch once again, Windows will automatically check for updates

Once you pause automatic Windows 10 updates in such a way, you will be prompted to allow them to be installed on the date specified.

Solution 2. Postpone Security and Quality updates

In this section, you can postpone quality updates up to a year (365 days) and security updates up to a month (30 days).

• Go back to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options section
• Under Choose when updates are installed area, you will see two drop-down menus
• Choose for how long you want to defer both, security and/or quality updates You can postpone the installation of security updates up to a month and quality updates up to a year

Solution 3. Modify Windows Update settings using the Local Group Policy Editor

Instead of turning off automatic Windows updates completely, we highly recommend using Local Group Policy Editor to set up preferred options so that Windows would not restart automatically (if that is the reason you want to turn off automatic Windows updates);

• Press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter
• Navigate to the Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
• Locate the Configure Automatic Updates policy in the right pane and double-click it
• Select Enabled and then find the following Options:
  • 2 – “Notify for download and notify for install”
  • 3 – “Auto download and notify for install”
  • 4 – “Auto download and schedule the install”
  • 5 – “Allow local admin to choose setting“
• Select the option that you prefer and click Apply
• Alternatively, you can select Disabled option to turn off automatic Windows 10 updates completely
• Press OK to save the changes Modify Local Group Policies

If you choose option 4, you can pick the time and frequency of when the updates will be installed. This option is particularly useful if you are away from the computer at the time and know that no work-in-progress will be lost.

In case you would decide to re-enable automatic Windows Updates, follow the instructions above and Disable Configure Automatic Updates policy.

Solution 4. Modify Windows registry to turn off automatic Windows updates

If you are not using Windows Professional, Enterprise, or Education, you will not be allowed to disable automatic Windows Update service. However, if the main problem you want to restrain updates from installing is forced shutdowns that frequently cause data loss and similar inconveniences, at least you can disable forced reboot using the Registry Editor. Note: modifying Windows registry incorrectly^[3] might corrupt your operating system or certain functions of the installed programs, so perform the following steps at your own risk:

• Click Win key + R, type regedit, and hit Enter
• Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows\\WindowsUpdate\\AU directory
• The part WindowsUpdate\\AU has to be created manually. For this purpose, click Windows key, go to New > Key.
• Type WindowsUpdate and press Enter
• Then right-click on the WindowsUpdate key, navigate your mouse on New > Key
• Type AU in the opened window and press Enter Open Registry Editor and create new keys
• Then, select AU Key from the left pane, right-click on the right pane, navigate to New, and select DWORD (32-bit).
• Type NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers and press Enter afterward.
• Change the value of the new key to 1. Chnge NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers key value to 1
• Finally, click OK and reboot your PC.

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