How to Disable Automatic Windows Updates in Windows 10

Microsoft provides the latest security fixes and other quality updates for its Windows OS via automatic Windows Updates. These updates keep your PC secured and provide you with the latest features. However, these updates also consume a large amount of your internet data. So, if you are on a metered connection, you might want to turn off or disable automatic Windows Updates.

In previous versions of Windows, you could easily turn off automatic Windows updates. But in Windows 10, you simply can’t change Windows Update settings. Microsoft allows users to only pause Windows Updates starting from 7 days to a maximum of 35 days. But after that, you must update your Windows to pause updates further. Even if you try to disable the Windows Update service, it will start automatically on the next reboot.

SEE ALSO: How to Fix Windows Update Errors in Windows 10?

Turn Off or Disable Automatic Windows Updates in Windows 10

Besides pausing Windows Updates, there are other ways to stop Automatic Updates in Windows 10. So, in this tutorial, we will show you how to disable automatic Windows Updates temporarily and permanently. We will start with a temporary method by pausing Windows updates temporarily.

A) Temporarily Pause Windows Updates in Windows 10

To pause Windows Updates temporarily, follow these steps.

Step 1: Open Windows Update Settings

First, of all go to Start and open Settings. Alternatively, you can also open the Setting by pressing Windows + I shortcut keys on your keyboard. After that select Update & Security from Settings.

Step 2: Pause Updates for 7 Days

Now, you will see the Windows Update settings page. Here, you will have options to check for updates. Below that, you will see an option to Pause Updates for 7 days. Click on it to temporarily pause Windows updates for 7 days.

Step 3: Pause Updates for Longer Duration (Up to 35 Days)

If you wish to pause automatic Windows updates for more than 7 days, you can do so in the Advanced options. So, click on Advanced options and scroll down a bit. Here, under Pause Updates, you can select to pause updates for up to 35 days.

SEE ALSO: How to Disable Automatic Updates for Microsoft Store Apps?

B) Turn Off or Disable Automatic Windows Updates using Group Policy in Windows 10

Now, if you wish to turn off automatic Windows updates permanently, you can try this Group Policy method. But, you must note that this method will work with Windows 10 Pro versions only as the Windows 10 Home version doesn’t have a Group Policy editor by default. However, you can enable it using this trick. Well, let’s check the steps.

Step 1: Open Group Policy Editor

To open the Group Policy editor in Windows 10, press the Windows + R keys to launch the RUN utility. After that, type gpedit.msc and click OK.

It will launch the Group Policy Editor console.

Step 2: Go to Windows Update Policy Setting in Group Policy Editor

In Group Policy Editor, go to the following path.

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update

On the right side, you will see a list of available settings, scroll down till you find “Configure Automatic Updates“. We will use this policy setting to disable or turn off automatic Windows Updates in Windows 10.

SEE ALSO: How to Change the Windows Update Folder Location in Windows 11 or 10?

Step 3: Change Settings to Notify before Downloading Windows Updates

Now, you can use the Configure Automatic Updates policy to change Windows Updates settings. So, if you don’t want to disable automatic Windows updates completely and wish to be notified of downloading the update, you can do so here.

So, open the Configure Automatic Updates policy and select Enabled. After that select “2 – Notify for download and auto-install” from the drop-down and click Apply & OK.

Now, Windows 10 will notify you about available updates before downloading them.

Step 4: Disable Automatic Windows Updates Permanently

Now, if you wish to disable Automatic Windows Updates permanently, you can also do that using the same policy. So, select Disabled in policy settings and click Apply & OK to disable Windows updates via Group Policy.

Step 5: Verify in Windows Update Settings

Now, you have successfully changed the automatic Windows update settings. You can go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to verify the settings.

Here, you should see a message saying “Some settings are managed by your organization.” However, you will be able to check for updates manually by clicking the Check for Updates button.

SEE ALSO: Windows 10 Stuck on Checking for updates? Here is the Fix.

C) Disable Automatic Windows Updates in Windows 10 using Registry Editor

Besides the Group Policy editor method, you can also use Registry Editor to turn off automatic Windows updates in Windows 10. This method works on both Windows 10 Home and Pro versions. So, let’s check the updates.

Step 1: Open Registry Editor in Windows 10

Go to RUN, type regedit , and press Enter.

The Registry Editor window will open.

Step 2: Go to Windows Key and Create Windows Update Keys

Now, go to the following path in Registry Editor. You can also copy and paste this path into the address bar of Registry Editor.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

After that, right-click on the Windows key and select New > Key.

Name this new key as WindowsUpdate.

Similarly, create another key under WindowsUpdate and name it as AU.

SEE ALSO: How to Make Your Computer a Time Server Using Registry Editor?

Step 3: Set Updates to Notify for Download and Auto-Install using Registry

Now, on the right pane, right-click in empty space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value to create a new DWORD. Name this DWORD as AUOptions.

After that double-click on the AUOptions DWORD and set its value to 2 to set Windows updates to Notify for Download and Auto-Install.

Step 4: Disable Automatic Windows Updates using Registry Editor

Now, if you want to disable Windows updates permanently, create a new DWORD named as NoAutoUpdate.

Double-click this on NoAutoUpdate DWORD to modify its value. Set the value of DWORD as 1 to turn off Windows updates.

Step 5: Restart your Computer and Check Windows Update Settings

Close the Registry Editor and Restart your computer to apply changes.

Again go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Here, you will see a message saying “Some settings are managed by your organization.“

SEE ALSO: Reduce Data Usage in Windows 10 using 3 Simple Steps.

Turn Off Windows Updates Temporarily or Permanently in Windows 10

You have disabled automatic Windows Updates successfully. As shown above, you can either disable Windows updates temporarily or permanently. For disabling updates permanently, you can use either Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor. However, we recommend using the Group Policy editor method. But if you are using the Windows 10 Home version, you have to enable the Group Policy editor first.

Hope you liked this tutorial. Feel free to share it with your friends. Should you face a problem, comment below. Happy disabling Automatic Windows Updates.