By default, in Windows 10, system updates and new driver versions are downloaded and installed automatically. However, auto-update can be deactivated using standard methods or using third-party programs.
Should I disable automatic updates?
Updates correct errors made in previous versions of the system. If you do not install them, some problems found by the developers will not be solved.
However, automatic updating has its disadvantages:
- updates can start downloading at any time, which will lead to increased load on the Internet;
- downloading large updates eats up part of the traffic and money balance if you use metered Internet;
- updates are installed in the background, as well as during the next shutdown and subsequent startup of the device. If you urgently need a computer at this moment, you will have to wait for the update installation to complete.
Therefore, it is recommended to switch to manually selecting updates or abandon them completely. When choosing the first option, you will be able to independently select which updates to download and which of those already downloaded to install.
Deactivating system auto-update
There are several ways to disable auto-update of the system. The simplest is by disabling the service. If it does not work correctly, updates will still continue to be downloaded and installed independently, then additional methods are presented below.
Through termination of service
Video: disabling auto-update through service shutdown
Through the "Local Group Policy Editor"
This method can only be used by users of Windows 10 Professional and higher, because only these packages contain the Local Group Policy Editor.
- Open the Run window by pressing the Win + R key combination and enter the command “gpedit.msc”.
Run the command "gpedit.msc" - Follow the path: “Computer Configuration” - “Administrative Templates” - “Windows Components” - “Windows Update”.
Go to the Windows Update folder - In the Windows Update folder, find the line “Set up automatic updates” and double-click on it.
Double-click on the line “Setting automatic updates” - Set the option to Disabled, accept the changes, and close all windows.
Set the Automatic Update Settings item to Disabled - Perform a manual search for updates via Update Center. This action is necessary to prevent automatic verification and installation from being performed by the system in the future.
Perform a manual check for Windows 10 updates
Video: deactivating auto-updates through the “Local Group Policy Editor”
Through editing the registry
This method is suitable for all versions of Windows, except for the “Home” build:
By enabling metered internet mode
This method works in all versions of Windows 10, but deactivating automatic updates using it will result in some important and minor updates still being downloaded automatically.
Through a third party program
If the standard methods described above did not help solve your problem, then you can use one of the third-party programs designed to turn off auto-update. For example, Win Updates Disabler. On the website of the developer of this program you can find its portable version, which does not require installation. After launching Win Updates Disabler, check the “Disable Windows Updates” option and click on the “Apply Now” button.
Check the box next to “Disable Windows Updates” and click the “Apply Now” button After deactivating auto updates, restart your computer.
Deactivating automatic computer reboot
The device can reboot itself during your absence. This is necessary to install already downloaded updates. You can manually set a time when a reboot is possible, for example, by setting it to night, or completely prohibit the device from restarting without your knowledge.
Setting time frames
- In Computer Settings, open the Update & Security tab.
Open Update & Security in System Settings - In the “Windows Update” subsection, click on “Change activity period”.
In the “Windows Update” subsection, click on the “Change activity period” button - Set two values: the start and end of the period when you are most likely to use the computer. The period should last no more than twelve hours. Until this time has expired, the computer will not be able to reboot, as it will assume that it may be needed at any time.
Specify or change the time your computer is active - Go back a step and click on the “Restart Options” button.
Click on the “Restart Options” button in the “Windows Update” subsection - In this tab, you can specify or change the installation time of already downloaded updates.
In Restart Options you can specify when to restart
Partial ban
This method is only suitable for users of Windows 10 Professional and higher, since only these versions have the Local Group Policy Editor.
After changing the values in the Local Group Policy Editor, the computer will not be able to restart if there is a user logged on. If there are no authorized users, an automatic reboot will still occur.
Video: Disabling automatic reboot through the Local Group Policy Editor
Partial ban for all versions of the system
This method is suitable for all versions of Windows, including the Home version. After changing the values, the device will not be able to restart on its own if any user is logged in to their account. If no one is logged in, a restart will be made.
Video: disabling automatic reboot through Registry Editor
Complete ban via Task Scheduler
Using this method, you can completely disable computer rebooting: even if no user is logged in, the reboot will not occur.
Turn off automatic updates for Windows Store apps
By default, apps installed from the official Store program, also called the Windows Store, are updated to the latest version automatically. This can be inconvenient, since updating creates an extra load on the Internet, and traffic, if the Internet is limited, is eaten up. Therefore, it is better to deactivate automatic updates:
Disabling automatic driver updates
Drivers are installed automatically when you connect each new device. Over time, new driver versions may become available; by default, they will be obtained automatically. To avoid this, you can disable automatic updates for a specific device or for all at once.
For a specific device
For all devices at once
There are several ways to disable driver auto-update for all devices at once. The most universal of them, suitable for all versions of Windows, is through the “Registry Editor”.
You can also use a third-party program from Microsoft - Show or Hide Updates. It scans the system and displays a list of drivers that, when updated, can harm the computer. By selecting the desired list items, you can prevent the installation of updates for certain drivers.
In the list of drivers, indicate those that do not need to be installed Video: three ways to disable automatic driver installation
Disabling distribution of updates
By default, Windows 10 has a feature enabled that allows computers to receive updates not only from Microsoft servers, but also from other computers that have already downloaded them.
Windows 10 has a function for distributing updates, which is necessary to relieve Microsoft servers. Once your device has received any update, it starts distributing it to others. But this system has a minus - your Internet traffic is wasted only if it is not unlimited, and it creates a load on the speed of your network, since part of it, although small, is given for distribution.
There are two ways to disable the distribution of updates. The first is to indicate that your connection is metered. How to do this has already been described in the subsection “By enabling the metered Internet mode.” The second way is to disable the function itself directly:
Disable system update notifications
If you have automatic system updates turned off, then over time you will begin to receive notifications that the check for updates has not been done for such a long time or that certain updates have not been installed. You can simply ignore these messages, nothing will happen. But if you can’t stand them, you can deactivate receiving notifications:
System, application and driver updates can put a strain on the Internet and cause loss of traffic. But it is not recommended to leave your devices and computer without updates, as they fix problems discovered by developers in previous versions of the system. The best option is to disable automatic installation of updates and control this process manually.
Windows updates are sometimes of dubious value. In the case of the tenth version, all updates except the first one after installing the system are very specific and controversial. Moreover, they always start unexpectedly, without notifying the user, and their sudden use causes a long reboot of the computer. However, you can interrupt updates at absolutely any stage.
How to quickly abort an update
If you want to quickly abort a Windows 10 update, depending on its stage, the first thing you need to do is the following:
- if the update has just started downloading, disconnect from the Internet;
- if the update has downloaded and the system asks to restart to apply it, do not do this under any circumstances;
- If, when you turn on/off/restart the system, installation or application of updates begins, turn off the computer by holding down the power button on the case.
Regardless of the option you are faced with, all further steps will look almost the same. Now you need to start canceling the update that has started. For the last problem, start the system in safe mode.
Starting the system in safe mode
Starting the system in safe mode is guaranteed to help start the computer without installing downloaded updates.
If you skipped downloading updates and turned off your computer, canceling them will pose some difficulties: every time you try to log in, an attempt will be made to apply the updates. This problem has been fixed in later versions of Windows 10, but it's best to start your computer in Safe Mode just in case.
How to cancel an update
The described method is suitable for quickly interrupting an ongoing update. Now the update needs to be canceled so that you can safely turn on the Internet or restart your computer.
There are several ways to cancel an update that has started. For example, enable a metered connection or Airplane mode. However, such methods will only interrupt the downloading of new packages and will not prevent the installation of already downloaded ones. The only way to guarantee that an update has started is through the command line.
To resume the update, you need to repeat the above commands, replacing stop with start.
How to permanently disable downloading updates
The method mentioned in canceling the update also includes prohibiting further system updates. But there are others that will be more convenient and reliable in the long term.
Via Group Policy Editor
This method will not work for the home version of Windows and some unlicensed versions of the system, but by using it you will retain the ability to manually run system updates.
Through services
This method is available on all versions of Windows, but it completely prohibits system updates: you will not be able to download updates even by running the scan manually (the scan will run, but will not be able to find anything).
Via Registry Editor
This method can be considered the most correct, but also the least safe: it makes changes directly to the system configuration, and you can cancel it only by doing the same steps again. If you intend to use this method, save the path to the parameter you are changing somewhere so that you can roll back the changes.
Via Windows Update
Blocking updates through Windows Update is official, but it is also the least reliable. In this way, you will mark your own Internet connection as metered: updates are not downloaded through such connections in order to save traffic.
In the latest operating system from Microsoft - Windows 10, the developers for some reason disabled the ability to simply disable updates for applications, drivers and, in general, Windows components in a simple way (as was always the case in earlier versions of Windows). Now, if for some reason it is necessary to disable updates for the system, then a simple inexperienced computer user is unlikely to be able to do this on his own. Because for this you will have to use more complex manipulations with Windows settings. In this article, I will show you how you can disable these updates in Windows 10.
First of all, you should understand that updates for Windows (any version) are very important. They allow you to keep the security of the system up to date, update applications, components, drivers, so that the overall system works stably, so that the number of various glitches and defects is reduced.
Therefore, you need to disable updates only in really important cases, for example, when you have limited Internet access and if the system downloads updates, this may result in additional costs for you.
If you really need to disable updates in Windows 10, then see the instructions below.
All instructions below will be based on Windows 10 version 1607. If you have an older version of Windows 10, some of the steps in the instructions below may vary.
If you use a Wi-Fi network to access the Internet
So, the first option to disable updates for Windows 10 is only suitable for you if you use a Wi-Fi wireless network to access the Internet. If you access the Internet via a LAN cable, via a modem or some other method, then this option will not work.
The way to do this is that you set the Wi-Fi network through which you access the Internet as metered for traffic, and Windows updates will not be downloaded through metered connections.
Now your Wi-Fi connection will be designated as metered and Windows will not automatically download updates in batches.
To completely disable updates, regardless of your Internet connection method, use the method below.
Completely disabling the ability to download updates in Windows 10
To completely disable the ability of Windows 10 to download any updates regardless of your Internet connection method, you simply need to turn off the Windows Update service.
Instructions:
Now Windows 10 will not be able to check for updates at all, since its service responsible for the update search process is disabled.
Conclusion
Now you will definitely be able, if necessary, to disable updates in the Windows 10 system, which Microsoft began, one might say, to impose on us. Previously, it was possible to disable Windows updates right there, in the update settings, and in my opinion this is correct, because the user was given a choice. And now everything has been complicated.
And I will repeat again. It is highly undesirable to disable updates for any Windows systems without any particular reason. Do this only if you really really need it and then for a certain time!
Have a nice day and good mood! See you in the next articles;)
One aspect that Microsoft can't seem to get right is Windows Updates. The situation improved with subsequent updates, but not as much as we would have liked, and Windows 10 updates still remain a poorly customizable feature. A significant number of users are constantly trying to avoid spying activities carried out by Microsoft. Many also try to disable Windows 10 updates due to lack of Internet traffic, because these updates eat up the entire limited plan from SIM cards. Some people are annoyed by terrible slowdowns when updating the system. Let's look at three methods that are suitable for Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise editions.
1. Use metered connections
If you use the Internet via WiFi, you can use the “metered connections” function. Windows 10 will automatically stop and disable downloading updates on your computer.
- Open " Options".
- Click " Network and Internet".
- In the left panel, select " WiFi".
- Click on the name of your Wi-Fi network.
- Scroll down to " Limited connections".
- Move the switch to " On".
2. Using the Group Policy Editor
Unfortunately, "metered connections" does not work if you use an Ethernet cable for the Internet. You should use the Group Policy Editor instead:
- Click Win+R.
- Enter gpedit.msc and press Enter.
- Click " Computer configuration".
- Select " Administrative Templates".
- Click " All parameters".
- Scroll down to " Setting up automatic updates" and double-click the entry.
- Select " Included" in the top left corner.
- Select " Notify about downloads and automatic installations".
- Click " Apply".
3. Disable via Registry Editor
In the Windows 10 Home edition, there are no group policies, so we will disable updates through the registry.
- Click Win+R.
- Enter regedit.
- Follow the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows.
- In folder Windows, create a section WindowsUpdate.
- In folder WindowsUpdate, create a section AU.
- In the field on the right, create a parameter DWORD 32 bits With name NoAutoUpdate and meaning 1 .
4. Defer and disable windows 10 updates
Surely you are working on a computer or laptop and you receive patches from Microsoft that begin to heavily load the entire system and you don’t know what to do. Thanks to the new feature, you can pause Windows 10 updates for 35 days, which is a humane way to get rid of all the brakes and strange downloads.
- Go to " Windows Update" and on the right select " Extra options".
Scrolling down, you will see the line " pause updates" and drag the slider to On.
5. Win Update Stop utility
Microsoft recently announced that system updates will continue to be available, and it will not be possible to disable them forever, just postpone them for a while. All methods to disable it with different versions of Windows work every once in a while. All that was left was to resort to third-party processes, and the Win Update Stop program came in handy. You don't need to go into the registry settings and do it manually. With just one click of a button, updates will be permanently stopped on your computer. And you can turn them on whenever you want. Supports all editions of Windows 10/8.1/7. NoVirusThanks is well known for providing useful utilities for Windows users, and Win Update Stop is no exception. Download the program from the official website NoVirusThanks.
How to completely disable updates in Windows 10 is an interesting question for most users, because developers make this process more and more complicated with each new version. Disabling using the usual methods, we suddenly discover an increase in traffic, new functions and a long reboot with installation. Many people complain that new improvements to the operating system simply kill the old version, cause a reboot cycle, and in the end they have to reinstall everything from scratch. Therefore, knowing how to permanently disable Windows 10 updates is more relevant than ever with this version.
Turn off scanning
Periodically, the Schedule Scan task is launched in the OS scheduler, which calls the executable file from the System32 folder UsoClient.exe. We need to stop it from running. True, an access error will occasionally pop up, but this is not scary. And one more thing: new packages for the defender will still be installed.
So, how to disable auto-update in Windows 10 step by step:
1. Launch the command line on behalf of the administrator (menu “Additionally called by right-click”).
2. Copy the command takeown /f c:\windows\system32\usoclient.exe /a. Without it, you will not have enough rights to take further actions.
3. Find the required file and its properties.
4. Move to the security section and select “Edit” for each list item.
5. Uncheck ALL the boxes in the permissions column.
6. Restart your PC.
Now you can search for and install new packages manually, since on Windows 10 we were able to completely disable automatic updates.
Through services
It has long been known how to turn off updates on Windows 10 by disabling services completely, but in the latest dozens of versions, starting with 1709, the service is magically turned on. Next is another option on how to disable automatic updates on Windows 10:
In the search, find “Services”.
- Look at the end for the center responsible for new packages.
3. Now we need to ensure that automatic updates are permanently disabled in Windows 10 completely. To do this, go to the section "Login".
4. Now the launch is carried out from the system user, who by default has administrator rights. But if we specify a “disenfranchised” user, then the service will not turn on - it will not have enough rights to do so. Click on the point for another user and click “Browse”.
5. Enter the name of the user who has the least rights. If you don't remember what users you have, then click “Advanced”, then “Search”.
6. “Guest” will do, it’s there by default. Then OK twice and remove passwords.
This is a completely reliable method, and you now know how to disable all Windows updates in Windows 10: it works completely for most users. You may need information about that - just follow the link.
Via the registry
You can completely disable automatic Windows 10 updates through the main system settings.
Open the directive execution window (WIN+R) and use the regedit directive.
Sequentially click Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Update and make another 32-bit DWORD parameter.
Enter the name DisableOSUpgrade , value 1.
Then sequentially:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore – DisableOSUpgrade (1)
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade – AllowOSUpgrade (0), ReservationsAllowed (0)
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\UpgradeNotification – UpgradeAvailable (0)
This will disable auto-update in Windows 10 completely, and this solution works on any version: Home, Pro or Enterprise, but it may not work in some editions. In another article you will find out on PC.
GUI
In the parameters (WIN+I) in the corresponding section, you can simply postpone the installation of new files for some time - a maximum of a year. How to completely disable automatic updates for 365 days on Windows, see below:
1. Go to the specified window and click on change additional parameters.
2. Scroll down and find the drop-down list.
This will not help to completely disable the update service on Windows 10 forever, but will only delay its activity. Sometimes that's enough because a lot can happen in a year.
If you are worried about traffic, then set limits. Here, click on the “Delivery Optimization” item.
AND "Extra options".
The limit values are 5, but if you suddenly failed to completely disable downloading Windows 10 updates, and the service turned on without your knowledge, you will not lose gigabytes of traffic.
Policy Editor
Completely disabling updates in Windows 10 using this method is only available in Pro and Enterprise versions. Through the directive execution window, call the editor by entering the command gpedit.msc.
Click on the link on the left to configure your computer. Then also click on admin templates and go to OS components. Next, you need to find the center responsible for updates.
Find an item "Setting up automatic..." and turn it off by double-clicking and selecting the corresponding icon.
After this, you need to go into the settings again and check manually, since this method of completely disabling Windows 10 auto-update does not always work right away.
Here you can also specify the period for which actions are postponed, if you cannot completely disable the installation of updates on Windows 10. Similar to the previous steps: in the center section you need a subsection for business.
Double click on the element "Choose when to receive...", enable and set the period. The maximum number is 365.
If you need to completely disable the installation of updates on Windows 10 due to the constant change of drivers to universal ones, you can disable the corresponding item.
Also here you can completely disable Windows 10 update on Windows via metered connections.
Third party software
One reliable way to completely disable Windows 10 system update is to use the Win-Update-Disabler program. You can download it.
The utility is extremely easy to use. Download the required version (depending on the bit depth).
Place a birdie.
Click "Apply Now". A reboot will be required.
As practice has shown, this program definitely works.
If you are the owner of a laptop computer and don’t know where to completely disable checking for updates on Windows 10 on your laptop, then don’t get lost: all actions depend not on the hardware, but on the system, so feel free to try.
Task Manager
Create a bat file in notepad. To do this, type the directives
net stop wuauserv
sc config wuauserv start=disabled
In the type drop-down list, select “All files” and enter a name.
By searching we find the task scheduler.
Click to create a simple task.
Now we need to create a trigger. Select the last item associated with the magazine.
In the next window, set the “Log” parameter to “System”.
In the “Source” field we indicate “Service Control Manager”.
We indicate the number 7040 as the event code.
Go to the next step of the wizard and select "Run the program".
Now you need to click the “Browse” button and find our file with directives in Explorer. The path and name should appear in the "program or script" line.
We check all the settings again and click “Finish”.
In the task library you can see what you just created.
If you want to delete it, right-click and select the appropriate item.
Summary
The answer to the question “Is it possible to permanently disable Windows 10 updates” is a temporary set of methods. At the time of writing this article, with the version updated to 1803, all of the above works. What Microsoft developers will come up with next is unknown. But if you are the owner of dozens of this particular assembly, try it, and post your recommendations and reports on the results in the comments. This is the surest way to find working algorithms.