How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10

This wikiHow teaches you how to prevent your Windows 10 computer from updating itself. Unfortunately, there is no way to permanently disable automatic updates, but you can delay them indefinitely by using the Services program or by setting...
Method 1 of 4:

Disabling the Update Service

  1. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 1How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 1
    Understand the limitations of this method. While disabling the automatic update service will temporarily halt any Windows 10 cumulative updates, the service will re-enable itself after a certain amount of time.
  2. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 2How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 2
    Open Start
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 3How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 3
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  3. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 4How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 4
    Type in services. This will search your computer for the Services program.
  4. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 5How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 5
    Click Services. It's at the top of the Start menu, just right of a gear-shaped icon. Doing so will open the Services window.
  5. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 6How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 6
    Scroll down to the "Windows Update" option. You'll find this near the bottom of the window.
  6. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 7How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 7
    Double-click the "Windows Update" option. Doing so opens the Windows Update Properties window.
  7. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 8How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 8
    Click the "Startup type" drop-down box. It's in the middle of the window. Clicking this option prompts a drop-down menu.
    1. If you don't see this option, first make sure that you're on the right tab by clicking General at the top of the Properties window.
  8. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 9How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 9
    Click Disabled. It's in the drop-down menu. This will prevent the Windows Update service from automatically starting itself for the time being.
  9. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 10How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 10
    Click Stop. You'll find this option near the bottom of the window. Clicking it prompts the Windows Update service to stop running.
  10. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 11How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 11
    Click Apply, then click OK. Both options are at the bottom of the window. Doing so will apply your settings and close the Properties window. The Windows Update service should now be disabled.
  11. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 12How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 12
    Check the update service periodically. Any time you restart your computer or go more than two days without shutting down, open Services and check the "Windows Update" status to ensure that it's still disabled. While the Windows Update service shouldn't turn itself back on often, it will occasionally do so.
    1. If you see "Disabled" to the right of the "Windows Update" heading, Windows Update is still disabled.
    2. If you see anything other than "Disabled" to the right of the "Windows Update" heading, disable the Windows Update again.
Method 2 of 4:

Using a Metered Connection

  1. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 13How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 13
    Understand that this method won't work for Ethernet connections. You can only disable automatic updates by using this method on a Wi-Fi connection.
  2. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 14How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 14
    Open Start
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 15How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 15
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will pop up.
  3. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 16How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 16
    Open Settings
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 17How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 17
    . Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start menu. This will open the Settings window.
  4. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 18How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 18
    Click
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 19How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 19
    Network & Internet. It's in the Settings window.
  5. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 20How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 20
    Click the Wi-Fi tab. You'll find this option in the upper-left side of the window.
  6. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 21How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 21
    Click your current connection's name. It's near the top of the page. Doing so will open the Wi-Fi connection's settings page.
  7. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 22How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 22
    Scroll down to the "Set as metered connection" section. This section is near the bottom of the page.
  8. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 23How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 23
    Click the "Off" switch
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 24How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 24
    . This will turn it on
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 25How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 25
    , which will prevent Windows from downloading updates over your currently connected network.[1]
    1. If this switch is colored and has "On" next to it, your Wi-Fi is already set up as a metered connection.
Method 3 of 4:

Using Group Policy Editor

  1. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 26How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 26
    Make sure that you're using the right version of Windows. You'll need a pre-Anniversary edition of Windows 10 Pro or an equivalent. You can't use this method if you're using Windows 10 Home edition.
    1. The Windows 10 Education and Enterprise editions also include the Group Policy Editor.
    2. You can check your version of Windows by typing system into Start, clicking System Information near the top of the menu, and looking for "Microsoft Windows 10 Professional" to the right of the "OS Name" heading.
    3. The Windows Anniversary update removed the option to turn off automatic updates from the Group Policy Editor.
  2. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 27How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 27
    Open Start
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 28How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 28
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  3. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 29How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 29
    Type in run. Doing so will search your computer for the Run program.
  4. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 30How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 30
    Click Run. It's the speeding envelope icon near the top of the Start window. Doing so opens the Run program in the bottom-left side of your computer's screen.
  5. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 31How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 31
    Launch the Group Policy Editor. Type gpedit.msc into the Run window, then click OK. The Group Policy Editor window will open.
  6. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 32How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 32
    Navigate to the "Windows Update" folder. In the sidebar on the left side of the Group Policy Editor window, do the following:
    1. Click
      How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 33How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 33
      to the left of the "Administrative Templates" folder.
    2. Click
      How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 34How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 34
      to the left of the "Windows Components" folder.
    3. Scroll down and click the "Windows Update" folder.
  7. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 35How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 35
    Click Configure Automatic Updates. It's an item in the main Group Policy Editor window. Doing so selects this item.
  8. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 36How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 36
    Open the "Configure Automatic Updates" properties window. Right-click the selected Configure Automatic Updates item, then click Edit in the resulting drop-down menu.[2]
  9. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 37How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 37
    Check the "Enabled" box. It's in the upper-left side of the window.
  10. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 38How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 38
    Click the "Configure automatic updating" drop-down box. This option is on the left side of the window.
  11. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 39How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 39
    Click 2 - Notify for download and notify for install. It's in the drop-down menu. This option ensures that you'll be asked before updates are installed, allowing you to decline the updates.
  12. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 40How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 40
    Click Apply, then click OK. Doing so saves your changes.
  13. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 41How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 41
    Apply your changes. To do so:
    1. Open Start
    2. Open Settings
    3. Click Update & Security
    4. Click Windows Update
    5. Click Check for updates
    6. Wait for Windows to identify available updates (Windows will not install these updates).
  14. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 42How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 42
    Restart your computer. Click Start
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 43How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 43
    , click Power
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 44How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 44
    , and click Restart in the pop-up menu. Once your computer finishes restarting, your update preferences will be saved.
    1. You'll still be able to manually allow updates as they become available.
Method 4 of 4:

Disabling Automatic Windows Store App Updates

  1. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 45How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 45
    Open Start
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 46How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 46
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will pop up.
  2. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 47How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 47
    Click
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 48How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 48
    Microsoft Store. You should usually see this option on the right side of the Start menu.
    1. If you don't see the Store icon in the Start menu, type store into the search bar at the bottom of the menu and then click Store when it appears at the top of the menu.
  3. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 49How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 49
    Click . It's in the top-right corner of the window. This will prompt a drop-down menu.
    1. On older versions of Windows 10, you'll click your profile picture in the upper-left corner of the Windows Store.
  4. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 50How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 50
    Click Settings. This is in the drop-down menu.
  5. How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 51How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 51
    Click the colored "Update apps automatically" switch
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 52How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 52
    . Doing so will turn off the switch
    How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 53How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Picture 53
    .
    1. If this switch is off, updates for Windows apps are already disabled.
4.8 ★ | 4 Vote