If your computer runs Windows 10, one inconvenience is that youll always be forced to install Microsofts automatic Windows 10 updates (whether you like it or not). Sometimes, even while youre working on your computer, Windows will automatically update, interrupting your work.
Have you ever wondered why you can't turn off automatic Windows 10 updates? Don't worry, this article will provide some simple methods to completely prevent Windows 10 updates.
Why can't I turn off Windows 10 updates?
Table of Contents:
1. Why won't automatic updates stop ?
2. How to stop automatic Windows updates? 2.1
. Completely uninstall Windows Update Assistant . 2.2. Restrict network connections to stop Windows updates . 2.3. Disable Windows Update service . 2.4. Change Group Policy settings . 2.5. Change Device Installation Settings .
1. Why can't I stop automatic Windows 10 updates?
Microsoft's policy dictates that Windows 10 updates will automatically install on computers running the Home version. Furthermore, Microsoft has removed all settings that allow users to disable updates. Therefore, if you are using the Windows 10 Home version, you will not be able to stop Windows 10 updates.
With Windows 8.1 and earlier versions, you can choose to update Windows using the following four options:
- Install updates automatically (Recommended)
- Download updates while choosing when to install them
- Check for updates but decide whether to download and install them yourself
- Never check for updates (Not recommended)
In Windows 10, all of these options have been removed, and you can no longer disable automatic updates.
2. How do I stop automatic Windows updates?
2.1. Completely uninstall Windows 10 Update Assistant
Sometimes, even after trying various solutions to stop Windows 10 updates, it doesn't work. One possible reason is that the Windows 10 Update Assistant has modified settings on your computer, and the automatic Windows 10 update process has started again.
Therefore, if you have installed Windows 10 Update Assistant on your computer, you should completely uninstall it.
Note: If you don't want to uninstall the Windows 10 Update Assistant, you can disable it from Task Scheduler. Simply go to Task Scheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > UpdateOrchestrator , then click Update Assistant on the right-hand side. Make sure you have turned off each trigger in the Triggers tab .
+ Press the Windows logo and R simultaneously, type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
+ Find Windows 10 Update Assistant in the listed programs and right-click on it, then select Uninstall . + Confirm deletion. + Open File Explorer and click on This PC. + If Windows Update Assistant was installed by default when you installed the Windows operating system, access the file at the location where your system is installed, usually This PC > C drive > Windows > Windows10Upgrade , then delete the Windows10Upgrade folder . + If Windows 10 Update Assistant was installed separately, you can go to the saved location and delete the installation folder. It is usually named Windows10Upgrade . + Access This PC > Windows , delete the folders named UpdateAssistantV2 and UpdateAssistant .
After completely uninstalling the Windows 10 Update Assistant, restart your computer, then you can try the following methods to stop Windows 10 updates:
2.2. Restrict network connection to stop Windows 10 updates.
Many people may not realize that there's a simple way to stop automatic Windows 10 updates. You can set limits on your WiFi network. If your computer is connected to WiFi, you can try the following steps: +
Click the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen, then click Settings + Select Network & Internet + Click WiFi in the left pane, then click your Wi-Fi connection name + Click Set as metered connection
When you do this, Windows will assume you have a limited data plan when using WiFi, so it won't automatically update on your computer. However, if your computer is connected via Ethernet, Windows will assume you have an unlimited data plan, and this method will not work.
2.3. Disable the Windows Update service to stop Windows 10 updates.
The Windows Update service can detect, download, and install Windows updates and programs. When disabled, it will not be able to use the automatic update feature, and therefore, programs will not be able to download and install automatically.
Before disabling the Windows Update service, make sure you have turned off the Windows Update Assistant. Then you can follow these steps: + Press the Windows
logo key and R simultaneously to open the Run box. + Type services.msc and press Enter . + Scroll down to Windows Update and double-click it. + In Startup type , select Disabled . Then click Apply and OK to save the settings. + If this is the first time you are stopping the Windows Update service, you also need to perform one more step: In Windows Update Properties , click the Recovery tab , select Take No Action in the First failure section , then click Apply and OK to save the settings . + Restart your PC.
2.4. Change Group Policy settings to stop Windows 10 updates.
You can also use the Group Policy Editor to change settings that prevent Windows 10 from automatically updating.
+ Press the Windows logo key and R simultaneously to open the Run box.
+ Type gpedit.msc and click OK.
+ Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
+ Double-click on Configure Automatic Updates.
+ Select Disable in Configured Automatic Updates on the left, then click Apply and OK to turn off Windows automatic updates.
When you need to update to the latest version of Windows, you can repeat the steps above, then select Enabled to turn on this feature.
Note: You shouldn't turn this off because sometimes this option can cause you to miss important Windows updates. It's better to select Enabled , then select 2 - Notify for download and auto install . By doing so, you will receive notifications about new Windows updates and you can choose when to download them.
2.5. Change Device Installation Settings to stop Windows 10 updates.
If you don't want your computer's device drivers to automatically update, you can try the following steps:
+ Type " Control Panel " in the search box + Click on System + Click on Advanced system settings on the left + Click on the Hardware tab , then select Device Installation Settings + Select No (your device might not work as expected) and click Save changes + Click OK to complete the installation. After that, your device drivers will no longer automatically download updates.