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How to Turn Off Automatic Updates on Windows 10/11

One of the controversial features of Windows 10 is a new way that the operating system handles updates. Cumulative updates are installed automatically when Windows decides to do it. This can be extremely frustrating for Windows 10 users as they are often forced to restart their machine at an inopportune time.

Before proceeding, remember that some of the automatic updates will be security updates or important stability improvements that you will want to have installed on your system. Keep this in mind if you choose to keep automatic updates turned off for an extended period of time.

ou can make changes to the Group Policy Editor if you are using Windows 10 Education, Pro or Enterprise editions. Users of Windows 10 Home edition are out of luck regarding this way of disabling Windows 10 updates.

If you opt for this solution, security updates will still be installed automatically. For all other updates, you will be notified that they are available and can install them at your convenience. This is the way Windows update worked in the past. Today, Microsoft wants to eliminate the need for novice users to engage in updates, but it has enforced this at the cost of flexibility for more experienced users.

Here’s how to update your Group Policy Editor to prevent automatic Windows 10 updates:

1. Launch the Run command (Win + R). Type in “gpedit.msc” and hit Enter to open the group policy editor.

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2. Drill down through “Computer Configuration” to “Administrative Templates”.

turn off automatic updates on windows 10

3. Select “Windows Components” and then “Windows Update”.

turnoff automatic updates on windows 10

4. Choose the option on the right to “Configure Automatic Updates.

turn off updates on windows 10

5. Check the “Disable”.

6. Click “Apply” and “OK”.

7. Type “Windows Update” into the Start menu and select “Windows Update Settings.”

8. Restart your computer to finish updating the group policy editor.

9. Check for updates. You should be notified by Windows if it finds them, but they should not be automatically installed any longer.

From this point forward Windows should notify you that updates are available, and it is your responsibility to make sure that they get downloaded and installed.

Credit: https://www.cleverfiles.com/howto/disable-update-windows-10.html

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