Disable or Remove Automatic Updates in Windows 10: Guide

Learn how to disable or remove automatic updates in Windows 10 with our essential guide. Automatic updates can be convenient, but they can also disrupt your workflow and consume bandwidth at inconvenient times. In this comprehensive tutorial, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions and expert techniques to help you take control of your update settings in Windows 10. Whether you want to temporarily disable updates or remove them entirely, we’ll cover all the essential methods to suit your needs. Don’t let automatic updates dictate your system’s behavior—watch our guide and regain control over your update settings today.

Disable or Remove Automatic Updates in Windows 10: Guide

Do it with the Services tool

The first method works for Windows 10 Home, Professional and Enterprise.

Type Services in the search field (the magnifying glass icon on the taskbar) and run this system tool.

Services

Find Windows Update service and open its properties.

Services

Click on Stop and select Startup TypeDisabled

Services

After these changes are applied and the computer restarts, Windows Update will not work anymore, so updates won’t be downloaded and installed automatically.

Try Local Group Policy Editor

The second method is only good for Windows 10 Professional and Enterprise. As other versions of Windows lack such component as Local Group Policy Editor.

To start the Local Group Policy Editor, type gpedit.msc in the search field and press Enter.

Local Group Policy Editor

When in the Editor, go to Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsWindows Update.

Local Group Policy Editor

Find the policy Configure Automatic Updates, open it and set it to Disabled. Click Apply/Ok.

Local Group Policy Editor

Free utilities to disable automatic updates in Windows 10

Also, you can use free utilities to prevent Windows 10 from updating automatically.

As an example, we’ll show you Win Updates Disabler, but there are other tools as well.

Run the program, jump to the tab Disable to check the box next to Disable Windows Updates. After that, click Apply Now for the changes to take effect.

Win Updates Disabler

As seen from the screenshot, this program can also disable Windows Firewall and Windows Defender. If necessary, you can turn everything on again in the tab Enable.

Win Updates Disabler

How to remove the updates that have already been installed?

If some updates were installed incorrectly, or you want to remove only particular Windows 10 updates, this is also possible.

To do it:

  • Go to Control Panel and select Programs & Features.

    Control Panel
  • Jump to the tab View Installed Updates.

    Programs & Features
  • Sort them by installation date by clicking on Installed On.

    Programs & Features
  • Right-click on one of the updates which you want to delete from the system and click Uninstall.

    Programs & Features
  • Confirm your decision and changes will take effect after the system restart.

    Programs & Features

System updates in Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903)

Beginning with May 2019 Update (version 1903), Windows 10 will not install large system updates without user’s consent. You will only receive notifications that a new version of Windows 10 is available and then you will have to decide if you want to install the update or ignore it.

That is, you may choose to use your current version of Windows 10 and receive security updates during its entire lifecycle. This seems to be much more convenient than having to install large updates every six months without your actually knowing it beforehand.

Also, beginning with Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903), Microsoft allowed Windows 10 Home users to postpone updates for as long as 35 days. All you need to do is to suspend installation of an update within 7 days. You can postpone updates this way up to 5 times. When checking for available options in Windows Update, the operating system will not run any automatic installation as updates can now be suspended.

Vladimir Artiukh

Author: , Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: , Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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