How to Disable or Remove Automatic Updates in Windows 10

Read this article to find out how to disable automatic update option in Windows 10. Let’s explore how to remove an unnecessary or faulty Windows update by using integrated system tools or with third-party apps.

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.

Find Windows Update service and open its properties.

Click on Stop and select Startup Type – Disabled

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.

When in the Editor, go to Computer Configuration – Administrative Templates – Windows Components – Windows Update.

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

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.

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.

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.

  • Jump to the tab View Installed Updates.

  • Sort them by installation date by clicking on Installed On.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

  • Updated:
  • Evaluations:
  • 13
  • /
  • :

Share

Questions and answers

How to disable automatic updates while using a limited Internet connection on a laptop?

If you use WiFi as the channel to access the Internet, you can mark it as metered connection. After that, you will be asked every time if available OS updates can be downloaded and installed. To do it:

  • Go to "Settings" > "Network & Internet" > "WiFi" > "Properties";
  • Set the slider to "Set as metered connection."

Why would I disable Windows 10 automatic updates?

There are a few reasons for that:

  • From time to time, Windows authentication process is performed while receiving automatic updates, and sometimes a properly licensed Windows may be mistaken for a pirated one. It’s quite easy to solve this problem, but if it appears regularly, people tend to disable automatic updates. However, you can just exclude Windows authentication, and things will be fine.
  • Updates can be quite big, and if a mobile Internet connection with a per-megabyte charge is used, a single patch may easily consume all of prepaid traffic. In such case, an optimal choice would be to choose smaller and most crucial updates and install them manually.
  • Of course, when a pirated version of Windows is used, automatic updates are turned off immediately.

What is Windows Update Blocker?

Windows Update Blocker is free software that will help you to completely lock or unlock automatic updates for your Windows with a single click.

Software tools to turn off Windows updates.

TOP tools for disabling Windows updates:

  • Win Updates Disabler;
  • Windows Update Blocker;
  • Windows 10 Update Disabler;
  • Show hidden updates;
  • Winaero Tweaker.

What are the consequences of stopping Windows updates?

When you turn automatic updates off, be ready for the following:

  • Security patches include updates for the integrated antivirus database. Without them, your operating system will overlook new viruses, and your computer will be infested by a range of malware types - which will require professional help;
  • Every patch is meant to eliminate this or another system issue;
  • These patches also fix system vulnerabilities. For example, some recent vulnerabilities revealed in Windows 10 let strangers get access to the computer and have administrator rights.

So before you turn off updates for Windows 10, think about the security of your computer.

Comments (11) #

  • Leon Oakley 7.01.2021 01:00 #

    How can you check for updates manually after disabling automatic updates in Windows 10?

    • Hetman Software 7.01.2021 01:20 #

      1. Open Settings and go to Update & Security.
      2. Click on Windows Update in the left-hand pane.
      3. Click on Check for Updates.
      4. Windows will now check for available updates and download them automatically.
  • Jess Oxspring 6.01.2021 22:49 #

    Are there any risks associated with disabling automatic updates in Windows 10?

    • Hetman Software 6.01.2021 23:22 #

      Yes, there are risks associated with disabling automatic updates in Windows 10. Not receiving the latest updates can leave your computer vulnerable to security threats, as well as stability and performance issues. Additionally, you may miss out on important feature updates and bug fixes.

  • Wilfried Childers 6.01.2021 20:59 #

    Can disabling automatic updates in Windows 10 improve system performance?

    • Hetman Software 6.01.2021 21:21 #

      No, disabling automatic updates in Windows 10 will not improve system performance. In fact, it may have the opposite effect. Windows 10 regularly releases updates that can improve system performance, security, and stability. Additionally, disabling automatic updates may put your system at risk of security vulnerabilities.

  • Ryan Camidge 6.01.2021 17:09 #

    What is the Group Policy Editor and how can it be used to disable automatic updates in Windows 10?

    • Hetman Software 6.01.2021 17:25 #

      The Group Policy Editor is a Microsoft management console in Windows 10 that allows users to create, modify, and apply policies to their computer or network. It can be used to disable automatic updates in Windows 10 by changing the Automatic Updates setting to “Notify for download and notify for install.” This will prevent Windows from automatically downloading and installing updates without user intervention.

  • Bradley Crawley 6.01.2021 14:02 #

    How can you prevent automatic updates from occurring during certain times of the day?

    • Hetman Software 6.01.2021 14:33 #

      1. Use Group Policy to disable automatic updates during certain times of the day.
      2. Use the Windows Task Scheduler to create a task that will disable Windows Update at a specific time.
      3. Use third-party software such as Windows Update Blocker to prevent automatic updates from occurring during certain times of the day.
      4. Use the Windows registry to disable automatic updates.
  • Maxim Cherniga 6.01.2021 13:40 #

    If you have any questions about disabling or removing Windows 10 automatic updates, leave a comment to ask.

Post comment

Recommended For You