How To Permanently Disable Windows Update In Windows 10

by

While Windows 10 updates are essential to keep your system secure and up-to-date, there are times when you may want to disable them — for example, when you’re using a metered connection, or when the updates are causing system stability issues. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to permanently disable Windows Update in Windows 10.

Method 1: Using the Services.msc

The simplest way to disable Windows Update is by stopping the Windows Update service through the Services.msc. Here’s how:

  1. Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog. Type services.msc and hit Enter.
  2. In the Services window, scroll down and find the service named Windows Update.
  3. Double-click on the service to open its Properties dialog.
  4. Under the General tab, change the Startup type to Disabled.
  5. Click Stop if the service is running, then click Apply followed by OK.

This will permanently disable Windows Update in your Windows 10 system. If you wish to enable Windows Update in the future, simply change the Startup type back to Automatic or Manual.

Method 2: Using Group Policy Editor

If you’re using Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise or Education, you can disable Windows Update using the Group Policy Editor. Follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog. Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter.
  2. In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
  3. Find the setting Configure Automatic Updates and double-click on it to open its properties.
  4. Select Disabled, and then click Apply followed by OK.

This will permanently disable Windows Update in your Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education system. To re-enable it, simply change the setting back to Not Configured or Enabled.

Method 3: Using Registry Editor

Warning: Editing the registry can cause serious problems if not done correctly. Proceed with caution and make sure to back up your registry before making any changes.

If you’re using Windows 10 Home or if you prefer using the Registry Editor, follow these steps to disable Windows Update:

  1. Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog. Type regedit and hit Enter.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows.
  3. Create a new key under the Windows folder. Right-click on the Windows folder, choose New > Key, and name it WindowsUpdate.
  4. Right-click on the newly created WindowsUpdate key, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it NoAutoUpdate.
  5. Double-click on the NoAutoUpdate value and set its data to 1.

This change will permanently disable Windows Update in your Windows 10 system. To revert the changes, simply delete the NoAutoUpdate value or change its data back to 0.

Conclusion

We’ve covered three methods to permanently disable Windows Update in Windows 10. Remember that disabling updates can put your system at risk, so only do this if you have a specific reason. Make sure to check for updates manually from time to time to keep your system secure.