How to Stop Windows 10 Update Automatically? [6 methods Included]

User Case: How to Disable Windows 10 Automatic Updates

"I use 4 Windows 10 computers for my work, but during use, one or two computers are often updated automatically, causing the Windows system to lock up and sometimes automatically restart. This has seriously affected my work, but I really can't fix it. I can only ask you guys for help, does anyone know how to disable Windows 10 automatic updates? I need to solve this trouble ASAP."

On Windows 10, long-term cumulative updates will be automatically downloaded and installed over a certain period of time. Microsoft designed it this way with the hope that computers would automatically patch vulnerabilities without user interaction, while improving security and performance.

But in fact, the automatic update function often brings some unexpected troubles. In addition to the interruption of the work progress described in the above case, it may also lead to the destruction of existing functions and application compatibility issues, and even a blue screen crash in severe cases.

Next, the necessity of stopping Windows 10 update automatically will be introduced in detail for you, and corresponding solutions will be provided.

Why You Should Disable Windows 10 Automatic Updates

We've listed some possible reasons why you should turn off automatic Windows updates:

• Prevent sudden computer interruptions during work hours. Disabling automatic Windows 10 updates is necessary because downloading and installing updates can slow down your computer. And in most cases a computer restart is required, which can interrupt your work progress.
• Application compatibility becomes poor. After Windows updates, the vulnerabilities of the previous version are often fixed and the experience of using the Windows system is improved. But in some cases, it may also cause the updated version to be incompatible with the currently used application, affecting its normal use, which is also an important reason for disabling Windows 10 automatic updates.
• May cause system damage. Windows Update usually fixes system errors from previous versions, but sometimes it can also cause new system errors, which can lead to system corruption in severe cases. For example, some users encounter the blue screen error 0xc000021a after installing KB5021233. If you think your current Windows 10 version is already stable, you can disable Windows 10 automatic updates to avoid any surprises.

6 Ways to Stop Windows 10 Update Automatically

If you don't know how to disable Windows 10 automatic updates, please read the following in detail and refer to these steps.

Method 1. Disable Automatic Update by Windows Settings

If you only want to restrict Windows 10 updates for a specific period of time, rather than disabling Windows automatic updates permanently, you can modify the time when updates are disabled by changing the settings.

1. Use Windows + I to open Windows Settings, and click the Update & Security option.
2. After jumping to the default Windows Update tab, click Advanced options on the right panel.
3. Find the Pause updates section, and click the option to select a date. In the expanded menu, the duration of the pause update can be up to 35 days.

Note✍: If you want to resume updates, you can click the Resume updates button in the Windows Update tab, or follow the steps above to change the date for which updates are paused.

Method 2. Disable Automatic Updates Through the Local Group Policy Editor

Local Group Policy Editor is a utility on Windows 10 that allows you to configure local group policy settings accordingly. You can disable Windows update permanently through the Local Group Policy Editor, or adjust Windows Updates to manual installation, everything can be set according to the actual situation.

Note✍: The Local Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows 10 Home edition, so the steps below do not apply to that edition.

▶ Disable Windows Update Permanently

1. Use Windows + R to open the Run window, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. In the Local Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following path: Computer Settings -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update.
3. On the right panel, find Configure Automatic Updates, and double-click to open this setting.
4. Click the Disabled option at the top left, and then click the OK button to save the changes.

Note✍: If you want to resume the update, you can click the Resume updates button in the Windows Update tab, or follow the steps above to change the setting of automatic updates to Enabled or Not Configured.

▶ Adjust Windows Updates to Manual Installation

1. Repeat steps 1-3 above.
2. In the Configure Automatic Updates window, first click Enabled. Then find the Options section, and click the option under Configure automatic updating.
3. Please change the settings according to the actual situation. It is recommended that you choose 2 - Notify for download and auto install, and click the OK button.

Note✍: When you change to option 2, Windows 10 updates will not be downloaded automatically. However, when a new update for Windows 10 is available, you can still manually install the update from the Windows Update settings interface.

Method 3. Disable Automatic Updates Through the Registry Editor

Registry Editor is an important hierarchical database in the Microsoft Windows operating system and its application programs, which is used to store the setting information of the system and application programs. As with the Local Group Policy Editor, you can permanently disable automatic updates or adjust Windows Update to manual installation via the Registry Editor.

Note✍: Editing the Registry Editor is risky. If there is an editing error, etc., it will cause irreversible damage to the operating system, and cause the system to crash and so on. Therefore, it is recommended that you make a file backup before operation.

▶ Turn off Windows 10 Update Permanently

1. Use Windows + R to open the Run window, type regedit and press Enter.
2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following path:

☛ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

3. Right-click the Windows key, select New in the expanded menu, and then select Key.

4. Name the newly created key as Windows Update and press Enter.
5. Right-click on the Windows Update key, select New in the expanded menu, and then select Key. Name the newly created machine code AU and press Enter.
6. Right-click on the AU key, select New in the expanded menu, and then select DWORD (32- bit) value.

7. Name the newly created key NoAutoUpdate and press Enter.
8. Double-click to open the NoAutoUpdate button, change the value data from 0 to 1, and click the OK button.

Note✍: Value date of 0 enables automatic updates, and 1 disables automatic updates.

▶ Adjust Windows Updates to Manual Installation

1. Repeat steps 1-6 above.
2. Name the newly created key AUOptions and press Enter.
3. Double-click to open the AUOptions key, change the value data from 0 to the following values, and click the OK button:

• 2 - Notify for download and auto install
• 3 - Auto download and notify for install
• 4 - Auto download and schedule the install
• 5 - Allow local admin to choose setting
• 7 - Auto Download, Notify to install, Notify to Restart

It is recommended that you change the value data to 2. If there are other needs, you can also refer to the above to change to other values.

Method 4. Disable Windows 10 Update Service

Windows Update is essentially just a service in the Windows system, which means that you can disable the Windows Update service in the same way that you disable other services. Notably, this method is the best way to permanently disable automatic updates on Windows 10 Home.

1. Use Windows + R to open the Run window, enter services.msc and press Enter.
2. Find the Windows Update service in the list of services window, and double-click to open this service.
3. On the General tab, change the Startup type to Disabled and click the OK button.

Note✍: When you want to re-enable Windows Update, just follow the same steps above, changing the startup type to Automatic.

Method 5. Disable Windows 10 Update Tasks via Task Scheduler

To stop Windows 10 automatic updates, you can try disabling the Windows Update task in the scheduler. Here are the detailed steps.

1. Use Windows + S to open the search bar, type Task Scheduler and press Enter.
2. In the Task Scheduler window, click Task Scheduler Link Library -> Microsoft -> Windows -> WindowsUpdate.
3. Find Scheduled Start in the middle panel, right-click on it, and select the Disable option.

Method 6. Use Specific Tools to Stop Windows 10 Update Automatically

Apart from these methods above, you can also use some specific tools to disable Windows 10 automatic updates. The first choice is the Show or Hide Updates tool officially released by Microsoft. In addition, there are third-party tools such as Windows Update Blocker, Win Update Stop, Win Updates Disabler, etc., which can also play the role of disabling automatic Windows 10 updates.

Regularly Backup Windows 10 to Prevent Automatic Update Issues

Windows updates are the best way to fix system security holes and improve user experience. But if you want to fully control the Windows update time and avoid the compatibility or system damage caused by Windows 10 automatic update, you need to refer to the 6 methods provided in this article to temporarily or permanently disable Windows 10 update.

After that, you can use AOMEI Backupper Standard for regular system backups. This not only protects the system security, but also quickly restores the system to its previous state in the event of a problem with the automatic update, which helps maintain the stability of the Windows 10 version.

It allows you to backup system files, boot file related partitions (EFI system partition and recovery partition, etc.), system disk applications and user profiles to any position. If you have not used it before, please read the following contents for System Backup. In any case, you need to download and install the software first:

1. Run AOMEI Backupper Standard, select the Backup tab on the left panel, and select System Backup on the right panel.

2. In the System Backup window, select the destination path to save the system backup, and then click the Start Backup button.

✽Tips: Before the backup starts, you can click Options, Schedule Backup and Backup Scheme in the lower left corner to make additional settings:
● Options: Allows you to comment current backup tasks and enable email notifications for free. After upgrading to the professional version, you can enable encrypted backups to increase your backup security.
● Schedule Backup: Allows you to open the scheduled backup function for free, and automatically back up the system on a Daily, Weekly, and Monthly basis (Events triggers and USB plug in are available in advanced editions).
● Backup Scheme: Allows you to change the backup method to Incremental Backup and Full Backup for free. After upgrading to Professional, you can also change to Differential Backup and Enable Automatic Backup Cleanup.

Final Words

How to stop Windows 10 update automatically? This article will introduce you to the necessity of disabling automatic updates and provide 6 proven methods to avoid the hassle caused by automatic updates.

However, for the sake of your system security, it is recommended that you regularly use AOMEI Backupper Standard for system backup, which can not only protect the system security, but also quickly restore the system to the previous state after automatic update problems. You can also use this software to perform disk to disk clone for data or OS migration with just a few clicks.