There are many reasons to tune off windows update, one of main reason is auto update of device drivers causes some damages to you work or to your PC some time in some cases.
There are 3 ways to stop windows 10 updates
Method 1: Stop The Windows Update Service
As central as it is to the core of Windows 10, Windows Update is actually just another Windows process so it can be stopped with these simple steps:
- Open the Run command (Win + R), in it type: services.msc and press enter
- From the Services list which appears find the Windows Update service and open it In ‘Startup Type’ (under the ‘General’ tab) change it to ‘Disabled’ Restart
- To re-enable Windows Update simply repeat same steps, but change the Startup Type to ‘Automatic’
Method 2: Setup A Metered Connection
Windows 10 offers users on metered connections a compromise: to save bandwidth Microsoft confirms the operating system will only automatically download and install updates it classifies as ‘Priority’.
While Microsoft doesn’t reveal its method of classification, this does cut down more frivolous updates which typically include new drivers and software features - both of which have already caused stability problems.
- Open the Settings app (Win + I)
- Open the ‘Network & Internet’ section
- Open ‘Wi-Fi’ and click ‘Advanced Options’
- Toggle ‘Set as metered connection’ to ‘On’
Method 3: Group Policy Editor
This is a halfway house: the group policy editor will notify you about new updates without automatically installing them (how previous generations of Windows always worked) - though again security updates will still install automatically.
Note: Windows 10 Home users have to sit this one out, it is only for Windows 10 Education, Pro and Enterprise editions.
- Open the Run command (Win + R), in it type: gpedit.msc and press enter
- Navigate to: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update
- Open this and change the Configure Automatic Updates setting to ‘2 - Notify for download and notify for install’
- Open the Settings app (Win + I) and navigate to -> Update and Security -> Windows Updates. Click ‘Check for updates’ which applies the new configuration setting
- Restart
Alternatively for Windows 10 users without group policy access:
- Open the Run command (Win + R), in it type: regedit and press enter
- Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
- In there create a ‘32-bit DWORD’ value called ‘AuOptions’ and under ‘Value Data’ type 2 and click ‘OK’
- Open the Settings app (Win + I) and navigate to -> Update and Security -> Windows Updates. Click ‘Check for updates’ which applies the new configuration setting
- Restart
