4 Ways for How to Stop Windows 10 Update 2021  

4 Ways for How to Stop Windows 10 Update 2021

Updated on Nov 11, 2023 | by Jeremy

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It's frustrating when Windows 10 repeatedly asks you to update, only to have the updates not meet your expectations. Fortunately, you can disable the automatic updates and update manually when needed. Before we dive into the 4 ways to stop Windows 10 updates, it's a good idea to back up your files using a tool like QILING Disk Master to ensure your data is safe. With that done, you can proceed to disable the automatic updates and take control of your Windows 10 updates.

It's frustrating when you're busy and a pop-up interrupts you to update Windows 10, especially when it reminds you of the update before shutting down the computer, wasting your time. If you're tired of this, check out the 4 ways below to learn how to stop Windows 10 update permanently or automatically.

Part 1. How to Disable Windows 10 Update Service

To stop Windows 10 updates, you can simply disable the Windows 10 Update service, which is a straightforward method that doesn't require extensive technical knowledge.

1. To open the Run dialog box, press the Windows key at the bottom left and the R key at the same time. This will open a new window that allows you to quickly access various system tools and utilities.

2. To permanently stop Windows 10 updates, open the Services window by typing "services.msc" in the search box and pressing Enter. This will open the Services console where you can find the "wuauserv" service, which is responsible for Windows Update.

3. Scroll down and find Windows Update. Double-click on it.

4. To disable a startup program, go to the General tab, select "Disabled" in the Startup column drop-down list, apply the change, and confirm it.

how to stop windows 10 update

If you're looking for a straightforward way to stop Windows 10 updates, there are several methods you can try. Besides the clear way to halt updates, other workarounds are available. For more details, check out the information below.

Part 2. Stop Windows 10 Update by Changing Settings of the Group Policy Editor

1. To enable the search box on Windows, press the Windows key and the R key simultaneously. This will open the Run dialog box, where you can type in the search query and press Enter to execute the search.

2. Type in gpedit.msc and click OK.

3. To access the Windows Update settings, go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.

4. To disable automatic updates, open the Windows Update settings, double-click on "Configure Automatic Updates", and in the left panel, select "Disable". Then, apply the changes and click "OK" to confirm.

This method only works on Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise, and Education versions, and not on the Home Edition. On these versions, you can follow the steps to create a new local user account, then sign out of your current account and sign in with the new account to access the Windows Store. This way, you can install the Windows Store app and use it without any issues.

Part 3. Stop Windows 10 Update by Set up Network Connection

Since the Windows 10 update package is quite large, it's best to update with a stable internet connection, ideally via WiFi. To avoid automatic updates when you're not ready, you can set up your network connection to pause Windows updates. This can help prevent any interruptions during the update process.

1. To access the Settings, click the Windows button at the bottom left panel and click Settings (the gear icon on the left panel).

2. Click the Network & Internet.

3. Click WLAN in the left panel and select the name of the WiFi network you want to connect to.

4. Switch the option Set as metered connection to ON.

stop windows 10 updates forever

Part 4. How to Use Registry to Change Windows 10 Updates

To stop Windows 10 update, you can try the above mentioned 3 ways, or edit the registry, but be aware that editing the registry is risky and not recommended if you have no experience with it. It's suggested to backup the system drive first using a tool like QILING Disk Master, in case something unexpected happens and you need to restore it with the backup.

Your Effective Backup Software for Windows

Step 1. Download and install the software on your computer.

Step 2. To back up your Windows 10 system, launch the system backup software, click "System Backup", and you can also back up important files or folders, as well as other hard drives.

Step 3. To back up your Windows 10 system, customize the location where you want to save the backup file or schedule the backup, then click "Proceed" to initiate the backup process.

Here are the steps for how to edit Registry to stop Windows 10 update automatically.

1. To access the Windows registry, press the Windows and R keys simultaneously, then type "regedit" and click OK. Navigate to the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows, and locate the folder named Windows.

2. To create a new key in the Windows Registry, right-click on the folder and select New > Key. Name the new key "WindowsUpdate" and press Enter.

3. Right-click on the newly created key, then select New > Key. Name the new key "AU" and press Enter.

4. In the place where the newest key is, right-click and select New > DWORD(32-bit) Value. In the Edit DWORD Value window, type "0" in the Value data field and click OK.

5. To change the notification settings, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ AUOptions and press Enter. Then, click to open the new key and change its value to 2, which will enable notifications for downloads and installations.

6. Click Ok and close the Registry editing panel.

To be honest, it's a torturous process, right? lol

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