There is no greater Windows 10 controversy than its policy of forced updates. While great in theory, for many users the reality of updates which download and install automatically has been horribly different and the question on many users lips is:
How do you stop them?
Now we have an answer: with three potential options. Each has its own
pros and cons, so read on to find out which is most suitable for you.
Limitations - For Windows 10 Home users there is no way to stop
security updates. These are not delivered using the Windows Update
Service, but I would not recommend stopping them in any case. The
methods below are to give you power over feature and driver updates,
less essential areas where I believe users should have control.
Option 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 these four steps, but change the Startup Type to ‘Automatic’
Option 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’
Note: If your PC uses an Ethernet cable to connect to the
Internet the Metered Connection option will be disabled as it works with
Wi-Fi connections only.
Option 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
Interestingly Microsoft also provides a fourth, slightly different option that is worth considering…
Option 4: The Show/Hide Tool
Strangely the so-called
‘Show/Hide Tool’ is not part of Windows 10
nor can it be found through Windows Update. Instead it can be downloaded
from
HERE.
Unlike the three options above, the Show/Hide Tool is not proactive
so it doesn’t stop any automatic updates from downloading and
installing. Instead it allows you to
‘Hide’ an update from Windows 10 so
if you uninstall it Windows Update will not try to reinstall it
automatically.
This is very useful if a particular update is causing your system
problems. Then again the Show/Hide Tool doesn’t work with Priority
Updates.
Thank you for being part of the Softek family!
Thanks to Mr. Titus Mukisa
E-mail: mukisatitus@gmail.com
Tel: +256782476780
+256702401917 (WhatsApp)
Softek Systems™
Enjoy!
