How to Turn Off Automatic Updates on Windows 10 Step by Step

Turning off automatic updates in Windows 10 can save you from unexpected restarts and slowdowns when you’re in the middle of something important. Automatic updates often kick in at the worst times, and if you want to take control and stop Windows 10 from updating itself without your say-so, this guide will show you how to disable those updates for good.

How Do I Permanently Disable Windows Update in Windows 10

1. Disable Windows Update via Services

This is one of the most reliable methods.

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter
• Scroll down and double-click Windows Update
• In the new window, set Startup type to Disabled
• Click Stop, then Apply → OK

This will make Windows stop auto updates completely until you manually re-enable the service.

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2. Use Group Policy Editor (Windows 10 Pro)

If you’re using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, follow these steps:

• Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter
• Go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates
• Double-click Configure Automatic Updates
• Select Disabled or choose Notify for download and auto install
• Apply and OK

This gives you more control over when and how updates are applied.

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3. Set a Metered Connection

Perfect for Home edition users:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi
• Click your connected network and toggle Set as metered connection ON

Windows treats metered connections with limited data usage, so it won’t auto-download updates.

For more control, you can also schedule update downloads in Windows 10 instead of disabling them outright.

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4. Pause Updates Temporarily

If you only need a break from updates:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
• Click Pause updates for 7 days
• For more time, click Advanced options and choose a date

This doesn’t disable Windows Update permanently but gives temporary relief.

5. Use a dedicated Windows 10 update disabler tool

You can install Windows 10 Update Disabler and block the automatic installation of updates. This tool runs in the background and doesn’t affect your system’s performance.

The software evaluates the status of Windows Update using an undocumented system to prevent Windows from overwriting it before it disables updates. The tool also terminates all scheduled Windows Update tasks.

FAQs

Wrap up

That’s all there’s on how to disable automatic updates in Windows 10. And by now, you would have it turned off. Though, we recommend manually installing the update every once in a while to get the latest security patches.

Also, find out how to improve the performance of your Windows 10 PC.

If you’ve used other workarounds to disable automatic Windows updates, list the steps to follow in the comments section below.