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How to disable automatic updates of Windows 10? Step by step guide

How to disable automatic updates of Windows 10? Step by step guide

Since the launch of Windows XP, Microsoft operating systems tend to be constantly updated once we turn off the computer. This is a way to keep it up to date and free of vulnerabilities that may spoil the user experience in the future or compromise the security of saved data. They are usually performed when the equipment is turned off , but in many cases these can be done while it is being used, causing it to be restarted so that they can be applied.

Regardless when they occur, there are users for whom these updates are extremely annoying since they can take a long time to install and consume resources from the device and the entire network to which it is connected. Sometimes they can slow down the computer as well as the speed of the internet, which is not very pleasant to say. Although it should be noted that these updates are necessary and very useful , as are the updates of an Android operating system or any other.

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If you are one of those who are not at ease with the Windows 10 updates , in this tutorial we will teach you perfectly how to remove them completely using several methods that can suppress them. This will no longer be done unless you decide to re-enable them in the future.

Steps to disable the installation of automatic updates in Windows 10

There are several very simple methods to apply that will help you in the task of deactivating these constant updates made by the Windows 10 operating system. They are very simple to do and will not take you more than a few minutes. The most common are changing the system settings , using a script or simply disabling them. Next we explain each one of them:

Disable the Windows Update Update Service

Updates are really a service that Windows offers its customers, a way to keep their operating systems 100% functional . Therefore, it is something optional and perfectly dispensable by the user. In simple steps you can delete this service by following the steps that we explain below:

  • On the keyboard press the combination “ Menu (Windows logo key) + R which will open a small window in the lower left corner of your screen, also known as” Run “.
  • Once Once the previous window is invoked, proceed to type “ services.msc ” and select “ Accept ” or press enter.

Ejecutar services.msc

  • This will open a window with an extensive list of services available with the Windows 10 operating system, among which you must search for “ Windows Updates ” and select it with a double click.

Servicios Windows 10

  • This will open a small window in the central part of the interface with a series of configurable aspects of automatic updates. You must ensure that you are on the “ General ” tab and select the “ Disabled ” option in “ Startup ”.

Seleccionar Windows update

  • Then you select “ Apply ” and then “ Accept ”. With this the process will be finished and the automatic updates of Windows 10 will no longer bother you.

Desactivar Windows Update

Among the options that will appear in “ Startup Type ” is “ Manual ” that allows you to perform updates manually. This is also a valid alternative since updates will be made only when you indicate it and the system will only be notified when there is a new one.

Change the group policy editor settings

Another way to disable automatic updates is through the group policy editor. This method is as simple as the previous one, but you can only apply it in the Professional, Education or Enterprise versions, if you have the Home version you will not be able to do it. So before trying, make sure you have one of the versions mentioned above. What you should do is the following:

  • Performs the key combination Menu + R and type in the box execute the command « gpedit.msc » and click on “ Accept ” or press enter.

Ejecutar gpedit.msc

  • In the window that will open, go to Computer Settings> Administrative Templates> Windows Components> Windows Update .

deshabilitar actualizaciones Windows 10

  • Once here, select “ Automatic update settings ” and check the option “ Disabled ”, then select “ Apply > ”And then“ Accept ”. This way the updates will not be carried out automatically.

Deshabilitar configuracion de actualizaciones windows 10

If in the future you want to make updates again, you simply have to follow these steps again, but in this case check the option enabled, and the team will download them again.

Switch to medium use connection

This is a method that you can only apply if your computer is connected to a WiFi network , if you use an Ethernet connection, this method will not work for you. To do this you simply have to perform the following steps:

  • Click the start button in the lower left corner of your screen and open the application “ Settings ”.
  • Once the previous action is executed, position yourself in the“ Network and Internet ”section and once in it, select“ WiFi ”and enter“ Advanced settings «.

Configuracion de red Wi Fi en Windows 10

  • Finally, check the option “ Set as medium use connection ” click “ Accept ” and voila.
Establecer como conexión de uso medio

This last option is not highly recommended since you are logically limiting your internet connection, which not only means that certain data is stopped downloading, but also the internet connection will be reduced. However, s is still a valid alternative to disable automatic Windows 10 updates .

Change the form of Windows 10 updates using the record

This method is a bit more dangerous and this requires some general computer skills. We explain below so you can apply it and disable automatic updates. What you have to do is:

  • Open the “ Run ” box by pressing Menu + R and type the command « regedit «.
  • Once in the registry follow the path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Policies Microsoft Windows

  • When locating the Windows folder, right click, put the cursor on “ New ”And select“ Password ”.
  • Name the new password“ Windows Update ”.
  • Position yourself in the newly created password and create a new password that you will call “ AU ”.
  • In the new key, right click and select “ New ” and then “ DWORD value (32BITS) «, which will create a new key of that value that you must name“ AUOption ”.
  • Double click on this new key and changes its value to 2 . Close the registry editor and the work will be finished.

This will not completely disable updates, but will no longer be automatic and from now on every time there is one you will be asked for permission to install it. It should be noted that this method has its risks and any error can cause irreparable damage that will make you reinstall the operating system from 0. Therefore, it is advisable to make a backup with one of the many software that exists for it, so Your information is backed up.

Using a script

Finally, there is the option to disable updates using a script , which may be the easiest method of all. To do this you simply follow these steps:

  • Open the blog of notes and write the following code:

sc config wuauserv start = disable
sc config bits start = disable
sc config DcomLaunch start = disable
net start wuauserv
net stop wuauserv
net start bits
net stop bits
net stop DcomLaunch

  • Save the text document and change its extension from “ .TXT ” to “ .BAT ”.

Desactivar update w10 via srcript

  • Run the script as administrator and voila (right click on the file and Run as Administrator), the automatic update service will be disabled.

List of programs to disable and block Windows 10 updates

Another way to stop Windows 10 updates is by installing software that is responsible for suppressing them . These programs are a way to automate the processes explained above, so you can apply them more easily to enable or disable updates.

StopUpdates10

StopUpdates10

This is a very easy to use software that will allow you to stop the automatic updates of Windows 10 Home, which are the most difficult to deactivate. The program has a very simple interface to use that will allow you to enable and disable this Microsoft service in a few clicks . In the same way, you can also make the updates manual, so that the system alerts you when new ones are available and you decide if you want to download them or not.

This is a free software that consumes very few resources. In addition, you can uninstall it whenever you want with just a couple of clicks.

Windows 10 Updater Disabler

Windows 10 Updater Disabler

This is another application that will allow you to enable and disable Windows 10 updates in a very simple way. Its download is free and its interface is very easy to understand. It is ideal for the Home version, since this is the one that causes the most problems when disabling automatic updates.

Never10

Never10

This is a program that automatically performs the process that we explained above to change the registry editor. It is a process that can be done manually but that will be easier for you to do with this software . To do this you simply download it, run it and voila, no program will be installed as such, only the necessary changes will be made to stop Windows Update updates.

How to uninstall updates that have already been applied and return to the previous version?

What happens when the updates have already been installed? If these are causing problems in the operation of the entire operating system. You just have to uninstall them . This is very easy to do and for this you simply must make use of the Windows 10 control panel . What you have to do is follow the steps that we explain below.

  • Click the start button in the lower left corner of the screen and follow the path: Settings> Update and security> Windows Update> Advanced options> View update history> Uninstall updates .

desinstalar actualizaciones en windows 10

  • Once in this section, you will see all the updates installed to date in question. What you have to do is select the ones that give you problems and click on the option “ Uninstall ” in this way the system will remove them and it will be as if they were never installed.

It should be noted that if you have automatic system updates active, this whole process will be sterile since all the add-ons you just removed will be reinstalled. Therefore, it is necessary to deactivate Windows Update with any of the methods explained above to avoid this problem.

Another important thing to know is that this way only certain updates will be uninstalled, but not the drivers. To uninstall the latter you simply do the following:

  • You must click on the start button in the lower left corner of the interface and follow the path: Settings> System> Applications and features .

desinstalar drivers w10

  • From there you will see all the drivers installed to date and you can remove them all by selecting them and executing the option “ Uninstall ”.

Why are Windows 10 updates so important?

While they may be quite annoying, Windows 10 updates are quite important and you shouldn’t disable them . They are a necessity for the system, since they keep several of its most important features perfectly functional, especially with regard to add-ons and drivers.

The most important of all the reasons why you should not disable them is for the security of the computer and your data in general. Every time new vulnerabilities arise that can be exploited by malicious users to access both your personal information, such as your address, and your bank details . Windows Updates are responsible for identifying these vulnerabilities and modifying the system to reduce the likelihood of being affected because they keep your Firewall up to date to protect you from all kinds of possible attacks.

On the other hand, there is the fact that many of the programs you have installed to ensure a better functioning of your operating system need to be updated. In case of not doing so, its functions can be compromised and make the computer run slower despite having good performance.

Without a doubt, updates are necessary and it is best to keep them active . In case you don’t want to do it, we’ve already taught you multiple ways to do it in this tutorial so you can disable them and enable them at your leisure in a few minutes.