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How to Stop Forced Windows 10 Updates
Forced Windows 10 updates have frustrated users since 2015. Don’t let these updates get the best of you. Use these methods to stop them.
If forced Windows 10 updates feel like a relatively new frustration for you, it’s because they are. Microsoft left you in complete control of your system for years. You decided when updates installed and learned all about what they changed on your PC before they were downloaded. If there were updates you didn’t like, you could switch Windows Update off entirely.
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Forced Windows 10 updates are a problem now because Microsoft changed its policy on updates for the operating system. Windows 10 Home, the version that most people use, has no toggle for stopping updates. Because of that, you can’t stop forced Windows 10 updates without diving deep into the operating system. Additionally, Windows 10 aggressively keeps your laptop, desktop or tablet updated with big upgrades, like the Fall Creators Update and the Anniversary Update. These bigger updates take a long time to download and install.
Read: 52 Windows 10 Tips & Tricks You Need to Master Your PC
Here’s how to stop forced Windows 10 updates and take control of your Windows 10 PC back.
Stop Forced Windows 10 Updates by Switching Your Connection Type
The easiest way to stop forced Windows 10 updates is to switch your internet connection type.
When the company added automatic updates, it also gave Windows 10 an easy way to discern when it is connected to Wi-Fi and when it’s relying on a mobile data network. This prevents your PC from trying to download a huge update when you have it tethered to your smartphone in an airport or at a coffee shop. You can use this trigger as a limited way to avoid updating your system.
Read: How to Browse the Internet on Windows 10
Click the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
Now type Network Status into the search bar. Hit Enter on your keyboard.
Click on the Change Connection Properties link just below the status indicator at the top of your screen.
Now flip the Metered Connection switch in the middle of your screen to On.
Going forward, Windows 10 won’t use this internet connection to download and install any updates.
Because it relies on a connection that’s specific to your network, this method for stopping forced Windows 10 updates isn’t foolproof. You will need to switch every connection you use at home or at work to a Metered Connection. It only takes forgetting once for Windows 10 to reach out to Microsoft’s servers and download an update in the background.
How to Stop Forced Windows 10 Updates Completely
If you want a more heavy-handed way to stop forced Windows 10 Updates, considering killing the process that it relies on. This prevents you from needing to reconfigure every internet connection you use. It also makes it harder for another user to undo your block on updates.
Type Run into the search box in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Hit Enter.
Type services.msc into the field and press Enter on your keyboard.
Find Windows Update in the list of on the right side of this window.
Now right-click on Windows Update with your mouse and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
Click on the Start Up Type drop-down and select Disabled. Now click Ok.
How to Delay Windows 10 Updates
Windows 10 doesn’t have an easy toggle for turning off updates, but it does let you easily delay them. Use this option to stop updates while you’re on a trip or buried in a work project that you don’t want to abandon for an update.
Click on the search area in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
Type Windows Update Settings and hit the Enter key on your keyboard.
Click on the Advanced Options link at the bottom of the window.
Flip the Pause Updates switch to On.
Windows Update will stop looking for software updates on Microsoft’s servers for exactly one week after you turn this on. This gives you a week without distractions. Don’t plan on using this as a long-term solution to stop Windows 10 updates because you can’t use it again for another week after you flipped it the first time.
How to Stop Forced Windows 10 App Updates
Once you’ve stopped forced Windows 10 updates, it’s time to stop automatic app updates. These updates arrive through the Windows Store and provide Mail, Calendar, Groove Music and other built-in apps with new features and fixes regularly. They sometimes break features you depend on too.
Read: 48 Best Windows 10 Apps in 2017
Click on the Start button in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
Now, look for Microsoft Store in the list of apps and games installed on your PC.
Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of the Microsoft Store app.
Now, select Settings from the drop-down list.
Flip the Update Apps Automatically switch to Off.
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