[Windows 10 Tip] Change Windows Update Download and Installation Related Settings

Imagine a situation when your system administrator or a 3rd party software or a malware disabled/restricted Windows Update settings page. In such situations, you won’t be able to change Windows Update download and installation related settings because all available options would be grayed out or completely removed.

Same thing happened with Windows 10 operating system. Microsoft has disabled customization of Windows Update settings in Windows 10 by removing all options related to Windows Update downloading and installation. They did this because they wanted Windows 10 to automatically download and install all updates and hotfixes. Microsoft didn’t want Windows 10 users to modify Windows Update settings, the company wanted to prevent them from disabling Automatic Updates in Windows 10.

In Windows 10, you can’t change settings of automatically download and install Windows updates in its settings page. Now Windows 10 will automatically download and install new updates without your knowledge and you’ll have no idea when and which updates Windows were installed. If you open Windows Update settings page in Windows 10, you get following screen:

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Windows_Update_Settings_Disabled.png

You can see in above screenshot, Windows 10 is showing that available updates will be downloaded and installed automatically.

If you are on a limited bandwidth or slow Internet connection, you may want to change the settings to notify you before downloading and installing the updates so that you can select which updates do you want to install and when.

If you are using Windows 10 and want to be able to change Windows Update settings, this guide will help you.

Today in this article, we are going to tell you methods to remove this restriction and to become able to modify Windows Update download and install related settings. After following these methods you’ll be able to force Windows 10 to notify and ask you before downloading new updates as shown in following screenshot:

Change_Windows_Update_Settings.png

You can see in the above screenshot, Windows Update is showing that you’ll be asked to download available updates which means it’ll not download new updates automatically. You’ll be notified about available updates first. Once you click on Download button, Windows will start downloading available updates otherwise not.

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Proof: Forcing Windows 10 to Always Notify Before Downloading Updates

UPDATE: If you want to disable “Check for Updates” button present on Windows Update page, following tutorial will help you:

[Tip] Disable “Check for Updates” Button in Windows 10

Good news is that we can remove this restriction from Windows Update settings using following 2 methods:

  • METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
  • METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor (regedit.exe)

So without wasting time lets start the tutorial:

METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type gpedit.msc and press Enter. It’ll open Group Policy Editor.

2. Now go to:

Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update

3. In right-side pane, look for “Configure Automatic Updates” option.

Configure_Automatic_Updates_Options.png

4. The option would be set to Not Configured. Double-click on it and set it to Enabled.

Now select any of the given options according to your requirements:

  • 2 – Notify for download and notify for install
  • 3 – Auto download and notify for install
  • 4 – Auto download and schedule the install
  • 5 – Allow local admin to choose setting

Allow_Windows_Update_Settings_Customization.png

PS: Select the last option “5 – Allow local admin to choose setting” to be able to choose options in drop-down box on Windows Update settings page.

That’s it. Apply changes and open Windows Update settings page. Now you’ll be able to change desired settings.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

After applying changes in Group Policy Editor, open Windows Update page in Settings app. Now click on “Check for updates” button to force Windows 10 to apply your changes. After that the new settings will be applied successfully.

METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor (regedit.exe)

If you are using Windows 10 Home edition, you’ll not be able to run gpedit.msc command because this edition doesn’t come with Group Policy Editor.

If you can’t use or don’t want to use Group Policy Editor, you can take help of Registry Editor for the same task. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now type regedit and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

3. Create a new key under Windows key and set its name as WindowsUpdate

4. Create another new key under WindowsUpdate key and set its name as AU

So the final key path would be:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

5. Now select AU key and in right-side pane create a new DWORD AUOptions and set its value to any of following according to your requirements:

  • 2 (To notify for download and notify for install)
  • 3 (To auto download and notify for install)
  • 4 (To auto download and schedule the install)
  • 5 (To allow local admin to choose setting)

Remove_Restrictions_Windows_Update_Settings.png

PS: Set the value of AUOptions to 5 to be able to choose options in drop-down box on Windows Update settings page.

NOTE: If you are using 64-bit edition of Windows, you’ll also need to follow steps 3-5 for following Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

6. Close Registry Editor and open Windows Update settings page. Now you’ll be able to change desired settings.

PS: If you are not familiar with Registry editing tasks, we are also providing ready-made Registry script to do the task automatically. Download following ZIP file, extract it and run .REG file. It’ll ask for confirmation, accept it. Restart your computer and Windows will always notify you before downloading new updates:

IMPORTANT NOTE:

After applying changes in Registry Editor, restart your computer. After reboot, open Windows Update page in Settings app. Now click on “Check for updates” button to force Windows 10 to apply your changes. After that the new settings will be applied successfully.

Further Read:

Fixing Windows 10 Automatic Updates Install Problem

[Windows 10 Tip] Disable Automatic Driver Updates Installation via Windows Update

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. I don’t have GP editor so used the Reg Edit method. Followed all steps rebooted then opened updates page and clicked on check for updates but no change happened. Did it again several times rechecking I did it correctly then did it using the downloadable script with same result. For some reason no matter how many times I try this my updates remain on automatic. Any suggestions?

  2. I have the same issue – I followed the tutorial above carefully (set DWord to 5) but automatic updates remain in place with no option to change it

  3. Hi Vishal,
    Thanks for the info about windows update settings options by registry edit. unfortunately the settings are not enabled even after modifying the registry as above/ merging the ready made script in to registry.
    Windows 10 Pro (x64)
    done this for x64 systems as per your advise and restarted.. but..
    Pl help
    thank you

  4. hey its not happening bro
    i m not getting anything unless “SOME OPTIONS ARE HIDDEN OR MANAGED BY YOUR ORGANIZATION”.
    pls help it updates at any time and installs at staring up or shutting down and its annoying .

  5. I’m an admin on a number of Win2016 Servers and constantly get bombarded with prompts about updates, but doing updates is not part of my job. It’s somebody else’s job. My admin priv’s are for other reasons, and I’m wondering if there’s some way to tell the update service that I’m not an ‘update admin’; i.e.: don’t bother me. It’s very stupid that Microsoft assumes that because I’m an admin I’m supposed to make decisions about updating. The prompts may add up to only 15 seconds of my time per instance, but my job requires a certain amount of focus, and the prompts tend to disturb that focus so the overall loss of productivity is more than 15 seconds per prompt. In any event would appreciate knowing if there’s some way to disable update prompts for specific user accounts?

  6. ^^ Open Settings, go to “System -> Notifications and Actions” and scroll down to bottom. Set the “Windows Update” toggle to OFF.

  7. This also seems to no longer be working, No change to Update notifications or settings.
    On build 1709.

  8. Unfortunately I’m the same as the last lot of comments above. Followed instructions carefull for the Reg Edit method but nothing has changed – except a massive update of about 7GB. Could it be as per above that this is necessary: “The whole thing worked except I had to delete a key in windows update named”disablewindowsupdate” for it to work.”
    Many thanks

  9. I followed all steps in Group Policy Editor. No change in Update Settings occurred on Windows Update page.

    However, there is a red colored information message now “Some settings are hidden or managed by your organization”.

    This is my home PC and I am not in any organization.

  10. Indeed. Unfortunately it doesn’t work with build 1709. Neither registry method nor group policy method.

  11. Well, it doesn’t work with Home Edition, but group policy method perfectly works with Pro Edition. I didn’t check registry method with Pro Edition, but I believe it would work as well.

    So, the problem is with Home Edition, I guess.

  12. Regrettably this did not work for me.
    I’m running Windows 10 Home Edition, version 1607 build 14393.2035 (64 bit) I’ve tried the Reg Edit method twice.
    I used the provided script which did edit the fields, but I found I had to manual change the first AUOptions value to 5, it was originally set to 2.

    However, there was no change to Window Update settings, even after checking for updates.

  13. I have since tried regedit and setting both AUOptions fields to 2, but again it does not change my Windows Update settings.

  14. What a life saver I am no computer guy followed instructions to change registry setting and so far has worked, Spouse desktop computer remember happy wife happy life. Have never seen anything from you published before but you were spot on with this Win 10 update causing the keyboard and mouse to not work. I was able to restore to earlier date then do this change. Thank you so much. Mike

  15. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
    Darn Microsoft! My wifi is slow SLOW! and disconnects constantly. Price of living in the country! Thanks

  16. I have followed your instructions to the letter. Running 64-bit Win10Pro. Under gpedit.msc, Configure Automatic Updates was already Enabled, Option 2. I changed it to Option 5, saved. Open Windows Update Settings, select “Advanced Options”. The ONLY thing that changed is I now have the ability to check “Give me updates for other Microsoft products…”. ALL OPTIONS under “Choose when updates are installed are greyed out. The “default” options are “Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted), 180, and 30.

    Pause Updates is greyed out. The “default” option is off.

    HOW do I regain control to alter these settings? Yes, I have full Admin rights on my PC.

  17. VG – that did not work. I changed it in gpedit.msc to Not Configured. But, when I got to Windows Update Settings, and then select “Advanced Options”, ALL options are as I listed just above, greyed out, with same values.

  18. ^^ It might be possible that you changed some other options as well in Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor. The method mentioned in above tutorial will not cause the problem mentioned by you.

  19. I don’t suppose you or anyone have any suggestions? I only made the one change in the Group Policy Editor you suggested. And I changed it again to Not Selected. Those are the two changes I made.

    Thanks?

    Allen

  20. ^^ Once we revert any option in gpeditor to “Not configured”, it restores the option to default. You can try to restart your computer.

  21. FINALLY!! in gpedit.msc, all were “Not Configured”. BUT, under Windows Update was a folder Windows Update for Business, in which two items WERE configured. I changed all to “Not Configured”, rebooted, and everything FINALLY cleared AFTER I ran “Check for Updates”. THANK YOU VG!!!

  22. I dont know how old this is , but its not working, it only downloads them all without installing, and then you have to press install FOR ALL, you arent able to select what to install manually…

  23. Thank you for this helpful advice. This problem has caused us a lot of difficulties and it good to get a solution.

  24. Yea I had the same problem and it made me feel like there was a cloud of doom. I avoided trying to take the system apart for a few years because I didn’t know if it would be easy or hard and there is only so much time I have and want to spend. Luckily lately I have found out Windows 10 is not too hard to stop Windows and updated, including with Windows 10 Home Edition. All people have to do is change a few things in services.msc and in the registry, and turn off systemapp notification when they are done and get the warning message.

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