How to Disable “Install Windows Updates and Shut Down” Option in Windows Start Menu?

Almost all Windows users use “Windows Updates” to download and install automatic updates for Windows released by Microsoft. These updates fix security issues and improve stability and performance of your computer so its always advised to install all Windows updates regularly.

You can set Windows to automatically install updates or ask you each time whenever a new update is available for download using its Settings.

Many times when Windows downloads updates, it needs to restart the computer to install those updates as the installation might require replacing of few system files which are currently in use by Windows. In such condition, Windows automatically replaces “Shut Down” button present in Start Menu with “Install Updates and Shut Down” button which looks like following screenshot:

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Install_Windows_Updates_and_Shut_Down_Enabled.png

The Windows shield icon near Shut Down button indicates that there are some updates waiting for installation and when you click on the button, it first installs those updates and then shuts down the system which might take lots of time.

It might become a bit annoying if you are in hurry and want to shut down your system immediately without wasting your time in installing those updates and sometimes it gets worst when you accidentally click on the button in hurry.

Today in this tutorial, we are going to tell you a Registry trick to disable this feature and set Windows to not replace your existing power button with its own install updates button in Start Menu.

So without wasting time, lets share the trick:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

3. Create a new key under “Windows” key and set its name to WindowsUpdate

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

5. So the final key path would be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

6. Now select AU key and in right-side pane create a new DWORD NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption and set its value to 1

Disable_Install_Windows_Updates_and_Shut_Down.png

Now Windows will no longer overwrite Shut Down button in Start Menu with Install updates button and you’ll get “Install updates and shut down” option in power options list which appears when you click on the little arrow given near the shut down button as shown in following screenshot:

Install_Windows_Updates_and_Shut_Down_Disabled.png

7. If you want to permanently remove this “Install updates and shut down” option, then create a new DWORD NoAUShutdownOption and set its value to 1

It’ll completely remove “Install updates and shut down” option from Start Menu.

BONUS TIP:

Sometimes Windows automatically restarts your computer to install scheduled updates. You can disable this automatic restart feature by creating a new DWORD NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers and set its value to 1

[Fix] Windows Automatically Restarts Computer to Install New Updates

NOTE: If you don’t want to edit the Registry yourself and want a ready-made Registry script to do the task automatically, download following ZIP file, extract it and run the Disable.REG file. it’ll ask for confirmation, accept it:

Registry Script to Disable “Automatic Restart” and “Install Updates and Shut Down” Option

If you are also facing some problem with Windows Updates, feel free to ask it in your comment…

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

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

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  1. sir I have done this procedure but doesnt have any changes on my shutdown menu still showing updates

  2. Thank you, so much
    I have been trying to fix my slow (15-30 minutes) boot time. Lots of other forums had me checking and changing everything to no avail. There is no event logged as to what is going on during boot after 2 starting entries and 20+ minutes.
    Something about my Windows 7 SP1 update fails and is continually trying to be installed at every shutdown/startup.
    You have fixed it.
    Thank you

  3. Laptop auto updates and shutsdown. I would like to auto update and restart. How can I set my laptop for that?

  4. Actually this process is very good but I have a small issue, every time asking update while shutdown my pc 1 of 4 like this….Can you please suggest me….thanks in advance.

  5. I am trying to look up the answer, but I am confused, and just want to make sure I have this correct, when you put in the value, is it hexadecimal, or just decimal? I read that is important, and I don’t see anything above in the blog that mentions that part of it. Your help is appreciated. Thank you. -Deb

  6. PS-I have Windows 7. 64 bit, but they are probably all 64 bit, don’t know? Thank you again.

  7. i did not understand the steps clearly .please make the steps more easier

  8. Hi

    I cant run start button on my computer without updating it first and I cant connect to to the internet either. Please help me

  9. Hi! I followed all the steps and all the steps work. I just closed the registry and the update and shut down option was still there. Did I do something wrong? I have a toshiba satellite and not really sure which windows update i have. Please help me! Ive tried everything!

  10. There’s an easier way ( if you have windows 7 professional and up ) to set it permanently without editing the registry.
    1. Start Menu > Run > gpedit.msc it opens group policy editor
    2. User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
    3. locate policy = Do not adjust default option to ” Install Updates and Shut Down ” right click > edit > set to enabled.

  11. Thanks a lot for such an informative and useful piece. I was encountering such an annoying problem for last couple of days that was eating up considerable time, but it helped me in doing away the menace.

  12. I’m not bothered by long shutdowns, what gets me is that it says it will restart but it actually shuts down. As we allow remote access for several people that can be a royal pain. Is there a way to just stop it from shutting down?

  13. I have just carried out these procedures yet still, I’m just left with Sleep / Update and Shut Down / Update and Restart – and no other options. I recently went through this procedure as directed by a MS agent and it worked for a couple of weeks. Now auto-update has reeanabled and I’m stuck with it. What else can I do? Thanks for any help you can offer.

  14. Hey I can solve your all problem 100%
    Go to sitting choose one from popup window update and install .click on start then your window is start installation again

  15. I don’t want updates at all! I service a medical instrument and the updates are ruining my program. Something in the updates makes my program stop working after about 17 minutes. I don’t need updates, as the computer only connects to the printer and the office server, not to the outside world. Even if it did connect, it is worth the risk just to have the instrument still work.

    Any ideas how to stop the updates? I select for it to never download updates, but it does anyway.

    Thanks!

  16. i use above but didn’t work. i’m using windows 10 home edition version 1703.
    does changes in registry editor came into action only when we restart the computer or these updates were set with power button before i create those keys. please help!!

  17. I set my power button to shut down (in control panel power options) in windows 10. Now i can shut down without having to update windows. However after numerous “install update” messages that went from “pick a date” to “remind you in an hour”…. one day i could not turn off my laptop with a simple click of the power button. I had to hold it down for a few seconds to kill it and when I woke up the next morning it was installing windows updates. Now, I cant turn off my laptop with the power button. Setting the option in power options does not work.!!

    btw I noticed, in a previous update session a while back, my laptop hotspot, which I used a lot stopped working …at the same time i was pestered for windows updates…I eventually had to install the updates which magically allowed me to use the hotspot again.

    so my point is could microsoft be forcing you to update windows my disabling features you use a lot?

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