[Tip] How to Defer or Pause Windows Updates Download in Windows 10

Automatic updates download and installation is a major issue in Windows 10. Windows Update in Windows 10 doesn’t ask users before downloading and installing available updates which can waste a lot of Internet bandwidth if the user is using a limited Internet connection. Also sometimes a user may want to use older version of a hardware driver in his Windows 10 device if the new driver is not compatible or giving problems to the user but automatic updates in Windows 10 will reinstall the latest driver automatically without asking the user.

To solve this automatic updates download issue in Windows 10, we posted an exclusive detailed tutorial at following link:

Fixing Windows 10 Automatic Updates Installation Problem

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Forcing Windows 10 to Always Notify Before Downloading Updates

Now Microsoft has started listening Windows 10 users complaints and feedback and that’s why they have added new options to Windows Update settings to defer/delay and pause automatic updates download. These new options are available in newer Windows 10 versions.

Now you can defer updates up to 365 days i.e. a year and completely pause updates download for 35 days.

If you also want to use these features in Windows 10, following steps will help you:

STEP 1: Opening Windows Update Settings Page

Open Settings from Start Menu or press WIN+I keys together to directly launch Settings app.

Now go to Update & security -> Windows Update page and click on “Advanced Options” link given at the bottom in right-side pane.

Windows_Update_Advanced_Options_Windows_10.png

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It’ll open Windows Update advanced options page.

PS: Alternatively, You can also directly launch the advanced options page of Windows Update settings using “ms-settings:windowsupdate-options” command in RUN dialog box as mentioned here.

STEP 2: Defer or Delay Windows Updates Download

On Advanced Options page, under “Choose when updates are installed” section, you’ll find following 3 options:

  • Choose the branch readiness level to determine when feature updates are installed
  • A feature update includes new capabilities and improvements
  • A quality update includes security improvements

Defer_Updates_Download_Windows_10.png

UPDATE: In newer Windows 10 versions, the option to defer updates has been removed from Settings app. You can still use other methods to defer updates as mentioned in following tutorial:

[Tip] How to Defer Feature and Quality Updates in Windows 10

The first option “Choose the branch readiness level to determine when feature updates are installed” is set to “Current Branch” by default which means new updates will be downloaded and installed on your computer as soon as they are released to public by Microsoft. If you want to delay updates download, change its value to “Current Branch for Business” using drop-down box which means the new updates will be downloaded on your computer when the updates are released for enterprises which takes some time obviously.

Second option “A feature update includes new capabilities and improvements” can be used to defer/delay feature updates which can be considered as service packs for Windows 10. Feature updates are huge in size and adds new features, functionality and fixes bugs, issues in Windows 10. November Update, Anniversary Update, Creators Update all of these are actually feature updates. So if you don’t want your device to upgrade to a new version of Windows 10 as soon as its released by Microsoft, you can set this option to up to 365 days using drop-down box.

The third option “A quality update includes security improvements” option can be used to defer security, stability and performance related updates for up to 30 days.

Delayed_Updates_Download_Windows_10.png

STEP 3: Pause Windows Updates Download

Apart from deferring Windows updates download, you can also pause updates download in your Windows 10 device.

On Advanced Options page, under “Pause Updates” section, you’ll find an option to turn on/off pause updates feature. You can temporarily pause automatic updates download on your Windows 10 device for up to 35 days. Just set the toggle button to ON to pause updates.

Pause_Updates_Download_Windows_10.png

Remember once you pause updates download, after completion of 35 days or after manually resuming the updates, Windows 10 will automatically search for all available updates and if it finds new updates, it’ll download and install them automatically. After that only you’ll be able to pause updates again in your computer.

UPDATE: You may find that the days limit to pause automatic updates has been reduced to 7 days only in some machines as mentioned in following article:

Pause Updates Option Changed from 35 Days to 7 Days in Windows 10

You can fix this issue and change days limit to any desired number with the help of following tutorial:

[Windows 10 Tip] Change Maximum Days Limit to Pause Windows Updates Installation

Also Check:

[Windows 10 Tip] Show Customized Text and Website Link on Windows Update Page

Published in: 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. The “Windows Update MiniTool 20.12.2016” also gives options to select and hide particular updates.

  2. I have the latest Creators Update but my Advanced Option page only has the old Choose How Updates Are Delivered which only gives the option to download from more than one place. Last update installed was yesterday, Cumulative update for version 1703 – KB4016240 but it did not include this new interface. I’really like to have these new choices. How do I get them? Or do I just have to wait for future updates. Thanks

  3. ^^ Open the page directly using ms-settings:windowsupdate-options command in RUN dialog box.

  4. Did that already and just tried it again. No change, still no new interface.

  5. ^^ Share a screenshot of the page to better understand your issue. Also tell me what version and build number you get in winver box.

  6. The options to defer and pause updates are ONLY for Windows 10 Pro & Enterprise, it’s not available for Home users

  7. They have already taken out some of the options. How do I block the update servers in my router on via dns?

  8. ^^ If you want to apply custom DNS settings in your router, you’ll need to open its homepage and customize the settings.

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