Fixing Windows 10 Automatic Updates Installation Problem

Windows Update” is an essential program and part of Windows operating system. It regularly checks Microsoft servers for available updates, hotfixes and new hardware drivers. If it finds any new updates available, it notifies you about the updates and lets you download and install them in your computer system.

Installing these updates in Windows is very important as it improves Windows performance, reliability and stability. It also fixes several security issues if found in Windows operating system.

In previous Windows versions such as Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1, Microsoft always allowed Windows users to customize Windows Update settings. Users were able to choose whether Windows should automatically download and install the updates or should it notify first about the updates available. It helped users in deciding whether he wanted to install particular update or not. It also helped in saving valuable Internet connection bandwidth if the user was on a limited Internet connection.

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But in the latest Windows 10 operating system, Microsoft has removed the ability to disable or change Windows Update download behavior. In Windows 10, all updates are automatically downloaded and installed without notifying the user. Although its not a problem as Windows updates are helpful for the OS but sometimes a faulty device driver might get installed via Windows Update which may cause your computer not bootable. Sometimes a few Windows updates may also cause system problems. So many Windows users want to disable Windows updates.

Although Microsoft has disabled Windows Update customization options in Windows 10, there are a few ways present to block or manually download Windows updates in Windows 10.

If you are using Windows 10 and want to change Windows Update download behavior or want to permanently disable or block Windows Update, following methods will definitely help you.

We are listing all possible methods and you can try any of the desired method according to your requirements. All these methods will work in all Windows 10 editions such as Windows 10 Home, Pro, etc:

  • METHOD 1: Customize Windows Update Using Advanced Options Page
  • METHOD 2: Hide Updates Using Official Troubleshooter Tool from Microsoft
  • METHOD 3: Set Your Internet Connection as Metered Connection
  • METHOD 4: Change Windows Update Settings Using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
  • METHOD 5: Change Windows Update Settings Using Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
  • METHOD 6: Disable Windows Update Using Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
  • METHOD 7: Disable Windows Update Service

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

Let’s start the tutorial:

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METHOD 1: Customize Windows Update Using Advanced Options Page

This is the most basic method to customize Windows Update settings in Windows 10 and prevent it from downloading at least some updates automatically and also prevent it from automatically restarting the computer.

This method will not disable or block Windows Update. If you want a simple and basic method, this is for you!

1. Open Settings app from Start Menu. Alternatively, you can press WIN+I keys together to open Settings directly.

2. Now click on “Update and security” item present in Settings app.

3. Once you open Windows Update section, click on Advanced options link.

Windows_10_Update_Advanced_Options.png

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.

4. Now uncheck “Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows” option. It’ll block automatic download of a few updates which are related to various Microsoft products.

5. Now enable “Defer feature updates” option. When this option is enabled, new Windows updates will not be downloaded and installed for several days or months. But security updates will be downloaded immediately. Enabling this option will ensure you that all Windows updates will receive enough testing before they get installed in your computer.

Customize_Windows_10_Update_Settings.png

UPDATE: In newer Windows 10 versions, more options have been added to defer/delay updates as well as to pause updates download. Check out following article for more details:

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

6. Now click on “Choose how updates are delivered” link and set the slider to Off given under “Updates from more than one place“. It’ll help you in saving your Internet connection bandwidth as this feature works quite similar to P2P or torrents.

Customize_Windows_10_Update_Delivery_Settings.png

UPDATE: In newer Windows 10 builds, you can also limit Internet connection bandwidth used by Windows Update:

Windows_Update_Bandwidth_Usage_Limit_Windows_10.png

[Windows 10 Tip] Restrict Windows Update from Using Internet Connection Bandwidth

UPDATE: In newer Windows 10 builds, you can also adjust “Active Hours” by clicking on “Change active hours” link given on Windows Update page. There you can select the time when Windows should not restart your computer to install updates.

Customize_Windows_10_Update_Active_Hours.png

METHOD 2: Hide Updates Using Official Troubleshooter Tool from Microsoft

Microsoft has also released an official Windows Update troubleshooter tool for Windows 10 which tries to bring the good ol’ show or hide Windows updates option back in Windows 10.

First download the tool from following link:

Download Windows 10 Updates Troubleshooter Tool from Microsoft

Run the tool and it’ll provide you an option to show or hide Windows updates.

Click on “Hide updates” option and you’ll be able to hide desired update given in the list.

Windows_10_Update_Troubleshooter_Tool.png

The tool might come handy if you want to disable unwanted driver updates or unnecessary Windows features or programs.

Related: [Tip] Use Windows Update Troubleshooter to Fix All Problems

METHOD 3: Set Your Internet Connection as Metered Connection

There is another workaround to prevent Windows from automatically download and install updates.

You just need to set your Internet connection as Metered connection and Windows will not download new updates on a metered connection.

To set your Internet connection as Metered, follow these simple steps:

1. Open Settings app from Start Menu and go to “Network & Internet“.

2. Now select your Internet connection type from left-side pane and then click on Internet Connection name in right-side pane.

Customize_Internet_Connection_Advanced_Options_Windows_10.png

3. Now set the slider to On present under “Metered Connection“.

Set_Metered_Internet_Connection_Windows_10.png

That’s it. Now Windows will not automatically download or install new updates in your computer as far as you keep your Internet connection as Metered.

Related: [Tip] Force Windows 10 to Use Ethernet Connection as Metered

METHOD 4 / 5: Change Windows Update Settings Using Group Policy or Registry

Now lets talk about some advanced methods!

Although Microsoft has removed built-in options to change Windows Update download behavior in Windows 10 but the good ol’ Group Policy and Registry tweaks to customize Windows Update settings still work in Windows 10.

If you remember, we posted an exclusive tutorial to change Windows Update settings in Windows 10 which have been removed by Microsoft. Check out following link:

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

You can use the Group Policy Editor method or Registry Editor method mentioned in the above topic to change Windows Update settings in Windows 10. You can set it to notify before download and install Windows updates or automatic download but notify before install updates or any other action as shown in following screenshot:

Change_Windows_Update_Settings.png

BUT there is a small glitch. Since Microsoft has completely replaced old Windows Update program with a new modern app in Windows 10, the Group Policy or Registry tweak to change Windows Update settings don’t work immediately. Even after restarting your computer or executing gpupdate /force command, the changes are not applied in Windows Update window.

Then how to force Windows 10 to apply our Group Policy or Registry changes? Its actually very simple! You just need to click on “Check for updates” button in Windows Update.

As soon as you click on the button, Windows will immediately apply the changes.

So you need to let Windows Update check for new updates at least once after you make changes in Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor.

Proof: Forcing Windows 10 to Always Notify Before Downloading Updates

Related:

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

METHOD 6: Disable Windows Update Using Registry Editor (regedit.exe)

If you want to completely disable or block Windows Update, you can use following Registry tweak:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start search box 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 NoAutoUpdate and set its value to 1

Disable_Automatic_Windows_10_Update.png

6. Close Registry Editor, open Windows Update and click on “Check for updates” button to force apply changes as mentioned in previous method.

If you decide to enable Windows Update again in future, simply delete the DWORD NoAutoUpdate from Registry.

METHOD 7: Disable Windows Update Service

At last you can disable “Windows Update” service completely in Windows 10 which will 100% block Windows 10 from downloading and installing updates in your computer.

1. Press Win+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Type services.msc in the textbox and press Enter. It’ll open Services Manager.

2. Scroll down to bottom and you’ll see a service “Windows Update” in the list.

Disable_Windows_10_Update_Service.png

3. Double-click on the service and change its Startup type to Disabled.

That’s it. Now try to check for new updates in Windows Update and you’ll see error message 0x80070422: there were some problems installing updates.

That’s it. You can use any of the above mentioned methods to change Windows Update download behavior or to block Windows Update in Windows 10. Although we don’t recommend disabling or blocking Windows Update as the updates are required to keep Windows running fine and secure.

Also Check:

How to Prevent or Skip Feature Update Installation in Windows 10

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. The option for Method 1 no longer seems to be present on Windows 10 as of at least 8/16/16. Whatever update went out last night restarted my computer without my permission overnight. The “Advanced options” section in Method 1 does not exist any more.

  2. This article needs to be thoroughly reviewed and updated to cover Windows 10 v1607. As it stands, a number of the instructions do not apply. Also, I would suggest carefully testing any solutions you feel are still relevant, as they may not actually work even if, say the Group Policy values, appear to exist and have been set properly.

  3. Does not work anymore, my PC just shutdown on me while I was taking notes on google keep from a telephone call and I had to wait 12 minutes for the update to finish before I was able to login again. This is the absolute worst thing I’ve seen in windows since windows 95. I just spent 3000$ on a gaming PC and deeply regret not buying console instead, windows 10 is a nightmare.

  4. Great instructions. I’ve noticed several menu choice changes with version 1607 and with the various methods you’ve provided, it’s not clear which ones might apply only to 1511 or earlier versions.

    Thanks.

  5. This is useful, except it does Not allow one to choose when to install and reboot. I do not wish to block the updates, I wish to choose when the computer updates so it doesn’t screw up my ongoing work. I got up to go do something and came back and it had rebooted losing things important to Me, though maybe not to King Microsoft.

    Is there ANY way to choose when it reboots?

  6. “All these methods will work in all Windows 10 editions such as Windows 10 Home, Pro, etc:”

    Well, that’s not true. Method 4 (the best one) does not work in Windows 10 Home.

  7. Thanks! The best article i have found. It seems, that
    “Windows 10 Updates Troubleshooter Tool from Microsoft” “Hide updates”
    fixed my problem with KB4016871.
    Thanks

  8. Any idea why all my Window 10 version upgrades fail and continue to download again over and over, very annoying. I had Windows 7 Home Premium and did the free upgrade to Windows 10, i get the security updates without any issues it’s just the upgrades to newer version. I currently selected defer hoping it will stop the annoying downloads that takes forever, i’m still stuck on version 1511 🙂

  9. You have a direct link for “Download Windows 10 Updates Troubleshooter Tool from Microsoft” — but that is for an OLD VERSION!!!

    You should update that link to point to where the latest version can be found, here…

    support.microsoft.com/en-ie/help/4027322/windows-update-troubleshooter

  10. I have had nothing but problems ever since I upgraded to Windows 10. For some reason, I keep getting a popup message noting that they want to install latest update but when I click on “ok”, it comes back and says my storage space needs to be free of some files. When I checked what was on there, I didn’t see much but I deleted the some of the ones that they note you can. I only use my computer for emails, reading, etc so there really shouldn’t be a problem. After I delete the files noted, I restart the computer and then I still get the same message!! What’s going on? I’m afraid to do any of the things you ask you to in order to fix the problem as with all the problems windows 10 has now, am afraid that it will get worse by my doing that. The bottom line is that I do not trust this version. In all the years that I’ve had computers, I have never received a message saying the storage space is almost full.

  11. I have been waiting for a week for window 10 to get updated, this erro message that I keep getting, about giving it to someone, I do not know what you are talking about, Window 10 have been nothing but trouble from the time you put this on my computer, I still window 7 key can I go back to seven? window 10 will not update I have been trying to update for a week, I have not cut my computer off trying to let them work in the back ground, and cannot get any help from your company.

  12. Can anybody help me, 0xc000012f appears in my pc using windows 8.1 Now I cant access microsoft. Any reply is much appreciated.

  13. ^^ Please provide more details about your problem. When do you receive the error message and what’s the exact error message?

  14. Disabling the Windows Update service is a start, if you need to stop the update process completely. We do: our computers control public information screens which run about 20 hours a day and must not be interrupted by pop-ups and uncontrolled reboots and “welcome” screens.

    But there are deeper levels which MS seem to be constantly developing.
    There’s an UpdateOrchestrator (UO) service which keeps Windows Update (WU) running if it’s stopped.
    Task Scheduler shows folders for UO & WU. You can disable these tasks, but they will come on again some time later.
    The registry keys for WU & UO can be deleted (advisable to back the keys up too) but they may creep back in too.
    I’ve just found this Facilitation thing, which in one case is proving impossible to disable or delete.

  15. Great information VG. But did you have to preface this article with “Installing these updates in Windows is very important as it improves Windows performance, reliability and stability”? If these updates are so great why would anyone want to stop them? Not much evidence of performance, reliability and stability yet.

  16. ^^ Personally I install all available updates and never faced any issue. But sometimes people may want to disable Windows Updates due to incompatibility issues or driver issues.

  17. I threatened to go To Microsoft and Kill them all if they didnt tell me how to stop Microsoft Updates for ever. Ofc that didnt work and i think they hacked my computer and killed it cause it never started again.

    The second time With a new TABLET PC cause my other computer is dead. I just deleted the Windows Update Files. Why? Well cause neither the computer i had and even less now the tablet i have cant handle a Windows 10 Update. It just doesnt have enough space.. Literally.

    But Windows Update doesnt care about that. Windows Update wants to install install install and keep installing even if u have a 32 GB storage disk and Windows 10 is using 25 GB for 64 bit.. so .. Can i use storage space for me? Or the computer now belongs To Windows Update?

    Funny how it asks to free up space when the only thing thats in the disk is 1GB of Crome/Opera/Autocad/Photoshop. Even Funnier if i delete those programs which are 1GB NOT MORE it KEEPS asking for freeing up space. So hilarious.

    Solution given at microsoft webpage before being banned for life. Buy another computer. LOL What.

  18. That is reduculas not being able to stop updates from installing.
    That’s the main reason I WON’T upgrade to Windows 10.

    When Windows update is running it slows down my computer. So imagine the problems I will have if I was on Windows 10 when you can’t even stop them downloading.
    It’s not right. I don’t know why Microsoft have done this.
    I am staying on Windows 7 and 8.

  19. Hi, is there a way to prevent specific updates from being downloaded/ installed. So in the gpedit.msc method, when i select option 5 and let local admin choose settings, it shows me ALL updates that are available, and i could select download or install, but it’s an all or nothing option? Is there a way to pick only certain updates and not bother with the others? Thanks so much in advance!

    Also after the latest update to windows version, the windows search is no longer working. I hit the windows button and start typing and all i get is a blank screen, no search results. Any thoughts? Thanks!

  20. I have disabled windows updates on my computer about 10 times different ways. At one point I had to re-build the PC.
    No matter what is done, if the PC is connected to the internet it determines that Microsoft owns the PC and updates the computer removing any options that you disable.
    It is worse than a bot.
    The whole issue started because when I originally updated it disabled my power settings so that my hardware was getting damaged.
    I have had it cause my computer to hang because it started updating in the middle of the day, after everything was disabled. I even deleted everything to do with updates or the update medic out of the registry and disabled all the health background and security.
    It just found a way to update anyway, but instead just reinstalled all of the folders and keys removed with a .1 after it and then re-disabled everything so I have no choice for when updates happen or if my screen turns off after 5 mins so I can’t watch anything and so my power options conflict with asus settings and cause problems.
    If I can’t find a nice copy of Windows 7 I am going to have to switch to just give up on choosing what games I play and just use Linux. They should have just called it “Tyranny Bot thinks it owns your computer 10” not Windows 10.
    I am now fully sympathizing with Microsoft haters.

  21. Ok this is how to disable in 2022:
    1) run the built-in Services “app” (right click to run as admin).
    scroll to the bottom and double click windows update. Disable. Apply. Ok.
    the “medic” service below it will restore it unless you do step 2.

    2) run the built-in Registry Editor (right click to run as admin), and then navigate to:
    Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WaaSMedicSvc
    double click the icon that says Start, and set “value data” to 4 instead of whatever number it is.
    Click Ok.

    3) restart and click updates to see that it worked.

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