How to Prevent or Skip Feature Update Installation in Windows 10
We know that Microsoft regularly releases feature updates to Windows 10 operating system. These feature updates bring new features, functionality, UI changes and improvements to the OS, so you can consider these feature updates as a new Windows 10 version or a service pack.
Recently Microsoft announced that the company will release 2 feature updates for Windows 10 every year as a part of their twice-per-year feature release schedule. One feature update will usually release in March/April and the other feature update will release in September/October month of every year. So there will be approx. 6 months time between 2 feature updates release every year.
Feature updates are installed automatically in Windows 10 via Windows Update but some people may not want to upgrade their Windows 10 machines to new feature updates. They might be worried about the compatibility issues of their installed software, hardware with the new update version or they might be afraid of the upgrade fail situations when a computer is broken if the upgrade is not completed successfully.
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So sometimes people are comfortable with the installed OS version and they don’t want to upgrade to any new Windows version.
Today in this tutorial, we’ll tell you a few ways to prevent Windows 10 from automatically installing new feature update in your computer. With the help of these methods, you’ll be able to skip the new feature update installation in your machine.
This tutorial will apply to all Windows 10 versions and all feature update installation.
UPDATE: Check out following new working method to prevent/restrict Windows 10 from installing new feature update versions:
[Tip] Force Windows 10 to Stay on Existing / Installed Feature Update Version
Let’s start the tutorial:
Table of Contents
METHOD 1: Defer Feature Update Installation
Windows 10 allows you to defer a feature update up to 365 days i.e. 1 whole year. So you can enable the defer option to prevent a new feature update installation in your Windows 10 device.
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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.
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. On Advanced Options page, under “Choose when updates are installed” section, look for “A feature update includes new capabilities and improvements” option.
This option is set to 0 days. Select 365 days using the drop-down box.
That’s it. Now no feature update will be installed in your computer for 1 year.
More Details: [Tip] How to Defer Windows Updates Download in Windows 10
METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor
You can also disable the automatic feature update installation and Windows 10 new version upgrade feature using Registry Editor.
You’ll need to create a few keys and values in registry to prevent feature update download and installation in your Windows 10 machine as mentioned below:
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. If the key is already present, skip to next step.
4. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD DisableOSUpgrade and set its value to 1
5. Again go to following key in Registry Editor:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate
6. Create a new key under WindowsUpdate key and set its name as OSUpgrade
7. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD AllowOSUpgrade and set its value to 0
8. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer to take effect.
Now Windows 10 will not upgrade to new feature update in your computer.
PS: In future, if you want to install feature update, delete both DWORDs created in steps 4 and 7.
METHOD 3: Disable Automatic Windows Updates Installation
You can also follow a few other methods to force Windows 10 to not automatically download and install updates in your computer. This way, no feature update will be installed in your computer without your permission.
Check out following exclusive tutorial to fix automatic updates installation in Windows 10:
Fixing Windows 10 Automatic Updates Installation Problem
IMPORTANT NOTE:
There are some reports that some Windows 10 computers were automatically upgraded to new feature updates. Check out following articles for more details and solutions:
[Fix] How to Stop Automatic Forced Upgrade to Feature Updates in Windows 10
How to Disable Update to the Latest Version of Windows 10 Message (Update Assistant)
Also check:
[Windows 10 Tip] Change Maximum Days Limit to Pause Windows Updates Installation
Please update the ‘Remove-6-Extra-Folders-from-Windows-10-This-PC’ registry…coz it can’t remove the ‘3D Objects’ shortcut from This-Pc.
^^ Go to following keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace
and delete {0DB7E03F-FC29-4DC6-9020-FF41B59E513A} key under it.
thanx it’s works.But can you provide me the exact line to delete it so that i can copy the line and paste it on your previous .reg file & i can use it next time if i reinstall my windows 10 later.
But most important thing is if you make tweak for windows 10 shut-down button on start menu to force pc shutting down properly.It will be very very helpful.
Because in a new update it doesn’t shutting down pc completely.It’s causing me a problem.
Whenever i try to on my pc my usb port doesn’t work.Unless i use shut-down shortcut.
^^ I’ll update the registry script soon.
Regarding shutdown problem, try following:
https://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-8-restart-and-shutdown-problems-by-disabling-hybrid-shutdown-feature/
@Sagor
Registry script updated to remove “3D Objects” folder too. Also a separate tutorial posted:
https://www.askvg.com/tip-remove-3d-objects-from-windows-10-explorer-this-pc/
@VG
You guys are life savior.Really really thanx a lot.
Btw final help.Would you guys recommend any forum or any 3rd party software which can activate “Speaker Fill” feature?
My motherboard is old Asus p7-h55-mlx/usb3.
I contact with Via company.They decided they won’t provide any driver update in future.
^^ Sorry no idea about it. Your best bet would be Windows Update.
I tried to set Windows Update Settings with the “Force Windows to Notify Before Downloading Updates.reg” file but the system still says “We’ll automatically download and install updates, except on metered connections…”
HP 250 G5 Notebook Windows 10 Home Version 1709 OS Build 16299.19
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Then ‘Choose when updates are installed’ does not appear on my Win 10 via Advanced Options.
It gives 3 options, nothing to do with info above.
I have 1803 17134.112 version.
For Windows 10 Home version use registry ‘hack’. Don’t forget, there are two registry keys, You should add or modify. First registry value prevents feature update from installing, second one disables downloading it.
There are no advanced settings for Windows 10 Home version under Windows update.
how about renaming the dll files from Windows System32 folder? Is that a good or bad idea?
Surely, the most simple method is to set wi-fi as a Metered Connection?
The feature updates are only installed if ‘Check for Updates (Settings) is ticked.
Apparently, if you tick ‘Check for Updates’ you are classed as a seeker – Microsoft will try to update you.
Regards
Despite doing all of the above my Windows 10 home edition still managed to update to the latest featured edition. It appears no matter what we do Microsoft will eventually force your pc to update whether you want it to or not. I tried absolutely everything I could.
Hello
Do you know how to block install update preview I use latest 2004 but for now have preview updates for .net frameworks and one for system is possible stop this preview I need get latest but final updates.
Thanks
I hope this only disables the feature updates and not definition/ cumulative updates.
My present OS is Win10 20H2.
The method 1 does not show ‘Choose when updates are installed’. I can only defer updates to June 3rd! No space to input number of days days appears.
It seems many people have Win 10 but they are all different and no advice will always work in all cases.
Unfortunately, MS have changed the Advanced Options page. It now doesn’t distinguish between feature updates and other updates and the maximum no of days you can delay is 35.
I really don’t like this latest update, because it makes my screen look like a firework display, so I’ll just keep uninstalling it until they no longer let me. It’s enough to make you go back to Windows 7.