[Tip] Force Windows 10 to Stay on Existing / Installed Feature Update Version

If you are using Windows 10 operating system in your computer and want to force Windows 10 to stay locked on the installed version and NOT upgrade to new feature update versions, this tutorial will help you. With the help of the methods given in this article, you’ll be able to prevent or restrict Windows 10 from upgrading to newer feature updates or newer Windows 10 versions. You’ll be able to always stay on the existing or installed Windows 10 version.

We know that Microsoft regularly releases new versions or feature updates for Windows 10 operating system. Microsoft releases 2 feature updates for Windows 10 every year. One feature update is released in first half of the year in April or May month and the other feature update is released in second half of the year in October or November month.

When Microsoft releases a new feature update for Windows 10, all Windows 10 devices receive the new feature update via Windows Update program. Users receive a notification to download and install the new feature update in their devices. Sometimes the feature update is automatically installed in devices which are using very old version of Windows 10 which is no longer supported by Microsoft.

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Although feature updates bring new features, functionality and improvements to Windows 10 operating system and it’s always advised to upgrade to new Windows 10 versions, there are some Windows 10 users who don’t want to upgrade to new feature updates. There might be several reasons behind their decision. Their computer hardware might not be compatible with new Windows 10 versions. They are worried about bugs and issues which might occur after installing new Windows 10 versions. It might also be possible that some features removed from new Windows 10 versions which they use frequently.

To help such users, we posted tutorials to force Windows 10 to NOT upgrade to newer feature updates. The tutorials can be used to prevent or restrict Windows 10 from automatically upgrading to newer feature updates. You can find the tutorials at following links:

How to Prevent or Skip Feature Update Installation in Windows 10

[Fix] How to Stop Automatic Forced Upgrade to Feature Updates in Windows 10

Today in this article, we are going to share another working method to stay away from new feature updates in Windows 10. This new method will help you in forcing Windows 10 to never upgrade to future Windows 10 versions. You’ll be able to use your existing Windows 10 version as long as you want without any need to upgrade to new feature update.

We’ll take help of a built-in policy called “Target Feature Update Release Version“. With the help of this policy, we can set a target feature update version which will tell Windows 10 which feature update version it should check and keep in the device.

If we set the current i.e. existing Windows 10 version as target release version, Windows 10 will keep using the installed version and will no longer check for new feature update versions. Similarly, if we set a new feature update version as target release version, Windows 10 will upgrade to that feature update version and will lock the feature update version and will not upgrade to later feature update versions.

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The policy can be applied using 2 ways: Group Policy Editor and Registry Editor.

NOTE: This method has been checked successfully on Professional, Education and Enterprise editions of Windows 10. The method has not been checked on Home or core edition of Windows 10 but it should work.

METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor

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 -> Windows Update for Business

3. In right-side pane, look for following option:

Select the target Feature Update version

Set_Target_Feature_Update_Version_Windows_10_Group_Policy_Editor.png

4. Double-click on the option and select Enabled option.

Now type the desired Windows 10 version which you want to lock in your device in the given text box.

Force_Windows_10_Stay_Existing_Installed_Feature_Update_Version.png

For example, if you are using Windows 10 version 1909 in your device and want to stay on the same version, type 1909 in the text box.

PS: You can check installed Windows 10 version using winver command in RUN dialog box or Start search box as mentioned here. The installed Windows 10 version is shown in the 2nd line.

Click on Apply and OK buttons.

That’s it. Now Windows 10 will stay on the selected version in your device.

PS: In future, if you decide to upgrade to new Windows 10 version, Set the above mentioned option to Not Configured in Group Policy Editor and check for new updates in Windows Update.

METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor

If you are using Home edition of Windows, 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\WindowsUpdate

3. In right-side pane, right-click on empty area and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value option. Set the new DWORD name as TargetReleaseVersion and set its value to 1

Again right-click on empty area and select New -> String Value option. Set the new String name as TargetReleaseVersionInfo and set its value to desired Windows 10 version such as 1909

Set_Target_Release_Version_Info_Windows_10_Registry_Editor.png

4. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer to take effects.

Now Windows 10 should keep using your desired version in your computer system.

PS: In future, if you decide to upgrade to new Windows 10 version, delete the DWORD and String values created in above mentioned steps from Registry Editor. Restart your computer and check for new updates in Windows Update.

Also Check:

[Tip] Force Windows 10 to Upgrade to New Feature Update Versions via Windows Update

Too Much Confusion About So Many Windows 10 Versions

Fixing Windows 10 Automatic Updates Installation Problem

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. I have Windows 10 Home so can’t use Method 1.
    With Method 2 the WindowsUpdate folder does not exist in the location you specify (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate)
    This is on Build 2004

    Is there a solution to this?

  2. As above, I didn’t have that key, created it and the values.

    Will this work on my Windows 10 1507 install?

    It is on a HP Mini 2133, where the Via Unichrome HC IGP video driver does not work on anything higher than 1507. Being originally an XP machine, the Vista video driver is all I can get to work,

  3. I really don’t want to get into the register, is there any way to uninstall win 11?

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