www.makeuseof.com How to Stop Automatic Updates on Windows 11
Microsoft's Windows updates often bring new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes to your PC. However, at times the updates can cause more issues than they resolve. As a result, you may wonder if there is a way to stop automatic updates in Windows 11.
Built-in options in Windows 11 allows you to disable updates temporarily. If you want a more permanent solution, you need to tweak your registry entries or disable the update service. Here we show you every possible way to disable automatic updates on Windows 11.
1. How to Pause Automatic Windows 111 Updates via the Settings
You can pause updates for up to five weeks from Windows 11 settings. This is a handy feature if you want to defer the updates for a couple of weeks and not permanently. Here’s how to do it.
Windows will defer all the updates to your computer for the selected period. If you change your mind, go back to the Windows update tab and click on Resume Update to perform a manual update.
2. How Set Up a Metered Connection to Stop Windows Updates
Another easy way to stop automatic updates in Windows 11 is to set up your network as metered connection. This is a handy trick that has worked for Windows 10 and also for its successor.
Why does this trick work? Well, to prevent the user from incurring high data usage charges on a metered connection, Windows will not download updates over one. As such, you can set up metered connections on a Wi-Fi or Ethernet network and enjoy no updates.
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That’s it. Windows will immediately stop downloading cumulative and optional updates. You can set multiple connections as metered connections to prevent Windows from downloading updates just in case you connect to different networks at home and work.
Note that enabling metered connection is not without its quirks. When enabled you may experience issues with offline file syncing and affect other installed apps that require consistent access to an active internet connection.
3. How to Stop Windows 11 Automatic Updates With the Windows Update Blocker Utility
If you want to permanently stop automatic updates without setting your network as a metered connection, the Windows Update Blocker Utility can help.
It is a nifty update blocker app developed for Windows 10 but works just as well on Windows 11. It offers more UI control over the updating behavior of the OS. Here’s how to use the tool
If you don’t want to depend on a third-party tool to block Windows 11 updates, then you can tweak your system settings to stop updates via Group Policy Editor, Registry Editor and the Services Manager.
4. How to Disable Automatic Windows 11 Updates Using Update Services
You can permanently stop Windows 11 automatic updates by disabling the Windows Update service. It is a Windows component responsible for checking and downloading new updates as they become available.
To disable Windows 11 updates via Service Manager:
5. How to Disable Windows 11 Automatic Updates via Group Policy Editor
On compatible Windows editions, you can use Group Policy Editor to disable automatic updates. While Group Policy Editor is only available for Windows 11 Pro and above editions, you can enable gpedit.msc for the Windows Home editions with a simple bat script.
Once you have the Group Policy Editor up and running, here is how to use it to stop Windows 11 from updating automatically.
Restart your PC, and Windows 11 will not bother you with automatic updates anymore. Of course, you can still manually install updates if you want.
6. How to Stop Windows 11 Automatic Updates Using Registry Editor
You can tweak many system settings and store configurations using the Registry Editor. It can also help you block automatic updates for Windows 11.
Note that making incorrect modifications to your registry entries can render your system useless. Make sure to create a restore point before making any changes to your computer.
After creating a restore point, follow these steps carefully.
Stop Automatic Windows 11 Updates, Either Temporarily or Permanently
Microsoft offers two built-in options to defer Windows 11 updates. However, none of these are one-click permanent solutions. Fortunately, you can use third-party tools to disable updates for your system.
That said, each major update will undo these changes, and you will have to reconfigure your system to stop automatic updates. So, knowing how to stop Windows updates by tweaking your registry entry, Group Policy Editor, and the Services Manager can come in handy more often than you think.
How to Find Out Every Last Thing About Windows Update Read NextShareTweetShareEmail Related TopicsAbout The AuthorTashreef Shareef(122 Articles Published)Tashreef is a developer and works as a technical writer at MakeUseOf. With a bachelor's degree in Computer Applications, he has over 5 years of experience and covers Microsoft Windows and everything around it. When not looking for a missing semicolon or churning out text, you can find himtrying FPS titles or looking for new animated shows and movies.
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