How to Pause or Stop Windows Updates

Windows Updates are essential for security and stability, but they can also interrupt your workflow, consume bandwidth, or cause issues after installation. This guide shows you how to pause updates temporarily, stop them from downloading, or block them altogether using built-in Windows tools and settings. You’ll learn several methods, from the simple Pause option to more advanced Group Policy and Registry tweaks. No third-party software is needed.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with administrative rights
• For Group Policy or Registry methods: Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition (not available on Windows Home)
• An internet connection (to check for updates after unpausing)

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Pause Updates (Temporary)

1. Open Settings (Win + I) and go to Windows Update (on Windows 11) or Update & Security > Windows Update (on Windows 10).
2. Click the Pause updates button (Windows 10) or select a pause duration from the dropdown (Windows 11, e.g., 1 week).
3. Updates will be paused for the selected period. To resume earlier, go back to the same page and click Resume updates.
4. Note: This only pauses updates, not security definitions (which still download). To also pause those, you need to use a metered connection (see Tips).

Method 2: Stop Automatic Downloads via Metered Connection

1. Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
2. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
3. Click on your connected network’s properties (or “Hardware propertiesâ€� on Windows 10).
4. Toggle Metered connection to On. Windows will treat this connection as limited and will not download most updates automatically.
5. On Windows 11, you can also go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options and under “Download updates over metered connectionsâ€� make sure it’s turned off.

Method 3: Disable the Windows Update Service (Full Stop)

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to Windows Update and double-click it.
3. In the “Startup type� dropdown, select Disabled.
4. Click Stop under “Service statusâ€� if it’s running.
5. Click Apply and then OK. This will prevent Windows Update from running until you re-enable it.
6. To re-enable, repeat the steps and set Startup type to Automatic (or Manual) and click Start.

Method 4: Use Group Policy (Windows Pro/Enterprise)

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience (Windows 11) or Windows Update (Windows 10).
3. Double-click Configure Automatic Updates.
4. Select Enabled.
5. In the “Configure automatic updatingâ€� dropdown, choose 2 – Notify for download and notify for install (or 3 – Auto download and notify for install if you want downloads but no install).
6. Click OK. This prevents automatic installation; you’ll be prompted to download and install.
7. To fully block updates, also set No auto-restart with logged on users to Enabled, and configure Specify intranet Microsoft update service location to a non-existent server (advanced, not recommended for most users).

Method 5: Registry Tweak (Windows Home)

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU. If the AU key doesn’t exist, right-click on WindowsUpdate, select New > Key, and name it AU.
3. Inside the AU key, right-click, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it NoAutoUpdate.
4. Double-click NoAutoUpdate and set the value to 1.
5. Click OK and close Regedit. Restart your PC. This disables automatic updates entirely.
6. To revert, set the value back to 0 or delete the key.

Common Mistakes

• Not pausing security updates: Pausing via Settings still allows security definition updates to download. Use a metered connection or disable the service to stop those too.
• Disabling the service permanently: This can cause Windows Update to fail later and may break the Microsoft Store. Always re-enable after a few weeks.
• Using Group Policy on Windows Home: gpedit.msc is not available on Home editions. Use the Registry method instead.
• Forgetting to re-enable updates: Leaving updates disabled for months exposes your PC to security vulnerabilities. Set a reminder.
• Stopping the service while an update is in progress: This can corrupt the update. Always wait for updates to finish or pause them first.

Tips

• Use Active Hours: Set active hours in Windows Update settings so updates don’t restart your PC during your work time.
• Pause for 35 days: You can pause updates for up to 35 days by repeatedly clicking “Pauseâ€� (each click adds a week) or by using the “Pause untilâ€� date picker (Windows 11).
• Defer feature updates: In Windows 10 Pro, you can defer feature updates for up to 365 days via Settings > Update & Security > Advanced options.
• Use a VPN or metered connection: If you need to stop updates temporarily, a metered connection is a quick toggle.
• Create a restore point: Before disabling updates, create a system restore point so you can revert if something goes wrong.

Troubleshooting

• Updates still install after disabling service: Some updates are forced via Windows Update Medic Service. To stop it, you need to disable it in Services (set Startup type to Disabled) as well. Also check Task Scheduler for update tasks.
• Group Policy changes don’t take effect: Run gpupdate /force in Command Prompt as administrator, or restart the PC.
• Registry edit doesn’t work: Ensure you’re editing the correct path and that the value name is exactly NoAutoUpdate. Also, make sure you have administrative rights.
• Windows Update service won’t stop: If the service is stuck, try stopping it from Task Manager (Services tab), or restart the PC and then stop it before any updates begin.
• After re-enabling, updates fail: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter from Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pause updates indefinitely?

No, Windows only allows pausing for a limited time (up to 35 days). After that, you must install updates to continue pausing. For longer periods, you need to disable the service or use Group Policy.

Will disabling Windows Update affect my Microsoft Store apps?

Yes, the Microsoft Store uses the same update mechanism. If Windows Update is disabled, you won’t be able to download app updates. You can re-enable it temporarily when needed.

Is it safe to stop Windows Update permanently?

No, it’s not recommended. Updates include critical security patches that protect your PC from malware and exploits. Only stop updates temporarily or if you have a specific reason, and always re-enable them.

What’s the difference between pausing and disabling updates?

Pausing stops updates for a set period (like 1 week) and is easily reversible. Disabling (via service or registry) stops all updates until you manually re-enable, which requires more steps.

Will I still get security definition updates if I pause?

Yes, security definitions (like Windows Defender) are still downloaded even when updates are paused. To stop those, you need to use a metered connection or disable the service.

How do I re-enable updates after disabling the service?

Open Services (services.msc), find Windows Update, set Startup type to Automatic, and click Start. Also, if you used the registry method, set NoAutoUpdate back to 0 or delete it.

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