Today, the situation around the automatic update of the “tens” is causing more and more debate. The fact is that before the developers said that no updates will be released, but they are. And updates are installed a little differently. In Windows 10 Home, for example, the user may not even know about it, but after the installation, an unexpected reboot follows, which often causes an ambiguous reaction. Let's try to figure out how to disable Windows 10 auto-update forever. In addition, we consider issues related to updating device drivers , the installation of which raises legitimate doubts about the appropriateness of their use.
How to disable autoupdate of Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise in the simplest way
So, let's start with the simplest. Until we touch the “home” version (we’ll talk about it separately), in which the control methods of the simplest type do not work, but let's see what can be done in other modifications.
How to disable Windows 10 auto-update by the most primitive method? Yes, very simple. To do this, we use the update and security section, which is accessed through the options menu. Here in the window of the update center below we select the line of additional parameters, and then in the new window we use the line of notifications about reboot. This will help to eliminate an unplanned user restart of the system at the most inopportune moment.
Next, you need to make sure that the box for updating for other Microsoft products is unchecked (sometimes this process can take a lot of time). Then a check mark is put on the line for deferring updates. To go to the next menu, use the line for choosing the method of receiving updates, and after that we turn off the receipt of updates from several places. This, by the way, will be useful to those whose Internet speed is not at the highest level. Upon completion of all these procedures, the search, download and installation of updates will not be performed.
Using Group Policy Editor
Now, regarding the question of how to disable Windows 10 Enterprise auto-update, for example, here is another standard method.
For it, you will need to enter the Group Policy Editor (the gpedit.msc command in the Run menu (Win + R)), where through the computer configuration tree you first need to go to administrative templates, and then through the Windows components to the update center.
On the right there is an update management line. Upon entering its menu, the update can be completely blocked (the “Disabled” position). But if you want to manage updates, you can first use the on mode and select the necessary parameters in its settings (for example, 2 - a warning about loading and preparing to restart the system). Thus, again, an unauthorized reboot even with installed updates can be prevented.
Disabling automatic updates through the registry
Now let's see how to turn off Windows 10 Home auto-update (the method proposed below also works in other versions).
We use the registry editor, which is called using the regedit command from the same "Run" menu. Here we are interested in the HKLM branch, in which through the SOFTWARE tree you need to go down to the Policies and get to the Windows directory.
In this directory, first create the WindowsUpdate folder, and in the new folder another one called AU. In this directory, on the right, click on a blank spot on the screen and create a new DWORD parameter called NoAutoUpdate and assign it a value of "1".
Now our task is to check whether this method works. Again we go to the section of the update center and use the item to check for updates. Probably, you need not say that it will become inactive, that is, the search and installation of updates will never be made again. If for some reason you need to enable updates, you can use the value "0" for the parameter set above or delete it altogether.
Turn off updates in the services section
How to disable Windows 10 auto-update by another method? Just as easy. Here you will need the services section, which is accessed through the services.msc command all from the same Run menu.
On the right, the update center line is selected, and in the additional menu, the startup type is set to disabled, that's all.
How to disable driver auto-update in Windows 10
Finally, we come to one of the most important problems when the system itself tries to download update packages for drivers. Alas, they do not always work correctly. How to disable Windows 10 auto-update, we have already figured out. Let's see how to completely turn off such processes for drivers.
First, in the Run menu, we write the command rundll32 newdev.dll, DeviceInternetSettingUi and enter the device installation parameters section, where we simply prohibit installation and save the changes. After such a procedure, the system will refer exclusively to those drivers that are available in the installation distribution or in the system partition. In an extreme case, if the need for driver updates is overdue, it is better to use utilities like Driver Booster, which search for new versions of drivers and install them in the system much more correctly.
Third Party Utilities
In principle, this is not all. If you solve the problem of how to disable Windows 10 auto-update, you can use third-party programs. We explain the situation using an example utility called Show or hide updates.
In the program itself, after starting from the list, you need to select the updates that you want to exclude, and click the continue button. It goes without saying that for the return you will need to do the opposite.
Is it worth it?
Of course, disabling updates to some extent will bring peace to the user's work. But, note, often problems with computers can begin precisely because the latest service packs are not installed for Windows 10, and they may be required for some new programs to work.
By the way, some recommend using a limit connection to disable these processes. But this is just not worth doing, because it is fraught with unpredictable consequences.
However, you should disable system updates only in the most extreme case. Although the core packages are designed exclusively for patching security holes, sometimes this may concern some important components of Windows. The lack of updates for them in some emergency situations can provoke conflicts at the level of installed software. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for various kinds of "death screens" to appear, indicating the early completion of processes and errors in memory segments. So, as they say, it’s better not to risk it. In extreme cases, some unnecessary packages that can cause critical errors can simply be isolated so that the system does not constantly look for them.