How to Disable Automatic Updates on Windows 11: A Complete Guide

Windows 11, Microsoft’s latest operating system, is designed to receive regular updates that include bug fixes, security patches, and new features to keep your system secure and optimized. By default, Windows 11 automatically downloads and installs these updates. However, some users find automatic updates disruptive, as they may consume bandwidth, interrupt workflows, or, in rare cases, cause compatibility issues. If you’re looking to disable automatic updates on Windows 11 or control how updates are managed, this guide is for you.

How to Disable Automatic Updates on Windows 11?

While Windows updates are essential for maintaining security and performance, there are reasons users may want to disable or control them:

• Bandwidth Constraints: Automatic downloads can consume significant internet data, especially for users with limited or metered connections.
• System Interruptions: Updates may trigger unexpected restarts, disrupting work or gaming sessions.
• Compatibility Concerns: Some updates may introduce compatibility issues with specific apps or hardware, particularly for users with specialized setups.
• Control Preference: Advanced users may prefer to manually review and install updates to ensure stability.

Important Note: Disabling automatic updates can leave your system vulnerable to security threats or miss critical stability improvements. Consider pausing updates temporarily or scheduling them instead of disabling them permanently, and always keep your system protected with antivirus software.

Configure Automatic Updates Using Group Policy Editor

The Local Group Policy Editor allows you to customize update behavior, including notifying you before downloading or installing updates. This method is available only on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions.

• Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
• Double-click Configure Automatic Updates from the list. Select Enabled to activate the policy.
• Under Options, choose 2 – Notify for download and auto install to prevent automatic downloads and installations. This setting prompts you to approve updates manually.
• Alternatively, select 4 – Auto download and schedule the install to specify a day and time for installations (e.g., during off-hours).
• Click Apply > OK.

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Win + S, type cmd, select Run as administrator) and run: gpupdate /force to apply the policy immediately.
• Reboot to ensure changes take effect. Check Settings > Windows Update to confirm you’re prompted to download updates manually.

To revert to default behavior, set the policy to Not Configured or select 3 – Auto download and notify for install.

Modify Registry Editor to Stop Automatic Updates

If you have Windows 10 Home edition, Group Policy Editor is not available for disabling Windows updates. That cause you can tweak Windows Registry Editor to prevent windows 10 Automatic Update installation.

• Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
• Back up the registry (File > Export) to avoid data loss in case of errors.
• Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows.
• Right-click Windows, select New > Key, and name it WindowsUpdate.
• Right-click WindowsUpdate, select New > Key, and name it AU.

Click the AU key, right-click in the right pane, and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it AUOptions and press Enter. Double-click AUOptions and set its Value data to one of the following:

• 2 – Notify for download and install (recommended to disable automatic updates).
• 3 – Auto download and notify for install.
• 4 – Auto Download and schedule the install
• 5 – Allow local admin to choose setting.

For example, set Value data to 2 to stop automatic updates and receive notifications instead. Click OK, close Registry Editor, and restart your PC. Verify in Settings > Windows Update that updates require manual approval.

Disable Windows Update Service

Stopping the Windows Update service prevents Windows 11 from checking for and installing updates automatically. This method works across all editions but requires manual re-enabling to receive updates.

• Press Windows + R, type services.msc and ok
• Scroll down and look for Windows Update service
• Right-click on Windows Update service and select properties.
• Set Startup type to Disabled from the dropdown menu.
• Under Service status, click Stop to halt the service immediately.
• Click Apply > OK, then restart your PC. Check Settings > Windows Update to confirm updates are not downloading.

Note: If any time you can start the service and change startup Type Automatic To Check and install windows updates.

Pause or Schedule Updates in Windows 11

If you don’t want to disable updates entirely, Windows 11 allows you to pause updates temporarily or schedule restarts to minimize disruptions.

• Open Settings (Win + I) > Windows Update.
• Click Pause for 1 week under Pause updates. You can extend this up to 5 weeks by repeating the process.
• Updates will resume automatically after the pause period.

In Advanced options > Delivery Optimization, toggle off Allow downloads from other PCs to reduce bandwidth usage.

Set your Wi-Fi or Ethernet as a metered connection (Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi/Ethernet > Metered connection) to limit automatic update downloads.

Advanced users can block Windows Update servers (e.g., windowsupdate.microsoft.com) via the hosts file or firewall, but this is risky and not recommended.