Pausing windows update using powershell

Question

Hi,

I am trying to remotely pause windows update using a powershell script.

I have tried installing PSWindowsUpdate module on the remote PC and then running: Set-WindowsUpdateAutoUpdateOption -AutoUpdateOption 2

This didnt work and i am getting that Set-WindowsUpdateAutoUpdateOption is missing.

Then i tried setting this reg key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU\NoAutoUpdate to 1.

However, after a restart the settings UI still shows like windowsupdate is not paused.

What is the right method to pause windows upadate through a PS1 script?

Thanks,

Answer 1

Hi, you're most likely looking at the corresponding PowerShell code that is behind a Settings app button click on Pause updates. A quick look around inside the UX hive on windows registry and you can spot the following example below. You can utilise the this PowerShell code on Windows 10/11 as administrator:

#One liner to set Windows 10 updates to pause (suspend) for +35 days from now (today):

$pause = (Get-Date).AddDays(35); $pause = $pause.ToUniversalTime().ToString( "yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ" ); Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings' -Name 'PauseUpdatesExpiryTime' -Value $pause

#one liner to check status (expiry date) of the same:

Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings'| Select-Object PauseUpdatesExpiryTime

✔

please mark my response as answer if it helps you achieve your goal or if it brings you closer to resolution. thanks a lot.

Answer 2

Hello,

Thank you for your question and for reaching out with your question today.

Please see the script example below for how to disable Windows Update:

set the Windows Update service to "disabled"

sc.exe config wuauserv start=disabled

display the status of the service

sc.exe query wuauserv

stop the service

sc.exe stop wuauserv

If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer.

Answer 3

Hi,

This disables and stops the windows update service. but when i open windows update setting page i can still see windows updates are not paused.

I need to pause windows update so it wont try to update the PC.

Thanks,