How can I permanently disable Windows Update service and better control when Update is run?

Question

None of the previous answers work.

None of the suggestions about disabling or anything works.

Update just turns itself back on and runs without my permission.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!

I need to be able to control MY computer and when Update runs or NOT RUN.

I just lost a bunch of data in the middle of work again because Update decided to randomly take over my computer. Last time I was in the middle of bidding in an auction and Update shut off my computer and started updating, and I was unable to use my computer for over 40 minutes.

And having a schedule of a week or month doesn't work for me.

Just allow me to turn off updates, and when MY schedule allows it, let ME decide at that moment to update.

Simple. It used to be that way. Toggle: Turn Update On, Turn Update Off.

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

I deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused to you.

We can disable Win11 automatic updates by setting, group policy, and registry

1. By setting

Open settings.

Click Windows Update.

Use the "Pause Updates" setting and select the number of weeks (up to 5 weeks) to disable Windows 11 automatic updates.

2. By modifying the group policy

Open "Start".

Search for gpedit.msc, then click on the top result to launch the local Group Policy Editor.

Navigation to the following path: Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Windows Update>Manage end user experience

Double click on the "Configure Automatic Update" policy on the right side.

Select the disable option to permanently turn off automatic updates on Windows 11.

Click the "Apply" button.

Click the "OK" button.

After completing these steps, Windows 11 will automatically stop downloading and installing updates.

• By modifying the registry

Press Win+R to open the "Run" dialog box, enter regedit, and then press Enter to open the Windows Registry Editor.

Enter the following path in the address bar and press enter

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Right-click on the Windows folder and select New > Key. Rename the newly created key as WindowsUpdate and press enter to save. Now, right-click on the new WindowsUpdate folder and select New > Key again. Name the key AU. Move your cursor to the adjacent panel, right-click anywhere, and select New followed by DWORD (32-bit) Value. Rename the new DWORD Value as NoAutoUpdate. Right-click on the NoAutoUpdate value and choose Modify (or double-click on it to bring up the Modify dialogue box). The default value data will be 0, i.e., disabled; change the value data to 1 and enable the NoAutoUpdate.

If you need to update the system, you must manually perform this operation from "Settings">"Windows Update", and then click the "Check for Updates" button.

Best regards，

Jill Zhou

---

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.