Windows 11 upgrade being forced on me - how can I stop it?

Question

Currently running Windows 10. Offered an upgrade to Windows 11 which I accepted. However, after upgrading some of my programs didn't work and all my e-mails had disappeared. Reverted to Windows 10. So far so good. A couple of days later Windows updates automatically and installs Windows 11. I uninstall it again. A day or two later windows wants to update. When checking the update I find it is Windows 11 with a button to check for optional updates, i.e. the Windows 11 upgrade is not optional. I delay the upgrade seven days and try to find a solution. I delay again and still have no luck in finding a solution. Now Windows is telling me it will restart and upgrade in 1 hour. I have good reasons not to want this upgrade and resent it being forced upon me. It is supposed to be optional but is being forced upon me. Yes, I can uninstall it again every few days after it automatically upgrades but this wastes time and there is always the risk that at some stage it won't work properly leaving me with a ruined machine. Please help!

Answer 1

Hello NicholasBurnett

As a workaround you can use the next registry change to prevent the "target version" to be pointed to latest.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\
-double-click the “TargetReleaseVersion” entry to open it. If you don’t see this entry, then in the right pane, right-click anywhere blank and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Then type “TargetReleaseVersion” (without quotes) and press Enter to create the entry.
-double-click the “TargetReleaseVersionInfo” entry. If you don’t see it, then right-click anywhere blank on the right pane and choose New > String Value. Type “TargetReleaseVersionInfo” (without quotes) and press Enter to make the entry.On the “Edit String” box, click the “Value Data” field and type “21H1” (without quotes), or whatever your preferred release is. Then click “OK.”

Restart pc, the Windows 11 update should be gone.

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Answer 2

Make a free backup image and save the backup image to another disk drive or the cloud:
(Acronis, Aoemi, EaseUS, Macrium, Paragon, etc.)

I've not yet found a thread in which these steps work in all computer environments and will post some possible methods that may work:

If they work for you please make sure that after one month you post additional follow up results.

1) Registry editor

2) Local group policy editor

https://www.howtogeek.com/765377/how-to-block-the-windows-11-update-from-installing-on-windows-10/

3) Additional methods that may work but change the computer's security: (these were not yet tested)

a) Turn off TPM:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/trustedplatformmodule/?view=windowsserver2022-ps&preserve-view=true&viewFallbackFrom=win10-ps
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/tpm/initialize-and-configure-ownership-of-the-tpm
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/tpm/initialize-and-configure-ownership-of-the-tpm#turn-on-or-turn-off

b) Turn off secure boot:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/disabling-secure-boot?view=windows-11
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/85279-enable-disable-secure-boot-windows-10-pc.html

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Answer 3

Absolutelly YES.

Its impossible to install windows 10, to use the tool, to download the image, or purchase anywhere. Any and every link named "windows 10" FORCES YOU TO A LINK WITH WINDOWS 11.

Its not a new that Bill Gates tried to sell super expensive sanitary high tech pieces to starving natives in africa, with the argument of saving the planet. Altough I have purchased the windows 10 and I have the serial and etc, a hardware damage in the hard disk forced me to install a 7 in another drive to then update, BUT ITS IMPOSSIBLE. NOW I THINK IT MAY BE CAUSED BY MICROSOFT ON PURPOSE.

The tools are just a deceiveing link, all of us are being fooled with fake material TO FORCE EVERYONE TO UPDATE TO WINDOWS 11.

Lets see if Lynux is so good as everyone says.

Answer 4

This link may be useful:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/159624-how-specify-target-feature-update-version-windows-10-a.html#:~:text=Type%20Which%20Windows%20product%20version%20would%20you%20like,Version%20for%20Feature%20Updates%20box.%20Click%2Ftap%20on%20OK.

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