How to Stop or Delay Automatic Updates on Windows 10?

Microsoft keeps pushing updates for Windows 10. In the latest update, it may be security patches, performance, stability enhancements, etc. Hence, we don’t recommend disabling it completely; better configure it to delay installing new updates.

In the recent update, Microsoft has added an option to change the black and white mouse pointer/cursor in Windows 10. Now, one can personalize his desktop with a colorful mouse scheme. Whenever your PC connects to the internet, Windows updates get downloaded and installed automatically. If you’re fed up with Windows 10 installing updates automatically and want to control, this guide will help stop the automatic updates and decide when to install them.

There are two ways to stop/delay automatic updates on Windows 10:-

1. Disable automatic updates using Settings.
2. Disable automatic updates via Group Policy.

How to disable/delay automatic updates in Windows 10 OS using Settings?

Step 1. Open the Settings app (To open the Settings app in Windows 10, click the Start button, and then click on the Settings gear icon).

Step 2. Under Windows Settings, click on Update & Security.

Step 3. Click on Windows Update.

Step 4. Under Windows Update, click Advanced options.

Step 5. Under Advanced options, scroll down to get Pause updates.

Step 6. Under the Pause updates, use the Pause until drop-down menu and select from available dates when to resume automatic updates on Windows 10.

Once you complete the above steps, updates are disabled for your PC the day you have specified. Once the time limit reaches, automatic updates resume. Windows 10 allows pausing the automatic update for up to 35 days at once. If you want to pause the updates for more time, you have to reconfigure the automatic update after 35 days.

How to disable automatic updates in Windows 10 using Group Policy?

Step 1. Press Windows logo + R keys to open the Run box.

Step 2. Type gpedit.msc and click the OK button.

Step 3. It will launch the Local Group Policy Editor window.

Step 4. Navigate or browse for the following path:-

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components

Step 5. From the right-side pane, double-click on Windows Update.

Step 6. Scroll down and double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.

Step 7. Select the Disabled option to turn off this policy.

Step 8. Click Apply then OK button.

Once you complete the above steps, Windows 10 will stop downloading updates automatically on your computer. However, one can continue to install updates manually from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and clicking the Check for updates button.

If you want to continue with Automatic Updates in Windows 10, in Step 7, select Not Configured.

Note: Windows 10 Home Edition does not come with Group Policy Editor. However, you can enable the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) in Windows 10 Home Edition by running a batch file.