How to Stop or Delay Automatic Updates on Windows 10?

We don’t recommend completely disabling Windows 10’s automatic updates; better configure it to delay new updates. The latest update may have security patches, performance, stability enhancements, or other features.

As part of the recent Windows 10 update, Microsoft added the ability to change the black and white mouse pointer/cursor to a colorful mouse scheme. Windows updates will be downloaded and installed automatically every time your computer connects to the internet. You can use this guide to stop Windows 10 from installing updates automatically and decide when to install them if you’re fed up with it.

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

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

How to Disable or Delay Automatic Updates in Windows 10 OS using Settings?

If you would like to disable or delay automatic updates in Windows 10 OS, follow these steps:-

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.

The above steps will disable automatic updates for your PC on the specified date once you have completed them. When the time limit has expired, automatic updates resume. Windows 10 allows paused updates for up to 35 days at once. If you want to pause the updates for longer periods of time, you must reconfigure the automatic update after 35 days.

How to Turn Off Automatic Updates in Windows 10 using Group Policy?

You can turn off automatic updates in Windows 10 using Group Policy by following these steps:-

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.