Windows 10 – How to Disable Automatic Updates

Though it is important to update your Windows 10 and take advantage of the numerous security updates and perfomance fixes, you would agree with me that the update process is annoying and sometimes long.

First, let’s look at why people would want to disable updates on windows 10.

It’s a Waste of Time

I was once working on a report due in the next hour, I left my desk to go take a leak in the bathroom. When I got out, my system was updating. Well, the summary of the story is that I ended up losing 20 minutes of my time to a Windows 10 update that I didn’t need at that time. The update didn’t complete my report for me, I still had to write it myself.

Depending on your settings, Windows 10 can display notifications before updates, asking you to choose your preferred update time (usually a time when you’re not doing any work on your laptop), but there are other grievances like how it forces updates on system reboot.

It’s Expensive

Rich people and people living in developed countries can afford the luxury of data (and even download PC games in tens of gigabytes), but there are millions of people living in developing countries who cannot afford a lot of data. I know people who would pay for 100MB of data just so they can perform a quick task on the internet. Imagine an update stealing all of that even before you do anything.

Now let’s look at how you can disable automatic updates on windows 10.

Disable Windows Update Service

Disabling the windows update service will stop windows 10 automatic updates completely.

This is what I do usually, but this method is not recommended as doing this will prevent some windows products from working properly (e.g the Windows App Store).

1. Open up the Microsoft Windows Services console by typing “services” in the start menu search box and selecting the first result; or press CTRL + R, then type “services.msc” and hit Run.
2. From the Services console, scroll down to find Windows Update. Right click on it and select “Properties”.
3. From the Properties window, click on the “Stop” button to stop the service.
4. From the “Startup Type” dropdown, select “Disabled”.
5. Click Ok.

The windows 10 service is now disabled and you will not receive any new automatic updates. Remember to enable it once a while to update your system in order to take advantage of the important security updates to prevent potentially serious system issues.