Question How can I stop Windows from updating itself? - Windows 11

Sometimes Windows 11 prompts me to restart my laptop to update in the middle of work.

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You can't completely turn off this but you can make a schedule for updates in the options. Go update setting and activate the schedule option when you are not working.

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You can stop updates by using group policy. I stopped mine. My PC will not install Win 11 unless I allow it.
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
Manage end-user experience.
Configure Automatic Updates.
Disable it.
Restart your PC.

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Why would you want to?

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HipKat said:
Why would you want to?
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Because I don't want my computer to restart automatically

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Teodortodorv said:
Sometimes Windows 11 prompts me to restart my laptop to update in the middle of work.
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Click to collapse
You can use windows update blocker. It's free.
Download Windows Update Blocker v1.8
Windows Update Blocker is a Portable freeware that helps you to completely disable or enable Automatic Updates on your Windows system.
www.sordum.org

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Why would people want to block updates? Most of them are security updates for Win Defender.

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Teodortodorv said:
Sometimes Windows 11 prompts me to restart my laptop to update in the middle of work.
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You can do it settings or use powershell. Google helps.

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You should definitly never try to permanently disable updates if you want to continue using your system!
but you could do it more specific to your needs:
if you want to stop windows from automatically restart for update installations while you are logged on:
1. in startmenu search for "edit group policy", which should open 'local group policy editior'
2. navigate the treeview to
"Computer Configuration"
-> "Administrative Templates"
-> "Windows Components"
-> "Windows Update"
....
From here you have multiple options, for example
a: ....
-> "Legacy Policies"
-> "No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations"
b: ....
-> "Manage end user experience"
-> "Turn off auto-restart for updates during active hours"
If you really only want this to not happen during your working times, i would recommend using option b, but you will have to set up your "Active Hours" in windows Updates Settings for this to work..
do everything i described at your own risk, neither I nor Microsoft care if you break anything

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To disable automatic updates temporarily, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options button.
Under the "Pause until" section, use the drop-down menu and select how long to stop updates.
Another Method:
Open Start.
Search for gpedit.msc and click the top result to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
Navigate to the following path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
Double-click the Configure Automatic Updates policy on the right side.
Check the Disabled option to turn off automatic Windows 10 updates permanently.
Click the Apply button.
Click the OK button.

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I find this tool quite useful!
https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

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Open cmd as administrator and execute this code to disable AU Updates:
Code:
powershell.exe New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU' -Name 'NoAutoUpdate' -PropertyType dword -Value 1 -force

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there are options you can put a limited connection, or disable it through the registry

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Teodortodorv said:
Sometimes Windows 11 prompts me to restart my laptop to update in the middle of work.
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Click to collapse
get update blocker

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You can disable updates through the local policy editor

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hamedsolo said:
You can use windows update blocker. It's free.
Download Windows Update Blocker v1.8
Windows Update Blocker is a Portable freeware that helps you to completely disable or enable Automatic Updates on your Windows system.
www.sordum.org
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Finally, a way to block those annoying updates. Works fine for me so far, thanks a lot

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You can disable the service that is responsible for updates: Windows update service (wuauserv). Open "Services" find "Windows Update". Double click it:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Now set startup type to disabled:
Restart your computer. Note: This solution may work only temporary.
Or try:
Go to Registry Editor
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
Create key
Code:
NoAutoUpdate
Create DWORD (32-bit) Value. Set Value: 1.
Restart your system. To enable updates again, simply remove the registry key.

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IIRC I stopped mine via the Registry. I am annoyed by Automatic Updates also, and while I still want to get updates, I don't want interruptions telling me that I need to restart to install them before I am ready to.

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hamedsolo said:
You can use windows update blocker. It's free.
Download Windows Update Blocker v1.8
Windows Update Blocker is a Portable freeware that helps you to completely disable or enable Automatic Updates on your Windows system.
www.sordum.org
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only this solution is block update completely. You also can use StopWinUpdates 2.8.
DON'T STOP WindowsUpdate service, it's useless because it will starting automatically after period time.
Windows so crazy.

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Teodortodorv said:
Sometimes Windows 11 prompts me to restart my laptop to update in the middle of work.
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Click to collapse
No idea why anyone uses windows 11, this is literally malware and the most **** OS that exists, totally anti privacy. In windows 10 you can COMPLETLY STOP updates.