If you want to later enable Automatic Updates again, you have to first set the startup type of the Windows Update service to Manual and then start the service. Yup, that is all we wanted: “some problems installing updates.” If you now click Check for Updates in the Windows Update app, you should see a reassuring error message:Įrror message: There were some problems installing updates If the service is already running, click Stop. Scroll down to Windows Update and double-click the service.
Then, type “services” in the Windows 10 search box and click View Local Services. I recommend to first check if updates are currently downloaded if so, wait until all updates are installed. All we need to do is stop the Windows Update service and make sure that it won’t start again. However, we have another option to turn off Automatic Updates altogether. (See end of text) Disabling the Windows Update service ^ I am unaware of a new registry setting that works in the January build. The corresponding registry settings are still available however, they appear to have no effect on the update behavior of Windows 10 build 9926. The registry hack I outlined in a previous post no longer works. A downside of this method is that it will affect the behavior of other applications, such as OneDrive. (Click the network symbol in the systray and then right-click the connection.) This should prevent Windows 10 from downloading updates. If you connect your Windows machine through a WiFi network, you can set the connection to a metered connection. If you want to access the Internet with your Windows 10 machine, this option is not really the one you want. The easiest way to turn off Automatic Updates is to simply unplug the network cable or, if you are testing in a virtual environment, to assign the virtual network adapter to an internal network. The latter option won’t download updates over a metered connection, and you will be asked to schedule a restart to finish installing updates.Īdvanced Windows Update options Changing the network settings to turn off updates ^ The latest build, 9926, only offers two update options: Automatic (recommended) and Notify to schedule restart.
It appears Microsoft is fiercely determined to force Windows 10 users to always install the latest updates. Windows Update applet in Control Panel missing ^ To change the update behavior, you have to click Advanced options. See end of text.) You can find it by typing “windows update” in the new search box on the Windows taskbar. (Update: There is a way to bring back the old Update applet. Windows Update is now available only as a modern app (should I really call this a Windows Store app?). If you are searching for the Windows Update applet in the old Control Panel, you will search in vain.