How To Stop Windows 11 Update

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Alright, feeling a bit overwhelmed by those automatic Windows 11 updates popping up at the most inconvenient times? You're not alone! It's great that Microsoft keeps our systems secure and up-to-date, but sometimes these updates can disrupt our workflow or even cause unexpected issues.

Let's dive right in and explore the various ways you can take control of when and how Windows 11 updates happen.

Step 1: Pause Updates Temporarily - The Quickest Fix

Ready to hit the pause button on those updates? This is often the simplest and most immediate solution when you need a temporary reprieve.

Navigating to the Pause Option:

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, or click the Start button on your taskbar.
  2. Type "Settings" and click on the Settings app when it appears in the search results.
  3. In the Settings window, click on "Windows Update" located on the left-hand sidebar.
  4. On the right side, you'll see a section labeled "Pause updates". Click on the dropdown menu below it.
  5. Here, you can select a duration for which you want to pause updates. You can typically pause for up to five weeks.
  6. Once you select a duration, you'll see a notification indicating that updates have been paused until the specified date.

Important Considerations for Pausing:

  • Pausing updates is a temporary solution. Eventually, you'll need to resume updates to keep your system secure and receive the latest features.
  • After the pause period expires, Windows will automatically try to download and install updates.
  • You can resume updates manually at any time by going back to the Windows Update settings and clicking the "Resume updates" button.

Step 2: Configure Active Hours - Set Your Productive Times

Want Windows to avoid installing updates when you're most likely using your computer? Setting active hours is a fantastic way to achieve this.

Defining Your Active Hours:

  1. Open the Settings app (Windows key + I).
  2. Click on "Windows Update" in the left sidebar.
  3. Under "Windows Update," look for "Active hours" and click on it.
  4. You have two options here:
    • Automatically adjust active hours based on activity: If you enable this, Windows will monitor your usage patterns and try to set active hours accordingly. This is a convenient option for many users.
    • Manually set active hours: If you prefer more control, you can select this option. Click on the "Set manual hours" button.
  5. You can then specify your start time and end time for active hours. Windows will generally avoid restarting your device to install updates during these times.
  6. You can adjust these hours as your schedule changes.

Limitations of Active Hours:

  • Active hours only prevent automatic restarts for updates. Windows might still download and prepare updates in the background during these hours.
  • If your computer has been off for an extended period and misses several scheduled update installations, it might still try to install updates even during active hours to catch up.

Step 3: Using Group Policy Editor (for Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions)

If you have a Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition of Windows 11, the Group Policy Editor offers more granular control over updates.

Accessing the Group Policy Editor:

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type "gpedit.msc" and press Enter or click "OK." This will open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Configuring Update Policies:

  1. In the Group Policy Editor, navigate through the left-hand pane to:

    • Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update

  2. On the right-hand side, you'll see various policies related to Windows Updates. Let's explore a few key ones:

    • Configure Automatic Updates: Double-click on this policy.
      • In the window that appears, you can choose different options from the dropdown menu:
        • 2 - Notify for download and auto install: You'll be notified when updates are ready to download and again before they are installed. You have to manually initiate both processes.
        • 3 - Auto download and notify for install: Updates will be downloaded automatically, but you'll be notified before they are installed.
        • 4 - Auto download and schedule the install: You can schedule the exact day and time for updates to be installed.
        • 5 - Allow local admin to choose setting: This allows administrators to configure update settings through the Settings app.
      • Select your desired option and click "Apply" and then "OK".
    • Select the target Feature Update version: Double-click on this policy.
      • Set the policy to "Enabled".
      • Under "Options," you can specify the Windows version you want to stay on. This can delay feature updates.
      • Click "Apply" and then "OK".
    • Select the target Quality Update version: Double-click on this policy.
      • Set the policy to "Enabled".
      • Similar to feature updates, you can specify a target quality update version to delay these updates.
      • Click "Apply" and then "OK".

Important Notes for Group Policy:

  • The Group Policy Editor is not available in the Home edition of Windows 11.
  • Changes made in the Group Policy Editor apply to the entire computer.
  • Be cautious when modifying Group Policy settings, as incorrect configurations can lead to unexpected behavior.

Step 4: Using Registry Editor (Alternative for Windows Home Users)

If you're using Windows 11 Home and don't have access to the Group Policy Editor, you can achieve similar (though sometimes less stable) results by modifying the Registry.

Accessing the Registry Editor:

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type "regedit" and press Enter or click "OK."
  3. Click "Yes" if prompted by User Account Control.

Modifying Registry Keys for Updates:

  • To Delay Feature Updates:

    1. Navigate to the following key in the left-hand pane: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
    2. If the WindowsUpdate key doesn't exist, right-click on Windows > New > Key and name it WindowsUpdate.
    3. Right-click on the WindowsUpdate key > New > Key and name it AU.
    4. Select the AU key.
    5. In the right-hand pane, right-click in an empty space > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    6. Name this value DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays.
    7. Double-click on DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays and set the "Value data" to the number of days you want to defer feature updates (up to 365 days). Choose "Decimal" as the base.
    8. Right-click again in the empty space > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    9. Name this value FeatureUpdatesDeferralPeriod.
    10. Double-click on FeatureUpdatesDeferralPeriod and set the "Value data" to the same number of days as above (in decimal).
    11. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

  • To Delay Quality Updates:

    1. Navigate to the same key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
    2. Right-click in the right-hand pane > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    3. Name this value DeferQualityUpdatesPeriodInDays.
    4. Double-click on DeferQualityUpdatesPeriodInDays and set the "Value data" to the number of days you want to defer quality updates (up to 30 days). Choose "Decimal" as the base.
    5. Right-click again in the empty space > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    6. Name this value QualityUpdatesDeferralPeriod.
    7. Double-click on QualityUpdatesDeferralPeriod and set the "Value data" to the same number of days as above (in decimal).
    8. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Important Warnings for Registry Editing:

  • Modifying the Registry can be risky if done incorrectly. Always back up your Registry before making any changes. To do this, in the Registry Editor, go to File > Export, choose a location, and save the file.
  • Be extremely careful when editing Registry values. Incorrect values can cause serious system instability.
  • These Registry tweaks might not be as reliable as the Group Policy settings and could be overridden by future Windows updates.

Step 5: Metered Connection - Limiting Data Usage (and Updates)

If you're on a limited data plan, setting your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection as metered can help restrict background data usage, including Windows Updates.

Setting a Connection as Metered:

  1. Open the Settings app (Windows key + I).
  2. Click on "Network & internet" in the left sidebar.
  3. Click on the type of connection you're using (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
  4. If you selected Wi-Fi, click on the name of your connected Wi-Fi network.
  5. Scroll down and toggle the "Metered connection" switch to "On".
  6. If you selected Ethernet, click on the Ethernet connection.
  7. Look for the "Metered connection" setting and toggle it to "On".

How Metered Connection Affects Updates:

  • When a connection is set as metered, Windows will generally not automatically download updates, especially larger ones.
  • You might still receive notifications about available updates, but you'll likely need to manually initiate the download and installation.
  • Be aware that setting a connection as metered can also affect other apps that use background data.

Frequently Asked Questions (How to...)

How to check if updates are paused in Windows 11?

Go to Settings > Windows Update. At the top, you'll see a message indicating if updates are paused and until what date.

How to resume Windows 11 updates after pausing?

Navigate to Settings > Windows Update and click the "Resume updates" button.

How to find the Active Hours settings in Windows 11?

Open Settings > Windows Update and click on "Active hours".

How to open the Group Policy Editor in Windows 11 Pro?

Press Windows key + R, type "gpedit.msc", and press Enter.

How to access the Registry Editor in Windows 11?

Press Windows key + R, type "regedit", and press Enter.

How to back up the Windows 11 Registry before making changes?

Open Registry Editor, go to File > Export, choose a save location, and click "Save".

How to set a Wi-Fi connection as metered in Windows 11?

Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi, click on your Wi-Fi network name, and toggle "Metered connection" to "On".

How to set an Ethernet connection as metered in Windows 11?

Go to Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet, click on your Ethernet connection, and toggle "Metered connection" to "On".

How to revert changes made by Group Policy Editor?

Open Group Policy Editor, navigate to the policy you changed, select "Not Configured", click "Apply", and then "OK".

How to revert changes made in the Windows 11 Registry?

If you created a backup, open Registry Editor, go to File > Import, and select the backup file. If not, you'll need to manually change the values back to their original state (if you remember them).

Hopefully, this comprehensive guide has given you a better understanding of how to manage Windows 11 updates according to your preferences. Remember to weigh the convenience of automatic updates against the potential disruptions and choose the method that best suits your needs!

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How To Stop Windows 11 Update

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