How to Stop Windows from Updating on Its Own

Have you ever been in the middle of doing something important, and Windows suddenly starts updating? Annoying, right? Your computer slows down, sometimes restarts without warning, and you lose valuable time. Sure, updates improve security and fix issues, but should they always install on their own? What if an update makes things worse instead of better? Wouldn't it be nice to decide when updates happen? Microsoft does not give an easy way to turn them off completely, but there are ways around it. Have you tried pausing updates? That only works for a few weeks. What about adjusting system settings? That helps, but it is not permanent. The best method is to disable the update service entirely. How do you do that? Let’s get started.

Note: This method works for both Windows 10 and 11, so no worries about compatibility.

How Do You Turn Off Automatic Updates?

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Type services.msc and press Enter. A new window appears with a long list of services. Find Windows Update, then double-click it. A settings window will pop up. See the Startup type option? If it is set to Automatic, that is why updates keep installing. Click the drop-down menu and select Disabled. Click Apply, then OK, and that is it. Updates will not install unless you choose to enable them again. Want updates occasionally? You can still check for them manually whenever you need to.

Will This Keep Updates Off Forever?

Disabling the update service works, but Windows sometimes turns it back on after major updates or system resets. If that happens, repeat the steps to disable it again. Want extra control? Try setting your internet connection as metered in the settings. This tricks Windows into thinking you are on limited data, stopping automatic updates from downloading.

Looking for a Temporary Fix?

If you prefer a short-term solution, go to Settings, then Update & Security, and click Windows Update. There, you will see an option to Pause updates for up to 35 days. It is not a long-term fix, but it buys you some time if you need a break from constant updates.

What’s the Next Step?

Now that automatic updates are off, what is the plan? Are you going to check for updates once in a while, or just let Windows sit there in peace? Security updates are still important, so it is a good idea to install them occasionally—just on your terms. But what if one day Windows decides to turn updates back on without asking? Yep, that happens sometimes. If it does, just follow the same steps and disable it again.

Thinking about turning updates back on later? No problem. Go back to the Windows Update service, change Startup type to Automatic, and you're back to how things were. Easy, right? The best part is that now you are in charge, not Windows. No more surprise restarts in the middle of work, no more updates at the worst time. Feels good, doesn’t it?