How to Disable or Pause Windows Update in Windows 10 and 11

Automatic updates are important for security, but sometimes you need to delay or stop them — before a big presentation, when an update breaks something, or on a metered connection. Here's how to do it properly.

Method 1: Pause Updates (Recommended)

The safest approach — temporarily delays updates without fully disabling them.

Win + I → Windows Update → Pause updates → select pause duration (1–5 weeks on Windows 11, up to 35 days on Windows 10)

After the pause period, updates resume automatically.

Method 2: Set Connection as Metered

Windows limits background downloads on metered connections.

Win + I → Network & Internet → click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection → turn on Metered connection

Windows will stop downloading large updates automatically. You can still check for and install updates manually.

Method 3: Group Policy (Pro and Enterprise)

Win + R → gpedit.msc

Navigate to:

Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates →
Windows Components → Windows Update → Manage end user experience

Configure Automatic Updates → Enabled → set to:

2 - Notify for download and auto install — Windows asks before downloading
3 - Auto download and notify for install — downloads but asks before installing
Disabled — turns off automatic updates completely (not recommended long-term)

Method 4: Disable Windows Update Service

# Stop and disable the service
Stop-Service wuauserv
Set-Service wuauserv -StartupType Disabled

# Re-enable when needed
Set-Service wuauserv -StartupType Manual
Start-Service wuauserv

Also disable the Update Orchestrator:

Stop-Service UsoSvc
Set-Service UsoSvc -StartupType Disabled

Method 5: Block Updates via Registry

# Disable automatic updates
$path = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU"
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name "NoAutoUpdate" -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name "AUOptions" -Value 1 -Type DWord

# Re-enable
Remove-Item -Path $path -Force

Block a Specific Problematic Update

If a specific update is causing problems, block it by KB number:

Download the Show or Hide Updates troubleshooter from Microsoft (search "wushowhide.diagcab")
Run it → Hide updates → select the update to block

Or via PowerShell (Windows 10):

# Hide specific update by KB number
$updateSession = New-Object -ComObject Microsoft.Update.Session
$updateSearcher = $updateSession.CreateUpdateSearcher()
$updates = $updateSearcher.Search("IsInstalled=0").Updates
$updates | Where-Object {$_.KBArticleIDs -contains "5034441"} |
  ForEach-Object {$_.IsHidden = $true}

Delay Feature Updates Only (Keep Security Patches)

This keeps security patches but delays major version upgrades:

Win + I → Windows Update → Advanced options:

Receive updates for other Microsoft products — keep on
Defer feature updates — set to maximum (365 days)

Via Group Policy:

Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates →
Windows Components → Windows Update → Windows Update for Business
→ Select when Preview Builds and Feature Updates are received
→ Set to 365 days deferral

What You Shouldn't Do Long-Term

Disabling Windows Update completely is a security risk. Without patches:

Known vulnerabilities remain unpatched
Malware specifically targets unpatched systems
Some features stop working over time

Recommended approach: pause for 1–2 weeks if you need stability, then let updates install. Use Group Policy to defer feature updates by 60–90 days while still getting security patches.

Re-enable Everything Quickly

Set-Service wuauserv -StartupType Automatic
Start-Service wuauserv
Set-Service UsoSvc -StartupType Automatic
Start-Service UsoSvc
Remove-Item "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
gpupdate /force

Summary

For temporary pause: Settings → Windows Update → Pause (safest). For metered connections: set as Metered. For long-term control on Pro: use Group Policy to defer feature updates while keeping security patches. Fully disabling updates is not recommended — pause instead.