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RadioGeorge
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How do I turn off Windows auto-update (Windows10)?

I thought I had done this but apparently not, so it's YOUR turn, experts!

In the past week, I have received three of Microsoft's notices about updates being automatically installed when I shut things down for the night. This is especially annoying because I have my computer(s) plugged in to an industrial strength power strip so when I'm done, I can shut them, external speakers, and anything else plugged in, down with the flick of one switch without having to wait...and wait...and sometimes wait some more.

I searched and thought I found the settings to change to disallow the auto-update function, but apparently not.

I'm guessing what I'm asking is fairly simple and the info I found was just bad info.

Let me know!
* Windows UpdatesWindows 10* Stop auto-updating

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RadioGeorge

8/22/2022 - Mon
Bill Prew

I think you have to stop the update service, and/or make a local policy change.  Microsoft kinda wants us all to be getting updates...

If you don't want to get your hands dirty, one of the simplest tools I used for a while when I didn't want updates to come down for a while is linked below.  It's a free util, and allows stopping and restarting updates with a single click.  It worked well for me at the time, although I have gone back to allowing updates again for some time now...

Disable Windows 10 Automatic Updates with Win Update Stop | NoVirusThanks


»bp
Cliff Galiher

Three distinct things here:

1) You can't.  You can use settings to delay some updates, but you can't disable them in a supported way.  Nor should you, for many reasons.

2) If you got three in a week then you've signed up for insider builds.  And the whole point of insider builds is that you get many incremental insider updates.  If you don't want updates that often, don't be an insider.  Being an insider *and* stopping updates is particularly contrary.  There is no point to being an insider if you aren't testing prerelease features.

3) Don't turn off power to your computer by power strip.  If you are using the shutdown menu option then windows is effectively turning the computer into a very low power state.  But there are still things the computer is doing.  Making sure it is in a thermally safe state (and will keep fans running until it is), keeping the clock without draining the emergency reserve battery (most motherboards don't even have replaceable batteries anymore), a few other things.  Computers just aren't really built to have the power yanked out from under them anymore and it shouldn't be done when it can be avoided.
Brian Murphy

Even if you could you don't want to turn them off due to security risks.

It depends on the version of Windows 10 but if you have "Professional" or "Enterprise" then you can modify the local group policy settings by:

Step 1: Open the Quick Access Menu with Windows+X, and click Command Prompt. Step 2: Type gpedit (or gpedit.msc) in the Command Prompt window and hit Enter.

Under Machine Settings
Windows Components\Windows Update

Do not display 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option in Shut Down Windows dialog box
Do not display 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option in Shut Down Windows dialog box
Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
Remove access to use all Windows Update features
Configure Automatic Updates
Specify intranet Microsoft update service location
Automatic Updates detection frequency
Allow non-administrators to receive update notifications
Allow Automatic Updates immediate installation
Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
Turn on Software Notifications
Enabling Windows Update Power Management to automatically wake up the system to install scheduled updates
No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations
Always automatically restart at the scheduled time
Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations
Delay Restart for scheduled installations
Reschedule Automatic Updates scheduled installations
Enable client-side targeting
Allow signed updates from an intranet Microsoft update service location
Do not connect to any Windows Update Internet locations
Manage preview builds
Select when Preview Builds and Feature Updates are received
Select when Quality Updates are received
Do not include drivers with Windows Updates
Turn off auto-restart for updates during active hours
Specify deadline before auto-restart for update installation
Remove access to use all Windows Update features
Specify active hours range for auto-restarts
Configure auto-restart required notification for updates
Configure auto-restart reminder notifications for updates
Turn off auto-restart notifications for update installations
Configure auto-restart warning notifications schedule for updates
Specify Engaged restart transition and notification schedule for updates
Update Power Policy for Cart Restarts
Allow updates to be downloaded automatically over metered connections
Do not allow update deferral policies to cause scans against Windows Update

Read the description for better understanding of each setting.

This doesn't work on Home editions.
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RadioGeorge

ASKER
Thanks to all.

I must have been tired when I posted this question---regarding the power strip setup: I know enough not to turn off the computer in the drastic way I seemed to have described it. I have some lamps, speakers, and a couple of other things plugged into a strip, along with the computer. I always shut off the computer safely and THEN with one button, turn off everything that may be on, plugged into the strip, at once. Guess it's best to be 100% awake when posting to EE!