Disable Windows 10 Automatic Updates Using Registry

How to Prevent Windows 10 Automatic Updates

This tutorial is almost the same in our previous post called  "Disable Windows 10 Automatic Update Local Group Policy Editor", but there is a little bit different on the step by step process because we are going to use the Registry to prevent or disable Windows 10 Automatic updates.

Since Windows 7 is now supported anymore in future Windows updates even today there are still Windows 7 Operating System users like in Internet Cafe, the process on Windows 7 is very easy, but in windows 10 there's a little bit complex or hard to find where the settings is located to disable the Automatic updates, although there are some pros and cons on doing this but there is also a good benefit that we also mentioned on our previous post, but of course commonly Windows 10 users wanted to disable this feature so they can have a full control when they wanted to get a new update from Windows 10.

NOTE: Editing the registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don't do it correctly. It's recommended that you make a full backup of your computer before proceeding.

Steps On How To Disable Windows 10 Automatic Update Using Registry

1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
2. Type regedit, and click OK to open the Registry.
3. Browse the following path provided below:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
4. Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select New, and then click Key.
   (see screenshot provided above)
5. Name the new key WindowsUpdate and press Enter.
6. Right-click the newly created key, select new, and click Key.
   
7. Name the new key AU and press Enter.
8. Inside the newly created key, right-click on the right side, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   
9. Name the new key AUOptions and press Enter.
10. Double-click the newly created key and change its value using one of the following options:
    - "Notify for download and notify for install."
    - "Auto download and notify for install."
    - "Auto download and schedule the install."
    - "Allow local admin to choose settings."
    
11. Click OK. and close the registry.

Although you can use any of these available values, your best choice is to change the value to 2 to configure the "Notify for download and notify for install" option. Using this value prevents Windows 10 from downloading updates automatically, and you'll get a notification when new updates are available.

After tweaking the Registry, when new updates become available, you'll receive a notification in Action Center, but updates won't download and install until you're ready and do the following:

Open Settings.

1. Click on Update & security.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. Click the Download button.

Click the Restart button to complete the task.