How to Stop Windows 10 Automatic Updates: A Comprehensive Guide
🔄 How to Stop Windows 10 from Installing Updates Automatically
Is your PC restarting at the worst possible time because of a Windows 10 automatic update? You’re not alone. Many users are frustrated by forced Windows updates that interrupt their work, gaming, or presentations—often without warning.
Luckily, there are a few ways to stop automatic updates in Windows 10 and control when updates install and restart your system.
🔧 How to Disable Automatic Updates in Windows 10 Pro
If you're using Windows 10 Pro, you can use the Group Policy Editor to prevent Windows from installing updates without permission.
Steps to stop forced updates:
Press the Windows key and search for gpedit, then open the Group Policy Editor.
Navigate to:
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Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
Double-click on Configure Automatic Updates.
Select Enabled and choose 2 – Notify for download and notify for install.
Click OK to apply the changes.
With this setting, Windows will notify you before downloading or installing updates, giving you full control over when they occur.
🚫 Windows 10 Home Edition? Here’s What You Can Do
If you're using Windows 10 Home, you won’t have access to the Group Policy Editor. But there’s still a way to manage when Windows installs updates and reboots your PC:
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Click Advanced Options.
Under Choose how updates are installed, select Notify to schedule restart.
This ensures that even if updates download automatically, Windows will ask before restarting your device.
⚙️ Optional: Limit How Windows 10 Delivers Updates
While you're in the settings, it’s a good idea to adjust how updates are shared across your network:
Click on "Choose how updates are delivered."
Turn off the setting or select "PCs on my local network" to avoid using bandwidth to send updates to other computers over the internet.