The Windows 11 updates bring system improvements in areas as diverse as the user interface, built-in applications, and other features. But they are also important to protect your computer from external attacks. Yes, they are Microsoft’s means of closing security gaps. That’s why Windows is equipped with an automatic update system that downloads new versions and prepares them for installation. Do you want to get rid of this tool? Have you noticed that your computer is running slow because of the automatic updates? In this article we explain how to disable them step by step.
Pause updates from the Settings app
The first method that you stop downloading updates can be found in the system settings. Find the shortcut in the Start menu or use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to enter it.
Open Windows 11 settings
Click on Windows Updateto see all options related to updates. Give in section Pause updates Specify how long you want to pause the automatic updates.
Pause updates for a period of time
You can set this break for up to five weeks. At this point, Windows Update will stop checking for available updates. However, you can also check for updates yourself.
Disabling the Windows Update service
An alternative method is disable the Windows Update service. Unlike the previous method, this method is applied indefinitely. Also, it needs administrative privileges to run.
First open the dialog Run using the Windows + R keyboard shortcut. Type services.msc command and click Ok.
Open Windows 11 Service Manager
You will find the entry in the list of services Windows Update. Double click on it to see all settings.
Windows Update Service
A pop-up window will open immediately. In this window you should see the list of options next to the Startup typefold down. choose Disabled to prevent the service from running automatically at startup.
Disable the update service
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Remember that you have this setting on Automatic or Manual set if you want to re-enable automatic updates in the future.
How to disable updates via regedit
The last way to turn off automatic updates is to die Windows-Registry to change. To do that, you need to launch Notepad. It’s as simple as the window Run to open and the command regedit to enter In this case, you must also have administrator rights to make the changes.
Open the registry editor
In the Registry Editor window, go to the following path:
ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows Inside the Windows key, you’ll find a nested key called Windows Update. If not, create them yourself by right-clicking Windows click, the cursor up New sets and Key choose
Create new key
As a result you will get a key called Windows Update in Windows.
WindowsUpdate key created
Repeat the process, but this time to name a key AU in Windows Update to create.
Create AU key in Windows Update
Join within the AU-key one DWORD (32-Bit) Value added.
Create a new 32-bit value
Rename him to NoAutoUpdate around and double click on it. Then change the value to 1.
Change value to 1
After doing these steps in the ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdateAU path, you should see the value NoAutoUpdatFind e at 1. As you can see in the screenshot below.
Changes applied to the registry
Restart your computer for the changes to take effect. From now on, updates will no longer be downloaded automatically. Instead, you need to go to the Windows Update section in System Preferences.
Is it advisable to turn off automatic updates?
We can only advise you to use these methods in very specific cases, e.g. B. on test PCs or computers with low performance. You shouldn’t turn off automatic updates on a PC you use at home or at work. Why? There are mutliple reasons for this:
- Performance is often improved with updates. If you want the best possible performance, it’s best to keep your computer up to date.
- You get improvements and new features via Windows Update. The developers use automatic updates to introduce improvements and functions that e.g. B. increase productivity or improve the user interface.
- Updates are important to keep your computer secure. The vulnerabilities found by Microsoft are fixed by patches that appear with new system versions.