Stop automatic updates in Windows 10

Martyn Casserly shows how to stop unwanted updates being downloaded and installed in Windows 10

Microsoft has made automatic updates in Windows 10 Home compulsory, and to a lesser extent in Windows 10 Professional. There are good reasons for this, the foremost of which is security, but if you don’t want your system to be constantly downloading patches and possibly breaking apps or causing other problems, then there are a few options available. We’ll guide you through the workarounds that exist and how you can implement them. It

Pretend to use a metered Wi-Fi connection

One way to stop Windows installing updates is to fool the system into thinking that it’s actually working on a restricted data plan. This only works over Wi-Fi though, so if you connect your PC to a router via a network cable then the fix won’t apply.

To set this up, go to the Start Menu and search for Settings. Select the top result and choose Networks & Internet. should be noted though, that due to the security fixes that come with the updates, we would advise leaving the automated service on if you want your system to remain safe.

First you could upgrade to the Pro version of the system, which brings additional features and increased control. If you’re happy with your current system, then there are a few ways to get around the update issue.