So, I am not alone in my frustration with how Microsoft manages Windows updates. workflows are often disrupted by their pushy approach, and the bugs that follow make things worse. Though disabling all updates is a security risk, I am using these Windows Registry hacks to restore control and make the process much more bearable.
**Warning If you follow these registry hacks, make sure you support the Registry. Any errors in the Registry can cause system corruption and data loss. *****
Prevent Windows From Automatically Downloading and Installing Updates
Windows automatically download/install updates as they become available by default and will only be notified when an update needs to restart your PC. This behavior is very disruptive, as they often download and install while I am working (or worse) playing games; ping spikes, stuttering or frame drops.
The following registry hack will prevent Windows from downloading and installing updates automatically, and you’ll receive a notification to manually allow.
Open the Windows Registry Editor and move to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Click right on the Windows key and select New Key. Name this key WindowsUpdate? After this new WindowsUpdate key, create another key under this current key and name it AU.
Select the AU key, right-click in the right panel, and select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name this value AUOptions, double-click on it to open it, and set the value to 2.
It is that’s it, now that Windows will always ask you for downloading and installing updates; the entire process will be manual. Nevertheless, this won’t work if you have Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available option enabled on the Windows Update page. Don’t forget it, if you open windows settings and go to Windows Update?
Stop Windows From Automatically Restarting to Update
Your PC will automatically restart during inactive hours by Windows when installing updates are installed. Leaving your PC on during inactive hours can disrupt work, which may be the reason for this. Using this registry hack I am still logged in, and want to restart manually so that Windows won’t reboot the system while it is already plugged in.
As we did above above, move to the AU location again in the Registry. The path below is for you to copy/paste ‘I am giving the way of s, so that you can easily copy and paste “
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
Create a new DWORD value here and name it NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers. Double-click on it and set its value to 1.
Now Windows will only automatically restart and apply updates when you sign out of your account, a period that is inactive hours.
Lock Windows to a Specific Version to Stop Feature Upgrades
In general, Windows feature updates (such as 24H2 or 25HD2) are the most powerful annual update to windows that can completely change UI and workflows. If you do not want those big updates (and the associated nagging) and still want all other security/cumulative updates, use the following registry hack.
Go to the following location in the Registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
In WindowsUpdate, you must create three values 1 DWORD*** and 2 (2)String. In the right panel, just right-click and select DWORD (32-bit) Value once and **String Value*** twice. Name and set values of these entries in the following.
- DWORD →
TargetReleaseVersion= 1 - String →
ProductVersion= Windows 11 - String →
TargetReleaseVersionInfo= enter your current Windows version, like25H2.
For instance, when you need to upgrade, enter the version of Windows you want your update into in the TargetReleaseVersionInfo value. You also just delete these values, like s.
You can also be updated to your device drivers by Windows updater, which doesn’t always choose the best for you. While windows may be equipped with an automatic driver update via a UI method, it only blocks manufacturer apps (not all drivers), while Windows does block manufacturers. My drivers are specific GPU drivers, I manually update driver drivers so that I use this registry hack to completely disable driver updates via Windows updates.
Move to the following location again:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
Write a new value of DWORD in WindowsUpdate key and name it ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate. It was opened by Double-click and set at1 **1 to be a value of it.
Now, Windows won’t even search for drivers when looking for a new update.
Pause Windows Updates Beyond 5 Weeks
While I don’t disable Windows updates, it is a common thing that when I fully optimize my PCs to test and confirm stability on newer PC devices they are often paused. The default is a bit confining 5-week limit, so I use this registry hack to increase that limit
Access the following location in the Registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings
Create a new DWORD value and name it FlightSettingsMaxPauseDay’s in SetTINGS. After opening it, Base to Decimal and the value to *365** (more days can be selected) are open.
Windows Settings now support Windows Update, and the Pause updates drop-down menu will allow you to choose up to 52 weeks of pause.
Please remember that these hacks are not a part of Windows for emergency updates (very rare); they will be pushed as long as the update service is enabled. For those who are also sick of the problems Windows updates introduce, bookmark our guide to latest Windows update issues and fixes; it’s updated monthly.
Thanks for reading Use These Windows Registry Hacks to Tame the Disruptive Windows Updates
