How to Disable Automatic Updates on Windows 11

If you're looking to stop Windows 11 from automatically updating, this guide will show you two methods to disable updates permanently.

Method 1: Using Local Group Policy Editor (Pro Edition Only)

1. Access Local Group Policy Editor:

   • Click the Start menu.
   • Type gpedit.msc in the search bar and press Enter.

2. Navigate to Automatic Updates Settings:

   • Expand Administrative Templates under Computer Configuration.
   • Expand Windows Components.
   • Expand Windows Updates.
   • Click on Manage end user experience.

3. Disable Automatic Updates:

   • Double click on Configure Automatic Updates in the right panel.
   • In the policy editor dialogue, select Disabled and click OK.

4. Manual Updates:

   • Right-click the Start menu, select Settings, then Windows Updates.
   • Use the Check for updates option to manually download and install updates.

Method 2: Using Windows Registry Editor (All Editions)

Warning: Editing the registry can be risky. Consider backing up your system before proceeding.

1. Access Windows Registry Editor:

   • Click the Start menu.
   • Type regedit in the search bar and press Enter.
   • Approve any User Account Control prompts by clicking Yes.

2. Navigate and Create Registry Keys:

   • Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
   • Navigate to SOFTWARE > Policies > Microsoft > Windows.
   • Right-click the Windows folder, select New > Key, and name it WindowsUpdate.
   • Right-click the new WindowsUpdate key folder, select New > Key, and name it AU (for Automatic Updates).

3. Create DWORD Entry to Disable Updates:

   • Right-click the AU key folder, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   • Name the key NoAutoUpdate.
   • Double click NoAutoUpdate, set its value to 1, and click OK.

4. Final Steps:

   • Close the registry editor.
   • Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

After completing these methods, your Windows 11 machine will no longer automatically download and install updates. However, you can manually update the system whenever needed.

I hope you find this tutorial helpful, and thank you for reading!