How To Pause Windows 10 Update

Windows Update showing "Updates paused" on Windows 10.

Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs updates equally they get bachelor. To stop this, y'all can "pause" updates for upwards to 35 days in merely a few clicks—even on Windows 10 Habitation. Here's what you need to know virtually pausing Windows Update.

How to Interruption Updates for Upward to 35 Days

Commencement, launch the Settings screen. You can open the Outset menu and click the "Settings" gear icon or press Windows+i to open information technology.

Click "Settings" in the Start menu.

Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Click the "Interruption updates for 7 days" option here. Windows won't automatically download or install updates for the next seven days.

Click "Pause updates for 7 days."

You can click "Interruption updates for seven days" over again to add together more time to the break period. When you reach 35 days, the option will be grayed out—that'south the maximum.

Note: When your break period expires, Windows Update will automatically download and install whatever available updates earlier it will let you lot pause once again.

Windows Update showing updates are paused with a "Resume updates" button.

How to Pause Updates Until a Specific Engagement

Yous can pause updates until a specific date. On the Windows Update settings screen, click "Advanced options."

Click "Advanced options."

Scroll down to the Pause Updates section. Click the "Select engagement" box and choose the date you lot want to resume updating Windows.

Roll down in this list and yous tin select a appointment up to 35 days in the future.

Click "Select date."

Note: When the engagement arrives, Windows will automatically download and install any available updates before letting you pause updating again.

How to Avoid Big Updates

Modern versions of Windows 10 requite you more than control over those once-every-vi-months big feature updates Microsoft releases.

Windows will no longer automatically download and install these updates. When they're bachelor, y'all'll exist given them as an pick on the Windows Update screen. Just don't click the "Download and install" below it, and it won't be installed on your PC.

Note: Windows Update may eventually install these updates automatically—for case, if your current version of Windows 10 is nearing the finish of its support period and your PC needs to upgrade to keep receiving security updates.

An option to install a feature update in Windows Update. — Microsoft

RELATED: Microsoft Abandons Windows 10's Constant Forced Updates

How to Suspension Updates For Longer

You tin can also gain more control over updates by marking your connections as "metered." This option is intended for connections where y'all accept a limited assart of download information.

To marking a connexion as metered, caput to Settings > Network & Cyberspace. Select "Wi-Fi" for a wireless connection or "Ethernet" for a wired connection. Click the name of the network and activate the "Set every bit metered connection" option.

Activate "Set as metered connection."

To ensure Windows won't automatically download updates on a metered connection, head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click the "Advanced options" pick and ensure "Download updates over metered connections (actress charges may utilise)" is set to "Off."

Note: Windows Update will still automatically download updates on non-metered connections. For example, if yous connect a laptop to a different Wi-Fi network that isn't marked as a metered network in Windows, updating volition immediately resume.

Ensure "Download updates over metered connections" is off.

RELATED: How, When, and Why to Set a Connection as Metered on Windows x

Use Group Policy for More Command

For businesses that want more control over updates, Microsoft offers a variety of "Windows Update for Business" options that can be configured either in Grouping Policy or via MDM policies.

These policies crave a Professional, Enterprise, or Instruction version of Windows ten. Information technology won't work with the standard Windows 10 Dwelling software on most PCs.

However, yous can change these settings via the Local Group Policy Editor on a Windows 10 Professional PC, and you tin purchase a Windows 10 Professional upgrade from Microsoft to access Group Policy and other features like BitLocker deejay encryption. So, if you're comfortable with Group Policy and are willing to pay extra for Windows 10 Professional, these options are available to home users.

In Group Policy, these options are located at Computer Configuration > Authoritative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Windows Update for Business.

For more information on configuring these settings, bank check Microsoft's official Configure Windows Update for Business documentation.

Windows Update for Business options in Group Policy.

RELATED: How to Upgrade From Windows x Home to Windows 10 Professional

Exist sure to set your Active Hours so Windows 10 doesn't restart for updates at a bad fourth dimension. You can "pause" restarting for updates during the hours you normally utilise your PC, preventing Windows Update from interfering with your PC usage.

RELATED: How to Set "Agile Hours" So Windows 10 Won't Restart at a Bad Time