Don't want Windows 11 to update automatically? Here's how to stop it.
Microsoft's Windows updates often bring new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes to your PC. However, sometimes updates can cause more problems than they fix. As a result, you may be wondering if there is a way to stop automatic updates in Windows 11.
The options built into Windows 11 allow you to temporarily disable updates. If you want a more permanent solution, you need to change the registry entries or disable the update service. Here we show you all the possible ways to disable automatic updates on Windows 11.
How to pause Windows 11 automatic updates via Settings
You can pause updates for up to five weeks from Windows 11 settings. This is a useful feature if you want to defer updates for a couple of weeks and not permanently. Here's how to do it.
- Awards Win + I to open the app Settings .
- In the left pane, click the tab Windows update .
- In the right pane, scroll down to the section Other options .
- Click the drop-down menu for Pause updates and select from 1 weeks a 5 weeks.
- Click the button Pause for (n) weeks .
Windows will postpone all updates to your computer for the selected period. If you change your mind, go back to the Windows update tab and click Resume update to perform a manual update.
How to set up a metered connection to stop Windows updates
Another easy way to stop automatic updates in Windows 11 is to set up your network as a metered connection. This is a useful trick that worked for Windows 10 and its successor as well.
Why does this trick work? Well, to avoid the user incurring high data usage costs on a metered connection, Windows won't download updates on one. Therefore, you can set up metered connections on a Wi-Fi or Ethernet network and not get updates.
- Awards Win + I to open the panel Settings .
- In the left pane, open the tab Rete and Internet .
- Then, click on the option Property for your network Wi-Fi o Ethernet .
- Scroll down and slide the switch to set the connection a best before date su On .
That's all. Windows will immediately stop downloading cumulative and optional updates. You can set up multiple connections as metered connections to prevent Windows from downloading updates if you connect to different networks at home and at work.
Keep in mind that enabling the metered connection is not without its peculiarities. If enabled, you may experience issues with offline file syncing and affect other installed apps that require consistent access to an active internet connection.
How to stop Windows 11 automatic updates with the Windows Update blocking utility
If you want to permanently stop automatic updates without setting your network as a metered connection, the Windows Update Blocker utility can help.
It's a nifty update blocker app developed for Windows 10 but works just as well on Windows 11. It offers more UI control over the operating system's update behavior. Here's how to use the tool
- Go to and download the portable app.
- Extract the zip folder and run the file wub.exe .
- Then, select Disable updates and click Apply now .
- If the application was successful, the service status turns green. Close the app and restart your PC.
- Also, click the button Menu to access advanced options. Lets you open the Service Manager, configure service list options, and command link information.
If you don't want to depend on a third-party tool to block Windows 11 updates, you can change system settings to stop updates via Group Policy Editor, Registry Editor, and Service Manager.
How to disable Windows 11 automatic updates using update services
You can permanently stop Windows 11 automatic updates by disabling the Windows Update service. It is a Windows component responsible for checking and downloading new updates as they become available.
To disable Windows 11 updates via Service Manager:
- Awards Win + R to open the dialog Run .
- To type services.msc and do click su OK to open Service Manager.
- In the Services window, locate the service Windows Update .
- Right-click the service and select Property .
- Click on the drop-down menu Startup type and select Disabled .
- Do click su OK and Apply to save the changes. Restart your PC to complete the changes and this should disable automatic updates on Windows 11.
