If you want to prevent Windows 10 from downloading and
installing updates automatically, we’ll show you how to do it.
A lot of software these days is updated automatically, including
web browsers and the operating system on Google Chromebooks. They’re
more services than software, and although Windows has always had
fairly regular updates, Windows 10 has been unpopular with users
because Microsoft really forced those updates out and restarted PCs
even if you were in the middle of something.
Things are better now thanks to a feature called Active hours that
lets you set a period of time each when Windows won’t restart.
We’ll also explain how to use this.
How to stop Windows 10
automatically installing updates
One way to stop updates being downloaded is to set your internet
connection as ‘metered’. This is a common thing on phones, where
you wouldn’t want app updates eating up all your data allowance.
And you can do the same thing in Windows 10.
To do this, open the Windows 10 Settings (the cog icon on the
Start menu) and click Network and Internet.
Click
on Wi-Fi in the left-hand menu, then click on the network to which
your laptop, tablet or PC is connected (sadly, you can’t do this
for wired Ethernet connections).
Scroll
down and you’ll see the option for Metered connection, and below it
the switch to turn it on.
this
will reduce data usage and stop Windows updates from being
downloaded.
Naturally, this will also prevent them from being installed, which
means it’s a cunning way to defer updates if you have Windows 10
Home, which most home users do.
Windows 10 Professional Edition: Defer upgrades
While Home users are stuck with having to work around automatic updates, Professional users have a built-in option that allows them to defer updates for several months. The best part of this option is that security patches are still applied, it’s just system updates that are held back.
To enable the feature go to the Start Menu and type Settings, then select the top option. From Settings go to Advanced Options and there you’ll find the Defer Upgrades tick box under the Choose How Updates are Installed section. Click on this and you won’t have to worry about updates for a while.
