How to Stop Windows 11 Update Permanently (2026 Guide)

Few things are more disruptive than your PC restarting at the worst possible moment to install a Windows 11 update. You're mid-presentation, or rendering a video, or finally deep into a flow state—and suddenly, the screen goes black and the dreaded "Working on updates" spinner appears. If you're tired of fighting with automatic updates, you're in the right place.

The good news? There are multiple ways to stop Windows 11 update behavior, ranging from a simple five-week pause to a permanent block. The bad news? The "best" method depends on which edition of Windows 11 you're running (Home vs. Pro) and how comfortable you are tinkering with system settings. This guide walks through every viable approach—plus how to safely re-enable updates when you're ready.

I've spent the better part of 15 years managing Windows endpoints across small businesses and enterprise environments. I've broken a few systems along the way (and fixed them). The methods below are the ones I've tested, vetted, and would trust with my own machines.

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Pause Windows 11 Update: The Quick Temporary Fix

Before you go down the permanent-block rabbit hole, ask yourself: do you actually need updates stopped forever, or just for the next few weeks? If it's the latter, the built-in pause feature is your safest bet. No registry edits, no services to break—just a few clicks and you're done.

How to Pause Updates via the Settings App

Here's the straightforward path:

1. Open Settings (press Win + I).
2. Click Windows Update in the left sidebar.
3. Look for the Pause updates option. Click the dropdown and select a duration—up to 5 weeks.

That's it. No technical knowledge required, and you can resume updates at any time by clicking the Resume updates button.

One thing worth noting: when the pause period expires, Windows will automatically resume downloading updates. You'll get a notification before that happens, so you can extend the pause if needed. But if you're looking for a more permanent solution, keep reading.

Extending the Pause: The 35-Day Trick

The standard pause maxes out at 5 weeks (35 days). But what if you need a bit more breathing room? There's a registry tweak that extends the pause window—though it's more of a "hack" than a supported feature.

Here's how it works:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings
3. Right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it PauseUpdatesExpiryTime.
4. Set the value to the date you want updates to resume, in the format YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., 2026-06-30).
5. Restart your PC.

This effectively extends the pause beyond the standard 35 days. But here's the catch: it's a temporary measure. Once the date passes, updates will resume. And Microsoft could patch this in a future update, so don't rely on it as a long-term solution.

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Disable Windows 11 Update via Registry Editor

If you want a more permanent solution, the Registry Editor is your friend. This method works on all editions of Windows 11—Home, Pro, Enterprise, you name it. But it requires a steady hand and a willingness to accept some risk.

Step-by-Step Registry Modification for Windows 11 Home & Pro

Critical warning: Before you touch the registry, create a system restore point. I can't stress this enough. One wrong value can render your system unstable, and having a restore point is your safety net. Here's how:

1. Press Win + S, type "Create a restore point," and hit Enter.
2. Click Create, give it a name, and wait for the process to finish.

Now, let's disable Windows Update:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
   • If the WindowsUpdate key doesn't exist, right-click on the Windows folder, select New > Key, and name it WindowsUpdate. Then create a subkey named AU.
3. Right-click on the AU key, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it NoAutoUpdate.
4. Double-click NoAutoUpdate, set the value to 1, and click OK.
5. Restart your PC.

After the restart, Windows Update should stop checking for, downloading, and installing updates automatically. You can still manually check for updates via Settings, but the automatic behavior is disabled.

How to Re-enable Updates After a Registry Change

Reversing this is just as simple:

1. Open the Registry Editor and navigate back to the same path.
2. Either delete the NoAutoUpdate value or set it to 0.
3. Restart your PC.

I'd recommend setting it to 0 rather than deleting it entirely—that way, if you need to disable updates again, you don't have to recreate the value from scratch.

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Block Windows 11 Update Using Group Policy Editor

If you're running Windows 11 Pro, Education, or Enterprise, the Group Policy Editor offers a more user-friendly way to block updates. It's less error-prone than registry editing and gives you more granular control.

Configuring Group Policy for Windows 11 Pro, Education, and Enterprise

Here's the step-by-step:

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience
3. Double-click Configure Automatic Updates.
4. Select Disabled, then click Apply and OK.

This stops Windows from automatically downloading and installing updates. You can still check for updates manually.

For a more aggressive block, there's another policy worth considering: Remove access to use all Windows Update features. Enabling this hides the Windows Update page from Settings entirely, which effectively prevents users (including yourself) from interacting with updates at all. It's a nuclear option, but it exists for a reason.

Group Policy vs. Registry: Which Should You Choose?

That said, if you're on Windows 11 Home, Group Policy isn't available. The registry is your only option (unless you're willing to use third-party tools, which I'll touch on later).

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Stop Windows 11 Update Service: The Nuclear Option

This is the method I get the most questions about—and the one I'm most hesitant to recommend. Disabling the Windows Update service is like cutting the brake lines on your car to stop it from rolling downhill. It works, but you're going to have a bad time if you need to stop.

How to Disable the Windows Update Service

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Scroll down to Windows Update.
3. Right-click it and select Properties.
4. Set Startup type to Disabled.
5. Click Stop to halt the service immediately.
6. Click Apply and OK.

That's it. Windows Update is now dead in the water.

Risks and Side Effects of Disabling the Service

Here's what nobody tells you before you do this:

• The Microsoft Store breaks. Many Store apps rely on the Windows Update service to function. You'll likely see errors when trying to download or update apps.
• Driver updates stop. If you ever plug in a new device—a printer, a graphics card, a USB peripheral—Windows won't automatically fetch the drivers. You'll be hunting for drivers manually.
• Security vulnerabilities pile up. This is the big one. Without monthly security patches, your system is an open door for malware and exploits. I've seen machines that went six months without updates get hit with ransomware within days of being exposed to the internet.

If you absolutely must disable the service, set a calendar reminder to re-enable it after a few weeks. Treat it as a temporary measure, not a permanent solution.

To re-enable: open services.msc, find Windows Update, set Startup type to Automatic, and click Start.

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Stop Windows 11 Update from Running in Background & Notifications

Maybe you don't want to block updates entirely—you just want them to stop hijacking your bandwidth and interrupting your workflow. There are a couple of softer approaches worth trying.

Using Metered Connection to Limit Background Downloads

Setting your network connection as metered tells Windows to hold off on large downloads, including updates. Here's how:

1. Open Settings > Network & internet.
2. Click Wi-Fi (or Ethernet, depending on your connection).
3. Select your connected network.
4. Toggle Metered connection to On.

This is a soft block. Windows will still download critical security updates, but it'll wait for a less disruptive time. And if you're on an unmetered connection (like most Ethernet setups), this option may not even appear.

How to Stop Windows 11 Update Notification Popups

If the issue is the constant nagging rather than the updates themselves, you can silence the notifications:

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications.
2. Scroll down to find Windows Update (or search for it).
3. Toggle off the notifications.

Alternatively, use Focus Assist (now called "Do Not Disturb" in recent builds) to suppress notifications during specific hours. Just be aware: this only hides the popups. The updates themselves will still download and install in the background.

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Block Windows 11 Update to 25H2: Version-Specific Guide

Here's a scenario I hear about constantly: "I'm happy with my current version of Windows 11, but Microsoft keeps trying to push me to 25H2. How do I stop it?"

This is a different problem than blocking all updates. You want security patches, but you don't want the feature update. Fortunately, there's a way to have both.

Using the Registry to Target a Specific Version

1. Open the Registry Editor and navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
2. Create a new DWORD value named TargetReleaseVersion and set it to 1.
3. Create a new string value named TargetReleaseVersionInfo and set it to your current version (e.g., 23H2).
4. Restart your PC.

This tells Windows: "Stay on 23H2. Don't upgrade me to 25H2." You'll still receive monthly security patches, but the feature update will be blocked.

Using the Microsoft 'Show or Hide' Tool

Microsoft offers an official tool for hiding specific updates. It's a bit clunky, but it's supported and safe:

1. Download the Show or Hide tool from Microsoft's website.
2. Run the tool and click Next.
3. Select Hide updates.
4. Check the box next to the 25H2 update and click Next.

The update will be hidden and won't install. To unhide it later, run the tool again and select Show hidden updates.

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How to Safely Re-enable Windows 11 Updates

At some point, you'll want updates back. Maybe you're selling the PC, or you've decided the security risk isn't worth it. Whatever the reason, here's how to undo each method.

Reverting Registry, Group Policy, and Service Changes

Best Practices for Managing Updates Going Forward

Here's my honest advice after years of managing Windows systems: don't permanently disable updates. Instead, find a balance.

• Pause updates during critical work. If you're in the middle of a big project, pause updates for a week or two. Just don't forget to resume them.
• Set active hours. In Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options, you can set active hours to prevent restarts during your workday.
• Block feature updates, allow security patches. Use the TargetReleaseVersion registry method to stay on a stable version while still receiving monthly security fixes.

Your system's security is only as strong as its latest patch. I've seen too many machines compromised because someone disabled updates "temporarily" and forgot about them for a year.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop a Windows 11 update that is already in progress?

If an update is actively downloading or installing, go to Settings > Windows Update and click Pause. If the update is stuck and won't pause, restart your PC—this usually cancels the in-progress update. For a more forceful approach, you can open Command Prompt as administrator and run net stop wuauserv to stop the Windows Update service. Just be aware that this can cause system instability if the update is mid-installation.

Is it safe to disable Windows 11 updates permanently?

Technically, yes. Practically, no. Disabling updates leaves your system vulnerable to malware, exploits, and security breaches. Microsoft releases patches on the second Tuesday of each month (Patch Tuesday) to address known vulnerabilities. Without those patches, your system is an easy target. If you must disable updates, at least block feature updates while allowing security patches.

What happens if I stop the Windows Update service?

You'll stop receiving all updates—security patches, driver updates, and feature updates. The Microsoft Store may stop working, and some apps may fail to install or update. This is the most extreme method and should be a last resort. If you run into issues, re-enable the service by setting its startup type back to Automatic.

How do I stop Windows 11 from updating to 25H2?

Use the TargetReleaseVersion registry method described above. Set TargetReleaseVersion to 1 and TargetReleaseVersionInfo to your current version (e.g., 23H2). This blocks the feature update while still allowing monthly security patches. Alternatively, use the Microsoft Show or Hide tool to hide the 25H2 update.

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Final Thoughts

Stopping Windows 11 updates is possible—there are at least six different ways to do it, ranging from a simple pause to a full service disable. But the real question isn't "how"—it's "should you?"

I've been on both sides of this debate. I've disabled updates on machines that needed absolute stability for specialized software. I've also watched those same machines get compromised months later because they were missing critical security patches. The middle ground—blocking feature updates while allowing security patches—is almost always the right call.

Whichever method you choose, create a system restore point first. And set a reminder to revisit your decision in a few weeks. Your future self will thank you.

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Have you successfully stopped Windows 11 updates? Share your experience or ask questions in the comments below. If you found this guide helpful, consider subscribing to our newsletter for more Windows tips and troubleshooting guides.