How to: Change Windows Update Settings in Windows 10

Windows Update is an service which allows the user to download and install updates. By default, the Windows Update behaivor is set to Automatic (recommended). If you are not happy with this default behaivor, here is how you can change this behaivor.


Please read:


Microsoft did an unexcepted change from taking away control of setting Windows Update behaivor. Now, the Home and Pro edition are not be allowed to control easily how updates should be delivered. In the Windows Update UI of the Settings app, the user can only decide to defer and postpone the updates. But unfortaunely, there's no option to disable them and check for updates maunally. If you cannot tolerate this automatic update nonsense and want to control over your updates again, read this article.


Method 1: Disable the Windows Update Service

Press the Windows logo + R shortcut keys to display the Run dialog. Type the following into the Run box:


services.msc


In the Services list, disable the service called Windows Update.


Double click it and set it's Startup Type to Disabled

Restart Windows 10 and you are done.


Method 2: Using the Group Policy Editor (Pro, Enterprise and Education Edition only)


In Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise and Education editions only, you can use Group Policy to set Windows Update to notify you about updates but not download them. It is useful when you don't want forced updates, but also don't want to entirely disable Windows Updates. Every time new updates are available, Windows 10 will show you a toast notification about them:

Press the Windows logo + R shortcut keys together to display the Run dialog. Type the following into the Run box:

gpedit.msc


Go to the following path:


Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update

Enable the Group Policy named Configure Automatic Updates and set it to 2 - Notify for download and notify for install

Now open the Settings app -> Update and Security -> Windows Update. There you have to click the button Check for Updates. This is very important, because without doing this trick Windows 10 will not apply the changes your made and will not stop downloading and installing updates automatically.


Method 3: Using the Registry Editor


If your Windows 10 comes without the Group Policy Editor app, then you can apply a Registry tweak.

Open Registry Editor and go to the following key (create it if you don't have it already):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU


Then create a new 32-bit dword value named AU and set it's value to 2.


Again, open the Settings app -> Update and Security -> Windows Update and then click on the button Check for Updates. This is very important.


Restart Windows 10 and you are done. Note that changing Group Policy settings will show you the message Some settings are managed by your organization. This means that the settings are configured by the Group Policy Editor.


Method 4: Set connection as metered connection

Windows 10 does not download updates automatically when you are on a metered connection. You can use this feature to control when updates are downloaded and installed. After you are done installing updates, you can just set your connection to non-metered.

1. 
   Open the Settings app by pressing Windows logo + I and go to the Network and Internet section.
   
   
2. 
   Click Wi-Fi on the left and then click "Advanced Options" on the right.
   
   
3. 
   Switch the Set as metered connection to On.
   

NOTE: If you are on an etherent connection, you should set it as metered. Please refer to the following article: Set etherent connection as a metered connection in Windows 10

That's it.

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