In this way, if we avoid installing this element on the PC, nothing else is sent by Redmond, when it arrives, all possible errors will be solved. In the same way, on the other hand, we may need to cause these arrivals so that they do not interrupt us in our work. It must be taken into account that this download and installation requires certain resources and bandwidth, something that we cannot always let it control. windows. As we tell you, there are many reasons why you can opt for this type of break. In the same way, the firm tries to facilitate all this with several functions dedicated to this type of work.
Therefore, the most common are the following:
Defer updates
Before starting to use third-party programs to disable these Windows functions, we are going to analyze the options that Windows itself offers us to do this. Although the lack of control over Windows updates has been one of the most criticized aspects of the operating system, today, except for deactivating updates, Microsoft allows us to control most of its aspects.
Specifically, from Windows Update we can choose the possibility of pausing the updates for a maximum of 35 days. And, if we are Windows 10 Pro users, we can even postpone security updates for 30 days and quality and features updates up to 365.
If these options are not enough for what we want to do, then we will have to resort to third-party software to stop and postpone Windows updates. We also remind you that, since the May 2020 Update, it is possible to shut down and restart Windows without installing the updates. Something that we must take into account so that, if an update has been downloaded and we cannot install it now, we can leave it indefinitely postponed.
Use a metered data network
Another way to block Windows 10 updates is to configure our system as a measured data network. This is possible as long as we connect via Wi-Fi to a router. The measured network is designed for those networks in which we can only spend a certain amount of data per month (for example, a 4G network). By connecting through it, Windows blocks all kinds of automatic connections that are not essential to the system. And one of them is Windows Update. Therefore, if we configure a measured network on our PC, we will stop downloading updates, being able to postpone them indefinitely.
Change active hours
Another way to prevent updates from being installed on our computer, or at least from restarting our PC without permission to install, is by configuring the active hours. This Windows Update option allows us to choose the hours in which we are working on the PC to prevent it from restarting without prior notice to install updates.
Windows 10 does not let us set a range of 24 hours, but we can set a total of 18 hours, during which the PC will not update automatically. With this function, and a little care, we will prevent updates from being installed without permission.
Disable the update service
Another method that we can also use so that Windows Update updates are not a continuous nuisance is to deactivate the process that is in charge of checking for new updates and that always invites us to install them on the computer, over and over again. To deactivate this service and for Windows to stop bothering us with messages and to check for new updates, we must access the “services.msc” application without the quotes from the search box.
Next, in the right column, we look for Windows Update and double-click to access its properties. In the startup type section, we select the option disabled. Next, click Apply and OK. For the changes to take effect on the computer, we must restart it.
From this moment on, Windows will not search for updates and will not show messages asking us to update the computer.
Programs to block Windows Update
If the previous methods do not convince you, then we can resort to one of the following programs designed precisely for the same purpose. Most of them will allow you to revert the changes and will not cause problems in the operating system, although we must make sure that this is indeed the case.
In turn, this type of third-party applications sometimes present us with additional functions that we cannot find in the operating system to pause updates. In fact, many times we are going to find that thanks to these software solutions we will have much greater control of these elements. This will allow us to manage first hand what and when we want install on the Windows PC. It is for all this that we are going to talk about a series of samples that will surely be very useful for what we are telling you about.
In addition, it is worth knowing that most of them can be downloaded and installed on the computer completely free. Of course, when dealing with these elements it is advisable to have certain knowledge and know very well what we are doing so as not to damage the operating system.
Wu10Man
One of the simplest programs to carry out this task is Wu10Man. This program allows us to block Windows 10 updates in several different ways. The default, and recommended, way is through Windows services. With this software we can stop the Windows Update services, the module installer and the Medic services so that it is impossible to search for, download and install operating system patches.
We will also be able to block updates to the operating system from the Windows HOSTS file, and use the pause or delay function with a longer range of time. All changes are also reversible. Therefore, if we regret it, we can reverse the changes and return to its default configuration very quickly.
This program is completely free and open source. We can download it from the .
Windows Update Blocker
Windows Update Blocker It is another program also designed to help us block Windows 10 updates very easily. This program is, if possible, even simpler and faster than the previous one. When we run it, we can see a window with two options, one to activate Windows updates and another to deactivate them.
We choose the option we want, apply the changes and that’s it. It has an option that allows us to protect the changes to prevent other processes or services from re-enabling the disabled Update services, and even the possibility of adding the services that we want to activate or deactivate them easily as well.
We can download this program for free from the .
Win Updates Disabler
Win Updates Disabler It is another very simple program that will allow us to disable Windows 10 update services and much more. This program allows us to deactivate, in addition to Windows Update, Windows 10 security services, such as Security Center, Defender and Windows 10 Firewall.
We can deactivate the options that we want by checking them in the box and clicking on the “Apply Now” button, or re-activate said services from the “Enable” tab of this software.
One more alternative, very easy to use, totally free and portable, that we can download from .
StopUpdates10
StopUpdates10 It allows us to block Windows updates in two ways. The first of these is through the Windows 10 “pause updates” function itself. It allows us to choose the date until which we want to delay and postpone its installation and that’s it. And the second of them is “by force”, blocking the processes and services in charge of this task. And best of all, if we don’t want to complicate ourselves, we can easily do it with a single click.
We can download this tool to block Windows Update from .
win update stop
This tool, created by NoVirusThanks, It is probably the simplest of all. It works with all versions of Windows (from XP to 10) and only shows two buttons, one to block updates and one to unlock them. win update stop It doesn’t show any options, any parameters or strange explanations. The changes are reversible so that when we want to update Windows again we can resume them without problems.
We can download this program from .
WUB
WUB aka “Windows 10 Update Blocker«, is another similar program designed to help us block and disable Windows 10 updates. This software works through the operating system services for updates, from scheduled tasks and from the HOSTS file. From its simple interface we can choose the blocking methods we want to use (one or more), and block these updates by clicking on the button.
If we regret it, we can unblock and activate these services again. We can download this software from the . Of course, it is a paid program, so we will have to pay 3 dollars to download it.
What is the best program to stop updates
We have already been able to see first-hand that there are many solutions that we can use for all of this that we have told you about. However, we must not abuse them, which sooner or later we must update Windows. It must be remembered that an outdated operating system is more prone to receiving external attacks and we will not be able to enjoy the latest features released.
With everything and with it, if we decide to use one of these applications, perhaps the most attractive of those exposed has been the so-called Wu10Man. And it is that in addition to the simplicity of use that its user interface, draws attention to the modes of operation that it proposes to us. In this way we can make use of the one that interests us the most in each case and thus get the most out of the program. When it comes to pausing updates, not all of us have the same needs, so this program tries to meet all of them.
Beware: reasons not to disable Windows Update
It’s true that sometimes Windows updates can cause more problems than they actually fix. However, this is not why we should go the easy way and disable these updates. Microsoft uses Windows Update to fix all kinds of bugs. It may be that a specific error when performing a certain task does not matter much to us, however, vulnerabilities and security flaws that can put our PC in danger are also corrected.
It is vital to install Windows security patches every month, when they are available. It is the only way to be safe on the PC. We can bypass the optional updates, but these other patches cannot.
Be very careful with disabling Windows Update. It can be very expensive for us.