Thanks to the automatic update function, the system receives bug fixes, protection against found vulnerabilities and new features. Therefore, it is not recommended to disable it.
On the other hand, auto-update can occur at an inconvenient moment and distract you from work. And if you do not have a licensed version of Windows, but a dubious assembly, then the next update can break the entire system. In such cases, it is better to turn off automatic updating for a while or even forever. To do this, there are the following ways.
Method 1. Through the system services manager
This method is the easiest and is suitable for all but the oldest versions of Windows: from 10 to XP.
To use it, open the "Run" window (Windows key + R), copy in the field services.msc and click OK. When the Service Manager opens, scroll down to the bottom of the list and double-click on the Windows Update service. Then change its startup type to "Disabled" and click OK.
The changes will take effect when you restart your computer. If you want to enable updates again, repeat the steps above, choosing the startup type as Automatic or Manual.
Method 2. Through the update center
In Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, you can turn off the update in the Control Panel settings. Use this method if the previous one suddenly did not work for you (which is unlikely).
Although Microsoft has ended support for Windows Vista and XP, and most likely won't update them, we'll provide instructions for those versions just in case.
Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7
Use the system search to find "Windows Update". Or open it through the "Control Panel". Then click "Settings" and in the "Important updates" list, select "Do not check for updates". Uncheck "Receive recommended updates in the same way that I receive important updates" and click OK.
Windows Vista
Go to Start → Control Panel → Security → Windows Update. Then click "Settings" and check "Do not check for updates". Uncheck "Enable recommended updates when downloading, installing, and notifying me of updates" and click OK.
Windows XP
Go to Start → Control Panel → Automatic Updates. Check "Turn off automatic updates" and click OK.
Windows 10 finds updates, downloads them, and installs them automatically in the background without notifying the user. Even worse, after installing these updates, the operating system itself decides when it is better for it to restart, and the reboot occurs even when the tablet or computer is in sleep mode.
How to prevent Windows 10 from downloading updates?
First way - DWS application
Download the program from the WZor hacker, open the "Utilities" tab and click on the "Disable Windows Update" button. If you later want to update Windows 10, just run DWS again and click the Turn on Windows Update button.
The second way is through system parameters
Open "Settings" through the start menu or by pressing Win + I, go to the "Network and Internet" section and select "Advanced Settings" in the Wi-Fi menu. Activate the metered connection toggle switch - in this case, Windows 10 will “think” that you pay for each downloaded megabyte or connect to the virtual hotspot of your smartphone, so it will start saving traffic and stop downloading updates.
When you need to update your computer or tablet, go back to this "Settings" section and turn off the metered connection toggle switch. However, you can leave it on, because Windows will still check for updates, and you can install them manually.
To prevent the system reboot from being a surprise, open Settings, go to Update and Security, under the Windows Update menu, click Advanced Options, and specify that Windows should notify you when a reboot is scheduled. The system will reboot at the scheduled time, after notifying you of this.
The third way is to edit the registry
Download the registry hack and run one of the .reg files contained in the archive. You have three options to choose from: ask about downloading and installing updates, automatically download and install, or automatically download and install on a schedule. In the system settings, the option that allows you to choose how updates will be installed will disappear, instead a notification will appear that their installation is governed by the rules of your organization.
You can make changes to the registry yourself. Find the line HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU, create a DWORD entry in AUOptions and set the following values:
00000002 (notify about download and installation)
00000003 (automatically download and install)
00000004 (automatically download and schedule installation)
It is also possible to stop the Windows Update service through administrative tools, but this is not recommended.
Hello everyone! You are faced with a problem: how to disable automatic windows 7 updates, or for some other reason you need to disable windows 7 updates, then I can please you. In this article, you will solve this problem.
Personally, it infuriates me when you turn off the computer, windows starts updating. Therefore, let me tell you how to disable automatic updates in windows 7.
How to turn off automatic updates in windows 7
Let's see why you need to disable this update at all. Personally, I turned it off due to the fact that my computer starts to slow down, even after reading about how to clean the registry, nothing helped. Another thing that constantly pisses me off is that when I turn off my computer, an automatic update starts, which requires me to wait 5-10 minutes.
To get started, to disable automatic updates in Windows, right-click on the My Computer shortcut and select Manage from the drop-down menu.
After that, the windows 7 control window will open. In this window, we will need to select the item " Services and Applications» It is located on the left side. After you open an additional list of services and applications, select the sub-item " Services». Subsequently, all windows 7 services will open on the right side of the window.
Further, nothing complicated, we find the service we need in the list, and this is “ Windows Update 7"The very name of the service makes it clear that it is responsible for automatically updating windows 7, in which we can turn it off.
In the window that opens, everything will become clear to you. Here we will need to change the startup type, and put Disabled, as well as disable the update state. See the picture for how I did it.
All done? Ok, click Apply and reboot. Now you will not be bothered by automatic windows 7 updates, because you already know how to turn it off.
I want to tell you something else. On the blog from May 1, there will be a competition for the best commentator, you can read more here. I will say right away that those who get into the top three will receive a cash reward. So I invite everyone to participate. All for now)
All versions of Windows have an important feature - updating. Like most programs, Microsoft uses this opportunity to make timely changes to the system, improve its operation or eliminate vulnerabilities.
Despite the presence of positive aspects in this function, for most users it is superfluous or simply interferes more than it benefits. Many active PC users experience problems with updates and prefer to disable them.
Reasons and ways to disable
The main reasons for disabling updates in Windows 7 are:
- Microsoft refused to update Windows 7, that is, updates will not be released, except for critical ones, if vulnerabilities are found;
- During the update, the computer is under heavy load, since installing files requires resources;
- The Internet channel is heavily loaded, that is, during the download, the speed is significantly limited and comfortable surfing is difficult;
- During the installation or download of updates, you cannot turn off the computer;
- If you are using a pirated Windows, you may experience problems as new ways to combat piracy are gradually released;
- Limited traffic.
The probable reasons did not end there, but for clarity they are enough.
There are 4 ways to disable automatic updates in Windows 7:
- Using the Update Center;
- Through services;
- Using the console;
- Through the firewall.
Most of the features are standard, but a workaround (last option) can also be used.
Using the Update Center
In Windows 7, there is a special tool that is responsible for the entire update system. It is thanks to him that there will be no difficulties in how to disable Windows 7 updates. To use it you should:
- Click Start and Control Panel;
- Click on the "Windows Update" tile;
- Go to the "Settings" section;
- Select "Do not check for updates".
In addition to the radical disabling of the function, there are transitional positions when you can influence the installation of the software. This is how the check occurs and, if something new has appeared, the user makes decisions. It is also desirable to remove all checkmarks under the main menu.
How to disable windows 7 update through services?
A special module, that is, a service, is responsible for the update procedure. It is an invisible part of the previous method. The service can also be disabled, and the result will be the same, only it is executed without a graphical interface.
- RMB on "Computer";
- Click on "Management";
- Expand the "Services and Applications" category, then select the appropriate section;
- At the end of the list, find "Windows Update" and double click;
- "Startup type" - "Disabled" and "Stop".
Here you can also disable the Windows 7 update permanently or set the startup initiation to "Manual". That is, the user will independently update at a certain frequency.
Shutdown using the console
The console always comes to the rescue in difficult situations and it is able to change some parameters that are deep in the system with a short command. Therefore, it is impossible to consider the topic of how to disable the Windows 7 update service and not mention the command line.
To disable a service:
- Press Win + R and paste cmd;
- Write the command sc config wuauserv start=disabled;
If you want to change the startup type to manual, then replace the last word with demand. All the methods above work on the same principle, only the way to change the parameters differs. There is also an alternative option.
Blocking updates through the firewall
The firewall itself allows you to control traffic outgoing from your computer, so it can be filtered. It is this function that is important to us. Instead of simply disabling updates, you can install some kind of stub. All requests for a specific domain will be redirected to a local address, that is, to nowhere. If the service does not receive a positive response about the availability of data on the server, it will think that everything is in order with the system.
The easiest way to install a stub is:
- Follow to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc;
- RMB on hosts and open with a text editor;
- Place the entry "127.0.0.1 https://*.update.microsoft.com" at the end of the list.
Also, if it didn’t work, add “127.0.0.1 microsoft.com” as well, but then even in a browser you won’t be able to access the corporate website. Also, this method is working for most programs that require access to the network, to block them, simply change the domain to the required one.
It should be understood that by disabling updates, you deliberately put your computer at risk, since antivirus signatures, system settings and Windows stability are out of date. It is still better to manually make at least critical updates.
First, we recommend disabling the update center using standard methods, but another way is also available. After completing the procedure, you remain the full owner of the system and no background tasks will load Windows.
If you still have questions on the topic “How to disable updates in Windows 7?”, You can ask them in the comments
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As you know, the seventh version of Windows automatically downloads and installs updates. The operating system communicates with the Microsoft host whenever the computer connects to the Internet. Theoretically, this behavior should have a positive effect on the operation of the PC, because the packages being installed are developed specifically to eliminate the vulnerabilities found and optimize the operation of programs. However, in practice, turning off automation is considered the best option. How to cancel Windows 7 updates and why to do it will be discussed in the article.
The main reasons for disabling the built-in update utility
- The main problem caused by updates is sudden crashes and critical errors after the installation procedure is completed.
- The operating system stores all downloaded packages. Over time, there are a lot of them, and this reduces the free space on your hard drive. When the value of this parameter reaches a critically low level, the OS will simply refuse to boot.
- When the Windows 7 updater downloads the files it needs, surfing the Internet becomes uncomfortable. Especially often this problem occurs for users connected to the "narrow channel". If the provider limits the amount of traffic per unit of time, automatic updates can hit your pocket.
- If the patch installation process is running, the computer cannot be turned off until all operations are completed.
- If a pirated version of Windows is used on the computer, the scenario of limiting the functionality of the computer after installing the next package is real.
using administration tools
The first way to disable updates involves a complete rejection of them. To do this, you will need to disable the built-in Windows service.
- Launch the Control Panel.
- Expand the "Administration" section.
- The window will display several items. Click on "System and Security".
- Among the icons that appear on the screen, find "Administration".
- Double click on the "Services" icon.
- Scroll to the very end of the list.
- Select Update Center.
- In the window that opens, opposite the inscription "Startup type" in the drop-down list, set "Disable".
- Here, click on the "Stop" button.
- Now it remains to click on the inscription "Apply".
After this operation, the OS will stop contacting the Microsoft site to check and download new patches. To re-enable the service, follow the same steps, but set the "Startup type" switch to "Automatic" and restart your computer.
Disabling only automatic mode
How can I cancel Windows 7 updates that are downloaded automatically, but leave the option to install manually?
- Launch the Control Panel.
- In the window that appears, click on the "Update Center" item.
- Click on the "Set Center" button. It is located on the left side of the interface.
- Set the switch to the "Do not check" position.
- Click OK at the bottom right of the window to confirm your changes.
Removing patches: preparation
If, due to the installation of one or another patch, the system began to work unstably, it is recommended to remove the update package for Windows 7. To do this, first boot the OS in safe mode. To do this, hold down the F8 key when the BIOS information messages disappear from the screen. If pressing F8 will bring up a menu with a list in English, select Safe Mode, in Russian, respectively, "Safe Mode".
When this approach doesn't work, try the following:
- Create an empty shortcut on your desktop.
- In the column "Location of the object" copy cmd.
- Click "Next" a few times.
- Now expand the context menu of the shortcut and select run as administrator.
- A command prompt will open, enter bcdedit / set (default) bootmenupolicy legacy into it.
- It remains to press "ENTER".
After that, safe mode will turn on for sure.
Removing patches by standard means
It is important that Windows 7 update checking be disabled before following the next instruction, otherwise the patches will be installed automatically again.
- After turning on the PC, go to the "Control Panel".
- Click on the "Programs" line with the left mouse button.
- Find the "View Updates" link in the table on the left.
- The display will show a list of all previously installed patches.
- To remove any of them, right-click on the name of the required package, and select "Delete" from the menu that opens.
Conclusion
Any tool is good if used skillfully. The utilities built into the operating system were created to ensure the security of the computer and the comfort of the user. Before canceling Windows 7 updates, weigh the pros and cons. The best choice would be to disable only the automatic mode of operation. At the same time, you should regularly check for patches and be sure to install those that are designed to close holes in the security of your computer. Without them, no modern antivirus and antispyware programs will be able to protect the OS.
