The procedure to turn off Windows Updates is very simple.
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Turn off Windows Updates on Windows 7/8/8.1
If you’re using Windows 7 or 8.1, click Start > Control Panel > System and Security. Under Windows Update, click the “Turn automatic updating on or off” link. Click the “Change Settings” link on the left. Verify that you have Important Updates set to “Never check for updates (not recommended)” and click OK.
Turn off Windows Updates on Windows 10
New Approach For Windows 10 Pro
Step 1. Using an administrative account, click Start > Settings > Update & Security.
Step 2. On the left, choose Windows Update. On the right, click the link for Advanced options. You see the settings in the picture below.
Step 3. To pull yourself out of beta testing, in the first box, choose Semi-Annual Channel.
Step 4. To further delay new versions until they’ve been minimally tested, set the “feature update” deferral setting to 120 days or more.
Step 5. To delay cumulative updates, set the “quality update” deferral to 15 days or so.
Step 6. Close the settings pane. You don’t need to specifically save anything.
Step 7. Don’t click Check for updates.
Old approach for Windows 10 Home
Gregg Keizer said:
One of the foundational characteristics of Windows 10 is Microsoft’s two-tier classification of customers. The lower tier includes those who operate Windows 10 Home, the upper tier, all others. … Windows 10 Home users — predominantly consumers — are forced to accept every feature upgrade and are not meant to delay the installation of those upgrades, or the monthly waves of security and non-security updates.
This isn’t a mistake or an oversight. Win10 Home customers by design are Microsoft’s extended beta plus testing force.
If upgrading to Win10 Pro isn’t an option, your only option is to set your internet connection to “metered.” Metered connections are an update-blocking method that seems to work by stopping cumulative updates.
To set your Ethernet connection as metered: Click Start > Settings > Network & Internet. On the left, choose Ethernet. On the right, click on your Ethernet connection. Then move the slider for Metered connection to On.
To set your Wi-Fi connection as metered: Click Start > Settings > Network & Internet. On the left, choose Wi-Fi. On the right, click on your Wi-Fi connection. Move the slider for Metered connection to On.
If you set your internet connection to metered, you need to judge when it’s time to update. At that point, turn “metered” off, and just let your machine update itself. Don’t click “Check for Updates.”
