can't change windows update settings even though I am the administrator

Anonymous
2012-03-12T02:33:33+00:00

When I try to change the windows update settings, the options are greyed out and I get the message at the top "Some settings are managed by your system administrator."  However, I am the system administrator.  Creating another account and designating it the system administrator account does not help.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

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Anonymous
2013-03-25T10:20:50+00:00

This was the only way I found to fix this:

Be very careful editing windows registry

For Windows Vista/7

Click Start and type regedit in the Search Programs and Files field. Then right-click on regedit in the programs list and select Run as Administrator.

Within the Registry Editor, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU.

On the right side of the window, locate AUOptions and NoAutoUpdate. Delete both of these registry keys.

Reboot

You should now be able to edit Windows Update

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-07-26T12:35:14+00:00

    Had same issue, however, the referenced entries were not present.

    Instead had:  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\

    "DisableWindowsUpdateAccess"

    I exported the key to the Desktop, then deleted it from the Registry.  Rebooted.  Immediately it wanted to download 75 updates.  WU ran just fine.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-07-13T13:52:39+00:00

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-13T13:42:25+00:00

    Hi Nicholas,

    welcome to Microsoft Community!

    thanks for the post but be a little patient!

    1.its "windows/windows 7/windows update"section . and you should navigate to "windows/ win8/8.1 or RT 8.1. or...?/windows update"section. which is your OS ...exactly ?? (Operating System)

    1. as far as i know 'regedit or registry editing' should not be tried out so early,though It appears here very tempting!

    let us know how can we help? whats your exact OS?

     ----------------------

    Regards,

    Vineet Garg.

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