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
    2013-06-06T08:04:26+00:00

    This approach resolved the issue for me. Thanks "AlexVinyar".

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-04-09T03:28:54+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

    Simple AND effective...perfect!

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2013-06-17T19:36:17+00:00

    I tried the methods below this one, and found them not to work. 

    celexa your method worked perfectly and was quite simple. Thank you so much!

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-03-12T21:34:26+00:00

    Thanks for the reply!  The version is Windows Professional.  The computer is connected to my wireless network for internet purposes, but is not otherwise a part of a network or domain (as my work desktop is, for example). 

    I completed Method 1 - all of the settings you described (in both folders) were already set to "Not Configured."

    I tried Method 2 as well - I have the same problem when I log in under the built-in Administrator account.

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