How do I disable Automatic Update for Windows Update

Anonymous
2013-10-18T00:55:44+00:00

I just bought a Surface RT, and updated to 8.1. My PC says it's set to automatically update, and it's not providing me with any obvious way to disable automatic updates.

Automatic updates for a computer's operating system have proven irritating and problematic for me in the past, and I would like to avoid that headache if at all possible.

Please for the love of God tell me I can disable automatic updates.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2013-12-31T02:24:55+00:00

I have been reading a lot of posts on here...

Basically, Microsoft support will only post what there told to post.

This is how you turn Auto Updates on or off on Windows RT.

  1. Hit the Windows button.
  2. Type view local services and click it.
  3. Find Windows update and right click Startup Type.
  4. Go to Properties, you'll see Startup type again.

5. Click disable and apply.

Turn it on in the same way.

" I will bust my RT back to 8 "

The truth is out there....

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  1. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-09-14T12:05:56+00:00

    If you need to get work done, why are you shutting down the computer? Just do your work and when you go to sleep you can start the update and it will be done when you wake up the next morning.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-09-14T05:32:36+00:00

    How dreadful! When my RT was new ... no issues. Now, about 6 months in use, I sometimes get notifications to accept updates daily. Apparently, the system will soon do updates on its own if I ignore these. When updates are queued, I cannot restart without running the updates first. Very user-unfriendly. Hardly what I want to see when I log on to knock out an item for a deadline. Windows used to be a great space for responsible users with basic skills. Microsoft, you screwed the pooch on this one.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-31T06:11:01+00:00

    Feel free to begin your own, new thread to avoid further confusion.

    See...

        • HOW TO begin your own, new thread about  your computer & problem

            http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/Page/faq#faqAskQuestion1

         • What information to post in the Windows Update forum

             http://answers.microsoft.com/thread/1467f44b-ee27-4f7d-98d7-f1c4b35b3395

        • Suggestions for asking a question in help forums

             http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-31T02:55:10+00:00

    Yes, when I perform the reset to factory settings, I get a clean install of Windows RT 8.1. I also get the message that Secure Boot isn't configured correctly, Build 9600. I then have 7 GB of used spaced on the C drive and 18 GB free. I don't think I should delete the recovery partition (3 GB) because I am not sure how I would ever be able to reset the computer without it.

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