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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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....

Was this answer helpful?

300+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

107 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-01-28T04:27:18+00:00

    I wanted to stop the updates because the system size has grown to the point where it was taking up 98% of the available memory and performance was uselessly slow. When I perform a clean reinstall, I have more than 50% of the available memory free.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-12-29T16:41:09+00:00

    Yes, much of the update path is missing, including the prerequisite updates for KB2919355. This could even be why it stops here...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-12-29T11:43:46+00:00

    Same here.  Windows update is broken after a reset.  Installs up to KB2919355 and then fails to update  after that.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-12-22T17:40:49+00:00

    You could simply mark your wifi connection as a "metered network" so that it never uses it for updates or background downloads.  Only data you are actually using (your browser, games, programs you're working on) will be able to use data.  Never for updates.

    Or you could also use the options to schedule the data to only be used during certain hours of the day.  Or limit it to a certain download speed level.  See how here: Control the Windows Update Download Time Window

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments