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

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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. Anonymous
    2013-12-28T23:52:33+00:00

    Yes, you can disable the automatic updates, there's a simple registry tweak to disable/enable them.

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  2. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2013-12-23T17:42:45+00:00

    Windows 8 doesn't do the 15 minute thing:  you get 3 days warning by default, and you can always postpone it.  Hopefully this helps.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-20T23:35:31+00:00

    So its not just me .. updates seem to be causing programme issues .. disabled audio, stopping outlook sync  and no way to turn off .. RT slimmed down or anorexic ??

    ollie

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-20T18:19:42+00:00

    [HOW TO] Change Windows Update settings

    Surface RT and Surface 2 (and Surface 3, one assumes): Windows Update settings are always on and can’t be disabled. You can’t change Windows Update settings for Windows RT.

    Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 (and Surface Pro 3, one assumes): To change your Windows Update settings:

    Step 1: Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and tap or click Settings, and then tap or click Change PC settings.

    Step 2: Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Windows Update.

    Step 3: Tap or click Choose how updates get installed, select the settings you want, and then tap or click Apply. [1]

    If, for example, you turned off (disable) automatic updating during set up and you want to turn this feature back on (enable) again, choose Install updates automatically (recommended).

    Source and more: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/performance-and-maintenance/install-software-updates-for-surface

    ===============================================================

    [1] IMPORTANT! => Windows Defender will only auto-update itself when the Install updates automatically option is selected.

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