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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.
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.
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.
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....
Hi Ren,
It appears that installing updated had caused issues in the past. However, it is not suggested to disable updates.
Your Windows RT device will get hardware drivers, critical updates, security updates and other firmware updates only through updates. We do not have the option to manually install teh drivers. So these updates are very much essentials for the security and proper functionality of the device.
Windows Update settings are always on and can’t be disabled. You can’t change Windows Update settings for Windows RT.
I would suggest you to install the updates available. If you face any issues, please reply here and we will help you with the issue.
This response is the height of stupidity, you can't defend Microsoft for not providing a method to control when updates happen. It's one of millions of occasions over the years when Microsoft wears it star-spangled tinted spectacles and assumes that the whole world works the same as the US.
The simple fact is we don't all have permanent access to unmetred internet. I want my RT tablet to download its updates when it has access to a proper WiFi service, I do not want it to download updates when I am mobile and using my phone as a hot-spot because my phone has a limited daily allowance which Windows updates can eat in no time at all, leaving me unable to make proper use of the internet when I'm out and about.
Microsoft created a device that relies entirely on external devices for its internet access, they should have therefore made it possible for users to decide when to download large updates so that we can make sure it only happens when we are on unlimited connections.
Except some of us WONT actually get any of that due to Windows Update not working!
This is being the only source of patching also means that those of us who have a broken Windows Update have no hope of a patched solution. Microsoft need to pull their finger out and provide a FULL recovery image which is patched up to the latest version of Windows 8.1 RT Update 3, including all updates up until November at the very least. This will solve everyone's problems.
Does this actually work on RT?
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
