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: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2015-05-08T03:20:44+00:00

    Let me refer you on that question to the excellent answer by a Principal/CTO at a technology company that knows it much better than I.  His response is the 1st reply on this page:

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/6aee9e49-0313-4222-9134-07f209d8fcc5/wsus-for-sleeping-laptops?forum=winserverwsus

    He outlines the default behavior and a few policy settings you can use to tweak it.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-05-05T01:34:33+00:00

    Do you know if there is a setting to simply disallow the device from restarting to install updates when running only on battery power? It sometimes likes to do this when left unattended and ends up screwing itself up when it dies in the middle of installs.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2015-05-05T00:23:30+00:00

    We can absolutely help you fix that.  Are you using a Windows RT tablet, or did you post into this conversation by mistake?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-05-05T00:10:52+00:00

    everytime there is an update my computer crashes and looses 7 programs--8.1 sucks

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments