How to Cancel Windows 11 update?

Well, I am just stressed now for you. Just like you are starting all over again. These are those moments when we wish we had not done something.

Let me know how this works out. I need you to be out of Hotel California for good. Never again.

Thanks Mel. The instructions in the link you included don't seem to apply to me because none of this has changed my target version or build # settings, probably because I have never let anything finish downloading.

So far, this is what I have learned in my awful experience with Windows Insider: I can stay in the program, but opt out of getting build previews. Then everything seems to be fine -- no attempt to send me a preview of anything Windows 11. BUT, if I go with "leave the program," it seems to lose my opt-out choice and the darned previews start trying to download again -- even though it shows me having left the program!

So, I have had to pause updates and close the update window, then use the first step in the procedure to block Windows 11: 1. You need to stop wuauserv and bits, so they don't immediately recreate the directory you're going to delete in step 2, THEN (step 2 that we did before) empty the downloads folder in Windows>Software Distribution> Downloads, then REJOIN Windows Insider (!) because only then can I have an active setting to opt out of previews, THEN unpause updates, then all is well. But I will start my own post soon to try to find out how to rid my computer of whatever hangs on when you try to leave Windows Insider and are even told that you have left it. My need is to figure out how to completely exit this "Hotel California:"

"Relax," said the night man
"We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave"

Hi Lynn,

That I knew for sure I wasn't going to do. You may want to start another post in regards to how you joined and then left, but now the door is open to Windows 11. I know other folks have had that issue.

I just found this for you. You may have to go back to the previous version of Windows before you did the new update. Meaning, go back and set your target version back to what it was. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/stop-receiving-insider-builds-for-windows-10-be2c37cf-ae6e-c654-a6df-b3ebbcdc3404

Mel

Came back to say DO NOT JOIN WINDOWS INSIDER. Even though I have left the program, it is still wanting to show me Window 11 all the time! I know enough not to click on it, but I want to find a way to remove any files that do this.