How to Cancel Windows 11 update?

I'm guessing the computer(s) had Windows 11 in the Windows Update Cache already.

If a computer has started downloading an update, there are folder names that tells the Windows Update Service that an update is in progress, and it restarts the download even if you add the registry key later.

There are additional steps that can be followed to fix this, already described in this thread (back on page 5). Unfortunately, this 'message board' doesn't seem to give me any easy way to link to that post, but it dates back to jan 14, 2022. Posts after that add additional discovery, which may be helpful. For instance, the folder name you need to delete, can be different from the one I posted.

Also, please note that rolling back the update doesn't necessarily help, since the registry key may be removed by the rollback, and Windows 11 start downloading again.

You did something wrong in the registry. When done correctly on a Windows 10 computer, there is no way that Windows 11 could have installed. I know the first time I did it, I accidentally used a lower case letter rather than an upper case letter. That one small error then did not block the downloading of Windows 11 on my computer.

***IF YOU HAVE WINDOWS 11 ALREADY FULLY INSTALLED NOW, YOU HAVE TO ROLL IT BACK AND THEN PREFORM THE REGISTRY CHANGES AS I STATE BELOW:****

I went back into the registry and carefully and I do mean carefully look at every command change you have added or changed. It has to be exact. No spaces added for example. I had the instructions up on another laptop right next to the computer I was changing. That way I could read the instructions and then do them correctly on my computer.

This is what I followed for instructions and it did make Windows 11 disappear. Scroll about halfway down in the article until you see "Block Windows 11 Update using Registry Editor". If you follow it EXACTLY, Windows 11 can simply not install. Many of us in this very long thread all did it and we stopped windows 11.

https://allthings.how/how-to-stop-windows-11-update-from-installing-on-your-windows-10-pc/

Hi PortlandMT,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

We have many computers in Windows 10, and we want them to stay in Windows 10. I applied the modifications on the reg keys while the computer was still in Windows 10, so it would remain in Windows 10 v21H2.

Unfortunately, yesterday we realized that the computer upgraded to Windows 11. It is currently in Windows 11.

I checked the reg keys and the modifications are still there.

I was wondering how that was possible and if there are any steps in the process I'm missing. Maybe an extra reg key or something else.

Is migrating to Windows 11 mandatory now?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I only know how to stop Windows 11 from downloading on my computer. I would assume that the upgrades you are getting for Windows 11 are the mandatory ones.

Hi.

I applied these modifications in my company's environment, and we are still getting some computers upgraded to Windows 11. Is Microsoft pushing for that upgrade?

Is there any other way to stop Windows 11? We have some applications that are not compatible with W11, and we are trying to figure the best way to proceed with them.

To add a new registry key:

TargetReleaseVersion REG_DWORD 0x1

reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /v TargetReleaseVersion /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1

TargetReleaseVersionInfo REG_SZ 21H2

reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /v TargetReleaseVersionInfo /t REG_SZ /d 21H2

/v - The value name, under the selected Key, to add

/t - RegKey data types

/d - The data to assign to the registry ValueName being added