how do i stop downloading and installing windows 11

Hi Shelby,

Thank you for letting me know. May I ask why you don't want Windows 11 and also do you intend on installing Windows 11 anytime soon or in the near future? I've now spoken to two of my family members who upgraded. One upgraded because they wanted to and the other person just woke up one morning and sure enough, there was Windows 11 on the desktop. Both said they haven't had any issues and wasn't much different than Windows 10.

I'm still debating and pausing all the time the installation of it.

Now I'm stuck pausing it all the time. Just know you can pause it up for 35 days. The day before that date, go in and click 'check for updates'. Then, you will get a message to schedule the time to install Windows 11. Go to advanced settings and pause again for 35 days.

PortlandMT I am having the same problem and have also paused until January 24. However the temporary pause comes with a warning that "when you reach your pause limit your device will need to get new updates before you can pause again" That appears to mean Windows 11 will be installed before further pause. So frustrating, I only had it on for 3 days!!

I want to jump in and say that in regards to changing your registry keys, you need to know what version of Windows 10 you are using. I was given that same advice in order to stop the installation of Windows 11. I'm not going to do that as you need to upgrade your version of Windows 10 to 21H2 version. For me, I'm running:

Edition Windows 10 Home

Version          20H2

Installed on    ‎3/‎17/‎2021

I researched and I would have to do this upgrade which I'm not going to do. In all honesty, I think the advice about changing your registry would only stop updating Window 11 updates. Not the installation of the entire new operating system. Once Windows 11 is downloaded onto your computer; pending installation, you are screwed short of disabling the updater service. I'm sticking with the pausing for 35 days at a shot until I'm ready to let it install. That way I can still get any necessary Windows 10 updates and then quickly pause the installation date of Windows 11. There is no way out of this and it appears that everything we do try to do runs the risk of messing up your computer. Most likely not worth it.

I have Windows 10 Home 21H2 but like you I am not doing any changes to the registry at all. The only thing I have done for the moment is disable the Windows Update and I have just rolled back to Windows 10 again now and with the Update disabled it is no longer showing the update for Windows 11 so I'm praying that works. Thanks for letting me know as well.

I want to jump in and say that in regards to changing your registry keys, you need to know what version of Windows 10 you are using. I was given that same advice in order to stop the installation of Windows 11. I'm not going to do that as you need to upgrade your version of Windows 10 to 21H2 version. For me, I'm running:

Edition Windows 10 Home

Version          20H2

Installed on    ‎3/‎17/‎2021

I researched and I would have to do this upgrade which I'm not going to do. In all honesty, I think the advice about changing your registry would only stop updating Window 11 updates. Not the installation of the entire new operating system. Once Windows 11 is downloaded onto your computer; pending installation, you are screwed short of disabling the updater service. I'm sticking with the pausing for 35 days at a shot until I'm ready to let it install. That way I can still get any necessary Windows 10 updates and then quickly pause the installation date of Windows 11. There is no way out of this and it appears that everything we do try to do runs the risk of messing up your computer. Most likely not worth it.

Hello John

I also upgraded to Windows 11 and found that some things did not work. I went through the steps in Kapil's guide. Everything was fine - until the next day when I found that Windows 11 had been automatically installed again!!!!! Went through the rollback process.

Now the question is: how do I KEEP windows 11 off my computer?

I saw one post about modifying the registry under WindowsUpdate by adding/setting TargetReleaseVersion to "1" and TargetReleaseVersionInfo to "21H2." According to the article this restricts automatic updates to that release version. Is this a valid solution?

However, I don't want to do this. Right now I have the Windows Update service disabled.

FYI - I am running a windows home version of 10.

Please help!

Thank you.

Hi David,

I am having the same problem and I have also disabled the Windows Update today. Has this worked for you so far or is that a waste of time as well?

This is driving me absolutely mad and no-one can provide you with a proper answer.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!