Stop upgrade to Windows 11

I just dealt with a laptop that is unable to run Windows 11 correctly, that had nevertheless upgraded to Windows 11 without the user knowing how.

10 days had passed, so I had to do a fresh install of Windows 10.

But it appears from this thread that there is no straightforward way of stopping it from upgrading to 11 again that a typical user can use, and not even a method for techies that is well publicised by Microsoft.

FWIW I have attempted to block it with this method: https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/6000005-registry-keys-and-group-policy-info-to-keep-windows-10-from-going-to-11/ This seems better than the other links that have have been posted, as it doesn't suggest restricting updates to a feature update version.

The problem with the laptop in question is documented here:

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-uk/000196864/vostro-5481-and-vostro-5581-do-not-boot-after-upgrading-to-windows-11

There's lots of reports on the web of people being tricked into installing Windows 11 one way or another - e.g. requiring them to press a 'Decline upgrade' button to stay on 10, which makes it seem like they're declining the option to use 11 forever.

It would be nice to know if and when a version of Windows 11 is released that has no longer these 'early bird' issues. To know when it is safe to try again.

Exactly. I assist people with their common computer problems. My user is not very adaptable a far as technology goes and his computer is compatible with and updated to Win 11 when he didn't expect and it threw him for a loop. I backed it out, installed this kludge. Now I'm researching these issues so I can keep his computer on Win 10 but get security and bug updates.

My other question is: What is the support plan for Windows 10? I heard you can keep using it until 2025, but if you look at the above Win 10 chart 21H2 is only supported until 2023, a year from now. If they keep using the same version strings, how's that going to work.

I think MS is trying to pull a fast one by forcing those they can onto Win 11 whether we like it or not. Same ol' MS BS, different year.

Hello.

It looks from previous posts that the "ProductVersion" key doesn't solve the problem.

Has anyone come across any developments on this?

We have 2000 computers and blocked Win11 updates on WSUS since it began to deploy last year.

But now users are getting pop-ups to start the upgrade themselves. And although they are not system admins, it let's them procede with the upgrade and it breaks a couple of major things, so we are getting them all at the IT for recovery.

Why?
Why does Microsoft provide WSUS to allow control over Windows Updates in the organizations and then break that control by contacting the end users directly?

This is ludicrous

I upgraded to Windows 11 and reverted back to Windows 10. Now Windows 10 automatically attempts to download and install Windows 11 again. See below:

I can Pause Updates but doing so doesn't allow me to update Windows 10 "patches." I'm being forced to Upgrade to Windows 11 without the ability to stop it.

I want to cancel the Upgrade to Windows 11 (download/installation) process which initiated on its own without my consent. The current status is how it shows in the image above - ready to download and then install Windows 11 but there is no way to stop it.

What I want:

• Windows 10 to stop Upgrade to Windows 11 process
• Ability to update Windows 10 without it upgrading/installing to Windows 11
• Windows 10 with the ability to update patches

devkuar

I'm not sure how it keeps getting overlooked but the following solution has worked just fine for me. I upgraded to Win 11 on 9/22/2022 and kept it for about a week before I decided it would take less time to roll it back than deal with the problems.

So I rolled back but it kept wanting to update. I stumbled across the solution in November and haven't had a problem since. I stumbled across this thread in Feb this year and decided to post it since there seemed to be no consensus and some were advising to do things that would have prevented security and quality updates.

I am posting the solution below. The solution provides:

• Windows 10 to stop Upgrade to Windows 11 process
• Ability to update Windows 10 without it upgrading/installing to Windows 11
• Windows 10 with the ability to update patches

I've been getting all of the regular security updates, patches, and occasional small improvements consistently without problems... well over a hundred update files ranging from security, quality improvements, and more and haven't even seen the option to upgrade to Win 11. The only peculiar thing is that at the very top of the update page it still says "Windows 11 Insider Preview" as if Win11 is still running on the machine. The last Win10 updates I receiver were on 10/11/23 which had both 0203-10.NET 6.0.23 Security update for x64 Client (KB5031900). and a Cumulative update for Win10 22H2 x64 (KB5031356). There was a -net, a bluetooth driver, and an Intel System update earlier this month,.

A link to the step by step directions can be found below. Basically you're just setting the value of the TargetReleaseVersionInfo to whatever your current version is which is likely 22H2. The directions are using 21H1 because that's the version that was on that machine at the time it was published.

There are two paths in the instructions, using Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor. Either is fine. You only need to do one of them.

Be sure to bookmark the registry location, back up the affected key(s), and/or take good notes so you can easily revert it if and when you decide to upGRADE.

https://www.mcs.support/how-to-block-upgrade-to-windows-11-through-local-group-policy-or-registry-editor-from-windows-10/