How To Postpone Windows 10 Updates

The Professional, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10 provide more control over Windows Update than the Home edition does. If yous have one of those editions, and then starting with the Creators Update, you can now suspension receiving updates and defer some updates for up to a year.

Update: In the years since the Creators Update was released, Microsoft has inverse how pausing and deferring updates works. Here'due south our guide to pausing updates on mod versions of Windows ten.

RELATED: How to Intermission Updates on Windows 10

How to Pause Updates

Windows tin can pause updates for 35 days. After the menstruum expires, Windows 10 automatically unpauses, looks for updates, and begins installing them. Windows will need to install the latest updates earlier y'all can break updates once again.

To pause updates, head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options. Scroll downwards and plow on the "Pause Updates" option.

Only notation that you'll only run across this option if you're using Windows ten Professional, Enterprise, or Education, and even then only if y'all've installed the Creators Update. Pausing updates is not available if you lot're using Windows 10 Dwelling.

RELATED: How to Upgrade From Windows 10 Abode to Windows 10 Professional

How to Defer Updates if Y'all've Installed the Creators Update

Starting with the Creators Update, Windows allows you to defer different types of updates using the Settings interface. This lets you put off receiving updates until they've been more widely tested. This option was available in the Windows ten Anniversary Update that came out in mid-2016, merely y'all had to burn upward the Local Group Policy Editor to employ it (and nosotros actually accept instructions for doing that a flake after).

Microsoft splits Windows updates into three wide categories:

Security updates fix major vulnerabilities. You cannot defer security updates at all.
Feature updates include new features and significant updates to existing features. You tin defer feature updates for up to 365 days.
Quality updates are more like traditional operating organisation updates and include modest security fixes, critical, and driver updates. You lot can defer quality updates for upwardly to 30 days.

To defer updates, caput to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options. Scroll down and use the "Characteristic update" and "Quality update" options under "Choose when updates are installed" to specify how many days you desire to defer updates for. Gear up these options back to "0" to cease deferring updates.

This folio besides lets you switch from the Semi-Annual Aqueduct (Targeted), which was formerly know nas the Current Co-operative, to the Semi-Annual Channel, which was formerly known every bit the Electric current Branch for Business.

The standard Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted) option means yous'll get updates when they're being provided to consumer PCs. If yous switch to the Semi-Annual Channel, you'll only get updates after they've been more thoroughly tested and Microsoft feels they're ready for Enterprise deployment. This often happens about four months after the update is released to consumers.

Then, if you switch to the Semi-Annual Channel and defer feature updates for 365 days, you'll receive updates a year after they announced in the Semi-Annual channel. In other words, it volition accept about sixteen months for an update to achieve your PC after it showtime rolls out to consumer PCs.

Again, you'll only see these option if you're using Windows x Professional person, Enterprise, or Education, and simply if you've installed the Creators Update. These options are not available if you're using Windows 10 Home.

How to Defer Updates Using Group Policy if You Don't Take the Creators Update

Fifty-fifty if you haven't upgraded to the Creators Update yet, you lot can still choose to defer updates. Y'all merely have to exercise it through Grouping Policy. This is useful if yous're however using the Anniversary Update and want to defer receiving the Creators Update itself, for case.

RELATED: Using Group Policy Editor to Tweak Your PC

Before you lot get started, be enlightened that the Local Grouping Policy Editor is a pretty powerful tool. If you've never used information technology before, information technology'south worth taking some time to learn what it can do. Also, if y'all're on a company network, do everyone a favor and check with your admin starting time. If your work computer is function of a domain, information technology's likewise likely that it'due south part of a domain group policy that will supervene upon the local group policy, anyhow.

Fire upward Local Group Policy Editor by hitting Start, typing "gpedit.msc," so hitting Enter.

In the Local Group Policy Editor, on the left-hand side, drill down to Computer Configuration > Authoritative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Defer Upgrades and Updates.

Update: These options are now configured under "Windows Update for Business."

On the correct-manus side, double-click the "Select when Feature Updates are received" setting to open its properties window.

In the properties window, select the "Enabled" choice. If y'all want to defer updates, enter any number upwardly to 180 days in the "Later a feature update is released, defer receiving it for this many days" box. Alternatively, you tin select the "Interruption characteristic updates" choice to put off updates for 60 days or until you articulate the check box. Using the pause feature is essentially the same as using the regular defer updates feature in the Windows Update interface except that you can come back to the Local Group Policy Editor and uncheck the box if you lot'd like to end the pause and get the updates.

The other option you accept in this window is the co-operative readiness level for receiving feature updates. The "Current Branch" gets updates when Microsoft deems the features are fix for general use. The "Current Branch for Business" gets feature updates more slowly, and simply when Microsoft feels they are ready for enterprise deployment. If you'd similar to become feature updates sooner, cull "Current Branch." If you'd like to delay new features as long every bit possible, choose "Current Branch for Business organization."

When you're done setting options, click "OK."

Back in the main Local Group Policy Editor window, double-click the "Select when Quality Updates are received" setting to open its backdrop window.

In the backdrop window, select the "Enabled" selection. Notation that there is no branch selection option for quality updates. You tin set the the number of days to defer updates anywhere up to xxx days. Using the pause feature is again but like using the deferral choice in the Windows Update interface. It volition break updates for 35 days or until you lot come dorsum and uncheck the choice. When you're washed setting options, click "OK."

You tin can now shut Local Grouping Policy Editor. There'south no need to restart your PC or anything. Changes take place immediately and you should not receive quality and feature updates for whatsoever period you set.

RELATED: How to Cease Windows 10 From Automatically Updating Hardware Drivers

Windows Update on Windows x also automatically updates your hardware drivers. You tin stop Windows 10 from updating your hardware drivers, if you like. Unlike the above options for deferring updates, stopping Windows from updating hardware drivers also works on the Windows 10 Home edition.