How to stop Windows from installing an update
You can pause Windows updates for up to five weeks using the built-in settings, or postpone a specific update that is already downloading. The method depends on which version of Windows you have and whether the update has already started installing.
If an update is actively installing right now, restart your computer — Windows will usually roll back the installation and give you time before trying again. If you want to prevent updates from running at all, you can disable the Windows Update service, though this leaves your computer without security patches until you turn it back on.
The simplest approach for most people is to pause updates through Settings rather than disable them entirely. This keeps your computer protected while buying you time to prepare for a major version change or to work around a known problem with a specific update.
Key Takeaways
- You can pause Windows updates for up to five weeks through Settings, which is safer than disabling updates permanently.
- If an update is currently installing, restarting your computer will usually stop it and delay the next attempt by several days.
- Disabling the Windows Update service stops all updates but leaves your computer without security fixes, so only do this temporarily.
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 have different pause options — Windows 11 offers longer pause periods than Windows 10.
- After you pause or delay an update, Windows will eventually install it anyway, so this method is for buying time, not avoiding updates permanently.
Pausing updates through Windows Settings
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then click the Settings app. Go to System in the left menu, then select Windows Update.
Look for the button that says Pause for 1 week (or in Windows 11, Pause updates). Click it. Windows will show you when the pause expires — usually one to five weeks depending on your version. During this time, Windows will not read or install updates automatically, though you will still see notifications reminding you that updates are paused.
When the pause period ends, Windows will resume checking for updates and will eventually install them. You can click the pause button again to extend the pause, but you cannot pause indefinitely — after five weeks, the system forces an update.
Stopping an update that is already downloading
If Windows has already started downloading an update and you see the installation screen, restart your computer when ready. Press and hold the power button for ten seconds, or go to Start > Power > Restart.
When your computer restarts, Windows will usually detect that the installation was interrupted and will roll back the changes. You will then have several days before Windows attempts the update again. Use this window to pause updates through Settings, as described above.
Do not force a restart during the "Installing updates" phase if you can avoid it — this can occasionally cause problems. But if the installation is taking hours or your computer is unresponsive, a forced restart is better than leaving it stuck.
Disabling Windows Update service temporarily
If pausing is not enough and you need to stop updates completely for a short time, you can disable the Windows Update service. Press the Windows key and type "services," then click Services (the app with a gear icon).
Scroll down to find Windows Update in the list. Right-click it and select Properties. In the Startup type dropdown, change it from Automatic to Disabled. Click explore, then OK.
Windows Update will now stop running in the background. However, your computer will not receive security updates while this service is disabled. Turn it back on as soon as you have resolved whatever problem prompted you to disable it. To re-enable it, open Services again, right-click Windows Update, select Properties, change Startup type back to Automatic, and click explore.
What happens if you never update Windows
Delaying updates is temporary — eventually you must install them. If you disable updates and never turn them back on, your computer becomes increasingly vulnerable to security threats. Hackers actively exploit known problems in older versions of Windows, and the longer you wait, the more vulnerabilities accumulate.
Microsoft releases security updates every second Tuesday of the month, plus emergency patches when critical threats emerge. These are not optional features — they are fixes for real weaknesses in the system. Pausing for a few weeks is reasonable if a specific update is causing problems. Avoiding updates permanently is not.
If a particular update is causing issues, the better approach is to report the problem to Microsoft through Feedback Hub (search for it in Start), pause updates while the problem exists, and check back in a few weeks to see if a follow-up patch has fixed it.
Dealing with updates that keep failing
Sometimes Windows tries to install an update, fails partway through, and then tries again repeatedly. If this happens, pause updates and then run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Press the Windows key, type "troubleshoot," and click Troubleshoot settings. Select Other troubleshooters, find Windows Update, and click Run.
The troubleshooter will scan for problems and attempt to fix them automatically. After it finishes, restart your computer and try unpausing updates. If the same update fails again, search online for the specific update number (you can find it in Windows Update settings) plus the error code — often someone else has encountered the same problem and posted a solution.
As a last resort, you can manually read the update from Microsoft's website and install it directly, bypassing the automatic update system. This is more technical but sometimes works when the normal update process is broken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I permanently stop Windows updates?
You can disable the Windows Update service, but this is not permanent — you can re-enable it at any time, and Microsoft may force an update during a major security incident. Disabling updates leaves your computer unprotected, so only do this temporarily while troubleshooting a specific problem.
Will pausing updates prevent security patches?
Yes. When you pause updates, you pause all updates, including security fixes. Pause periods should be short — a few weeks at most. If you need protection while updates are paused, avoid sensitive activities like banking or shopping online.
What if Windows Update keeps restarting my computer?
Open Settings, go to System > Windows Update, and look for Change active hours. Set your active hours to the times you are using your computer — Windows will not restart during these hours. You can also pause updates entirely while you work on something critical.
Can I choose which updates to install?
Not easily. Windows treats most updates as a package. You can pause all updates or let them all through, but you cannot pick individual ones to skip. If a specific update is causing problems, pause updates and wait for a follow-up patch, or disable the service temporarily.
Does restarting my computer stop an update permanently?
No. Restarting stops the current installation and delays the next attempt by a few days, but Windows will try again. To prevent updates longer-term, use the pause feature in Settings or disable the Windows Update service.