As a user, updating your device’s software is always recommended as it helps in fixing bugs, upgrading security, and improving performance. However, sometimes these updates can disrupt your work, or you may want to delay them due to a slow internet connection or other reasons. In such cases, it is necessary to know how to stop Windows 10 updates in progress. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to pause or disable updates on Windows 10.

Pause Updates for 7 Days

Windows 10 lets you pause updates up to 35 days in advance. However, if you want to temporarily halt the updates for 7 days, follow these steps:

1. Open Windows 10 Settings by clicking the Start menu and selecting the gear icon above the power options.

2. In the Settings window, click on “Update & Security.”

3. On the next screen, select “Windows Update” from the left pane, then click on the “Advanced options” link.

4. Look for the “Pause updates” section and click on the “Pause until” drop-down menu.

5. Select the date you want to resume updates, or select “7 days” to pause the updates temporarily.

Disable Automatic Updates

If you want to completely disable automatic updates, follow these steps:

1. Open the Run command by pressing the “Windows+R” key and type “services.msc” into the search box.

2. In the Services window, locate “Windows Update,” right-click on it and select “Properties.”

3. In the Properties window, click on the “General” tab, then locate the “Startup type” drop-down menu.

4. Select “Disabled” from the drop-down menu and click “OK.”

5. Once you restart your device, Windows 10 updates will no longer download or install automatically.

Use Group Policy Editor

Group Policy Editor is another tool that can be used to stop Windows 10 updates from being installed.

1. Press “Windows+R” keys to open the Run dialog box and type “gpedit.msc” into the search box.

2. From the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.

3. Locate the “Configure Automatic Updates” policy on the right and double-click on it.

4. Select the “Disabled” radio button, then click on “OK” to confirm the changes.

5. Note that the Group Policy Editor is only available in Windows 10 Pro, Education, and Enterprise editions.

Conclusion

These are some of the tips you can use to stop Windows 10 updates in progress. While it is essential to keep your device up to date, sometimes it is necessary to pause updates temporarily or disable them entirely if you have a more critical task to complete. Always ensure that you back up your data before making any changes to your device’s settings.