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Please stop auto-updating my Win10. I don't need Win11 for a lot of annoying errors. Stop scamming and trying to update

Quoc Quang Nguyen 20 Reputation points
2026-05-05T10:37:02.8966667+00:00

Please stop auto-updating my Win10. I don't need Win11 for a lot of annoying errors. Stop scamming and trying to update

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade
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  1. DaveM121 872.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-05T11:15:54.4233333+00:00

    If you have Windows 10 installed and you do not want to upgrade to Windows 11, you can use this process to stop the upgrade to Windows 11.

    1

    Click your Start Button, then just type cmd and from the resulting list, right click Command Prompt and choose 'Run as Administrator'

    Paste this command into Command Prompt and press Enter:

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /v TargetReleaseversion /t REG_DWORD /d 1

    Paste this command into Command Prompt and press Enter::

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /v TargetReleaseversionInfo /t REG_SZ /d 22H2

    Close Command Prompt

    2

    Open File Explorer, then navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

    Delete the contents of that folder, not the folder itself and restart (not shut down) your PC.

    3

    In the future if you ever want to upgrade to Windows 11, you will need to open the Registry Editor and delete the TargetReleaseversion and TargetReleaseversionInfo entries from this key (folder).

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-05-05T10:37:13.7266667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Windows 10 is designed to keep receiving updates so the device stays secure and runs reliably. Updates include security fixes that protect against viruses, spyware, and other malware, and Microsoft strongly recommends keeping them enabled.

    On Windows 10, automatic updates cannot be turned off permanently, but there are a few controls available:

    1. Temporarily pause updates
      Windows 10 allows updates to be paused for a limited time. This can reduce interruptions while still ensuring the device eventually receives critical fixes. For details, see the guidance under “How can I stop my computer from updating?” in Windows Update: FAQ.
    2. Schedule restarts for a convenient time
      Instead of blocking updates, configure Windows to restart when it is convenient. This helps avoid unexpected restarts while still applying updates. See “Find out how to schedule a restart to install updates at a convenient time” in the same FAQ.
    3. Metered connections
      If using a metered connection, some Windows updates will not install automatically. This can reduce data usage and slow down how quickly some updates arrive. For more on this behavior, see Metered connections in Windows linked from the FAQ.

    If the device is showing a message like “You’re not receiving security updates”, that indicates the current Windows 10 version is out of service and is no longer getting security fixes. In that case, updating to a newer Windows 10 version or upgrading to Windows 11 is required to restore security updates.

    Support for Windows 10 itself ends on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. The PC will still run, but moving to Windows 11 is recommended to stay protected.

    References:

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