Windows 10: Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature in Windows 10

How to: Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature in Windows 10

How to Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature of Windows Update in Windows 10


Windows Update keeps Windows 10 updated by downloading and installing the latest updates, drivers, and hotfixes released by Microsoft.

Starting with Insiders[/b]) or 35 days (non Insiders). Some updates, like Windows Defender definition updates, will continue to be installed.

Starting with Windows 10 version 1809, you can use a new group policy to remove access to "Pause updates" feature.

Starting with Windows 10 pause updates.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable access to the Pause updates feature of Windows Update for all users in Windows 10.

*Warning You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable pause updates.

*note If you disable access to Pause updates feature with pause updates turned on, access to the feature doesn't actually get disabled until after you resume updates to turn off pause updates.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Enable or Disable Pause Updates using Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: Enable or Disable Pause Updates using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Pause Updates Enabled and Disabled in Windows Update











OPTION ONE [/i] Enable or Disable Pause Updates using Local Group Policy Editor

*note The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below to set this policy.
1. If you have paused updates, you will need to turn off pause updates (resume updates) before continuing.

2. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

3. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update




4. In the right pane of Windows Update in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Remove access to "Pause updates" feature policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

5. Do step 6 (enable) or step 7 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


6. To Enable Pause Updates
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step8 below. (see screenshot below)

*note Not Configured is the default setting.

7. Disable Pause Updates
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)




8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.

9. Restart the computer to apply.





OPTION TWO [/i] Enable or Disable Pause Updates using a REG file

*note The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

SetDisablePauseUXAccess DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable


1. If you have paused updates, you will need to turn off pause updates (resume updates) before continuing.

2. Do step 3 (enable) or step 4 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


3. To Enable Pause Updates
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Enable_Pause_updates_feature.reg

Download

4. To Disable Pause Updates
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

Disable_Pause_updates_feature.reg

Download

5. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

6. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

7. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8. Restart the computer to apply.

9. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Turn On or Off Pause Updates in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Check for Windows Updates in Windows 10

:)

 

Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature in Windows 10  

Brink,

... This I have done numerous times but to no avail. I use disk imaging, so I am able to return the system to a previous state to re-test. On first launch of Windows 10, the Pause option is dabbled, and the text is enabled. I then run the patch and reboot. The Pause option is disabled and the text is still enabled - not greyed-out as in the initial image.

However, if I enable then disable the Pause option, the text then becomes greyed-out.

 

Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature in Windows 10  

Brink,

Another interesting point ... there is no WindowsUpdate key available on this system:

 

Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature in Windows 10  

Brink,

Okay, from this screen, what should I be doing? Man, I would love to know what I missing here?

 

Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature in Windows 10  

After some more testing doing the same as you, I can confirm that you do need to turn off pause updates before you disable it.

 

Windows 10 update being enabled.

My experience was that disabling Windows Update service works for a while until suddenly that service is magically enabled again and starts updating everything.