Post Date
June,
14
2026
Windows Update Settings in windows 10 was created to make keeping Windows up to date with the newest patches, service packs, and other updates as simple as possible. The ease with which Windows Update downloads and applies updates is determined by how Windows Update is setup.
You told Windows Update how you wanted it to function when you first turned on your new computer or finished installing the Windows operating system—a little more automatic or a little more manual.
You may simply tweak how Windows receives and installs updates if your original decision isn't working properly, or if you need to change how it works to avoid repeating an auto-update issue, such as what happens on some Patch Tuesdays.
Depending on your Windows version, this could entail downloading but not installing updates, informing but not downloading updates, or even fully blocking Windows Update.
Changes to how Windows updates are obtained and installed should take no more than a few minutes.
Microsoft streamlined the options available to you about the Windows Update process in Windows 10, but it also eliminated some of the finer control you would have had in previous versions.
Step 1, Choose 'Start', then select the 'Settings' icon.
Step 2, Select 'Update & Security' from the drop-down menu.
Step 3, If it isn't already chosen, select 'Windows Update' from the left-hand menu.
Step 4, Select the 'Advanced' tab. The options on this page affect how Windows 10 downloads and installs updates from Microsoft for the operating system and maybe additional software.
Step 5, When 'Updating Windows', we strongly advise you to select Receive updates for other Microsoft products, enable Download updates over metered connections (additional costs may apply), and disable any deferred/pause update choices (if you see them).
Step 6, When you make changes to Windows Update settings in Windows 10, they are automatically saved. You can close the Advanced choices window once you've finished selecting or deselecting items.
More information on all of the "advanced" Windows Update settings available in Windows 10 can be found here:
Notifications of updates: Select this option to have all security and non-security updates downloaded automatically. When Windows has to restart to apply them, you'll be notified so you may prepare by saving work, etc.
In Windows 10, there is no official option to prevent automatic updates, nor is there a simple way to disable Windows Update entirely.
Step 2, Select 'Update & Security' from the drop-down menu.
Step 3, If it isn't already chosen, select 'Windows Update' from the left-hand menu.
Step 4, Select the 'Advanced' tab. The options on this page affect how Windows 10 downloads and installs updates from Microsoft for the operating system and maybe additional software.
Step 5, When 'Updating Windows', we strongly advise you to select Receive updates for other Microsoft products, enable Download updates over metered connections (additional costs may apply), and disable any deferred/pause update choices (if you see them).
Step 6, When you make changes to Windows Update settings in Windows 10, they are automatically saved. You can close the Advanced choices window once you've finished selecting or deselecting items.
More information on all of the "advanced" Windows Update settings available in Windows 10 can be found here:
Notifications of updates: Select this option to have all security and non-security updates downloaded automatically. When Windows has to restart to apply them, you'll be notified so you may prepare by saving work, etc.
In Windows 10, there is no official option to prevent automatic updates, nor is there a simple way to disable Windows Update entirely.
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