How to Stop Windows 10 Updates in Progress

Stop those unwanted updates that pop up when you least expect them

Windows Update blue screen

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by Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal.
Updated July 10, 2019

Windows 10 updates are an important part of keeping your system protected against the latest security threats. They also introduce new features and can make your PC run faster. However, they aren't always great right out of the gate. If one starts before you give it the say so, though, how do you cancel a Windows 10 update in progress?

How to Stop Windows 10 Update in Progress? Don't

If your PC has already started installing the update, i.e., it's on a blue screen with a progress percentage and explicitly tells you not to turn off your computer, listen to it. As much as it might be tempting to hit the power button to get your PC working again and stop the update in its tracks, you risk damaging your Windows install, which could make your system unusable.

Instead, let the update finish, then either uninstall it or use Windows 10's various roll back and reset options to set it back to how it was before the update began.

How to Cancel a Windows Update When It's Downloaded

If you've not quite reached the point where the Windows 10 update is installing, but it’s downloaded and the shut down and reset options have been replaced by Update and Shut Down and Update and Restart, you're in luck. You can still stop these updates before they’re applied. You just need to stop Windows' own "maintenance" from taking place.

  1. Search for Control Panel in the Windows 10 search box and select the relevant result.

  2. Select System and Security from the list of menu options.

  3. Select Security and Maintenance.

  4. Select Maintenance to expand its options.

  5. Under the heading Automatic Maintenance, select Stop Maintenance. That should stop the update process in its tracks.

    Security and Maintenance options in Windows 10

You can always turn Maintenance back on to kickstart the update process again. Simply follow the steps as above, but instead of selecting Stop Maintenance, select Start Maintenance instead.

How to Cancel Windows 10 Updates Indefinitely

If the above method doesn't work or you want to make sure updates aren't applied at any time in the immediate future, you can turn off Windows automatic updates entirely. That should also cancel any Windows 10 updates in progress.

  1. Type Services in the Windows 10 search bar. Right-click (or tap and hold) the relevant result and select Run as administrator.

  2. Scroll down the list of Windows services until you find Windows Update. If Windows Update is already running, right-click (or tap and hold), then select Stop from the menu that appears.

    Windows Services window

  3. To make sure the service doesn't start again later without your permission, right-click (or tap and hold) again and select Properties from the menu that appears.

  4. In the drop-down menu next to Startup type, select either Disabled or Manual, depending on whether you never want it to run, or to only do so when you trigger it.

To reverse the process to allow updates to download and install automatically again, follow the steps above. However, after you select Properties, set the Startup type to Automatic. If you want to trigger an update check, select Start from the menu also.

How to Cancel Windows Update in Windows 10 Professional

Windows 10 Professional users have an additional method they can use to stop Windows 10 updates in progress: the Windows 10 Group Policy Editor. It can provide an alternative way of stopping an update which some may find preferable.

This isn't available in Windows Home edition, so unless you're sure you have Windows 10 Professional, skip this section.

  1. Press Windows key + R, then type gpedit.msc, then select OK.

  2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.

  3. Search for and either either double click or tap an entry called Configure Automatic Updates.

  4. Using the toggle options on the left-hand side, select Disabled.

    Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 Professional

  5. Select Apply, then select OK.