Stop Windows Update service

This post explains how to stop Windows update service from command line(CMD). Make sure that you open elevated administrator command prompt to execute this command.

How to stop Windows update service

Do the following

1. Open elevated command prompt
2. Run the below command.

Update service restarts automatically

It’s observed that just stopping the service does not work in some cases and it restarts automatically. In such cases one can disable the service completely by running below command.

Note that these commands to stop or disable service should be run from elevated administrator command prompt. Other wise you will get the following error.

How to start windows update

Neat tip. However, it seems W7 is automatically restarting the Windows Update service every now and then. I’ve changed status to “Manual” under services.msc but the behavior remains. No fun at all.

Hi Carl
FYI everytime you go into windows update it will start the service even though it is set to manual so if you need to look in windows update then stop the service again afterwards.

Run CMD as Admin and “sc config wuauserv start= disabled” will work on Win7Ulti

Please help me to stop the windows update, it is a disaster every time after windows update, totally stupid program, may be next time I should go for apple.

you gott the error because you have’nt run cmd as administrator

Apple is more stupid than the windows.

I cannot get windows update to stop, finish, or go away! How do I get this to stop so I can get back on the computer? It’s a brand new computer, and useless at this point!

Set to disabled and reboot!

Wow thank you for putting this line up here. I needed to restart my windows update and this did the trick

Yes – agreed thanks much appreciated! On a very slow connection so bandwidth is at a premium. This made things much more pleasant.

#Persistent
interval = 600 ; execution interval in seconds
Menu, Tray, Add ; divider line
Menu, Tray, Add, Execute Now, StopService
Menu, Tray, Default, Execute Now
timer_param := -1000 * interval

StopService:
Run %comspec% /c “sc query wuauserv | find “1 STOPPED” & if errorlevel 1 sc stop wuauserv”, , Hide
time = %A_Now%
time += %interval%, seconds
FormatTime, time_string, %time%, Time
Menu, Tray, Tip, Stop Windows Update Service`nNext Execution at %time_string%
SetTimer, StopService, %timer_param%
return

Hi! even thou i star cmd as admin i still get the “error 5 access denied. can someone help me?

go to start menu —> type “cmd” in the search box, wait till cmd shows in the results list, right click on “cmd” and select “run as administrator”

You need to run it from elevated command prompt.

otherwise, check your UAC and if it’s off, turn it on in your account settings.

This information is for those who wish to completely disable Windows 10 automatic updates. It is very simple and requires no real expertise.

1. Bring up your task manager.
2. Select the “Services” tab.
3. Scroll down the lefthand side until you see “wuauserv”. (In the description column to the right, you’ll see “Windows Update”.)
4. Right click on “wuauserv”.
5. In the dropdown box that appears, click on “stop”.

This stops all automatic updates from taking over your computer. In order to get future updates, you will have to follow the same steps, but click on “start” to restart it. I prefer simply to go to Microsoft’s website to find the updates, if I want them at all, which I don’t. I’ve struggled with Microsoft’s updates for years, from Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and now Windows 10. All of them have rendered my computer(s) less functional than they were prior to the updates.

I use a separate security program in conjunction with Windows firewall and find that there is absolutely no need to upload their security updates.

hi, I am having endless problems with my surface pro3, running win10pro. the overwhelming majority of my time spent on this device is occupied by trying to update and keep in functioning without sending me endless notifications. I am an aspiring Linux user, which so far as I can tell, is superior in every way, however, I am concerned if the security is dependable…? I was wondering what the security program is that you referenced? and would be eager to hear any other suggestions/tips/opinions?

I tried this and got a message that access is denied.

Same problem on my PC. Svchost.exe takes continuously almost 100% processor time.
Stopped wuauserv in the way described above and the processor is free. However after a restart it is running again. Same after stopping it via the command: net stop wuauserv.
Anybody knows how I can stop this wuauserv forever.

You need to disable the service using sc command. Added these commands in the post.

Hi all, a tip for all of those having issues with Windows update, if you go to services.msc and stop the service in the second tab you can select a user to run the service with afterwards.
So you only need to put a valid user and then change the password of that user and voila! it wont ever be able to run again since it will be trying to run with an invalid user… 🙂

I wind up stopping and disabling this service every day or two, yet somehow Windows keeps turning it back to Automatic and running it! (on an older laptop which has to stay at XP)

Just want to say Thank YOU! I got nearly crazy (even more than normal) because my laptop was making so much noise while windows was checking updates for hours. Tried to close it through task manager to no avail but this tip worked as a charm.
I had no problems at all that was until windows installed updates and I could not get into windows anymore. Thanks no thanks. So now I am going to try to see if I can download the updates one by one or so. Thanks again. Love the sound of silence

Surely it would be much easier to use computer management services scroll down to windows update and apply the above directly with the advantage that you can see what you are actually doing.

Thanks for the tip. CPU had been running crazy trying to keep up with the update service. The CPU temp has dropped from 43 degrees Celcius to 35 degrees.

Omg! Thanks you! I was stuck in windows update hell!

Thanks for the info. I made a .bat file to stop, and one to start with this info. Just run as administrator and it works 🙂

I hope the above stop up dates work as my computer is all bet useless

from cmd run
sc queryex wuauserv
take pidnum from result and replace xxx in
taskkill /PID xxx/F and run

This is a good short term (few days) fix but on Windows 10 home edition, update restarts itself after a few days. There is a regedit out there but it doesn’t work for Home edition. The WUSH tool also only works for a few days.

Would be great if there were a way to program this “sc config wuauserv start= disabled” command to re-run itself every 2 days. Does anyone know how to do this?

Just put the command in a batch file, then schedule a task launching it with highest priviledge “when the computer starts”. (^v^)

i am running cmd as administrator but also the following cmd net stop wuauserv is saying invalid what to do then

Erm… I disabled the command using the command prompt (admin), but the file Windows10Upgrade keeps appearing. Help me please!

I can’t stop windows 10 update using service stopping, when I connect to wifi ,service is auto enable how can I stop permanently

Is there any command just to show the windows update is on or off ?

How can I disable windows updates for all the computers on the network?

Unfortunately, Windows 10 Home does not allow users to turn off automatic updates. To do that, you would have to upgrade to the Pro version. Otherwise, you’re looking at a lot of punishing hours spent rolling back updates you didn’t want… I had this issue with an error related to a registry conflict that prioritizes RuntimeBroker and found that this was the case during my research into the cause for the ongoing rollbacks.

I have no access to stop and disable the services. Can anyone tell me what to do in this case?

Hello, I am searching across the internet to find a solution to fix the svchost.exe disk usage, and almost every one of them suggests to disable or turn manual the Windows Update Service. I already did that, but the svchost.exe thing keeps consuming my disk.

If you know how to fix this, please tell me.

Can always services >Windows update
right click, properties, Revoery, and change to no action for all 3… see if that may help.

Thanks, had to get around an invasive group policy to repair bitlocker bde protectors, this was the trick I needed to disable updates so my bitlocker tables could be repaired.
Brent, New Zealand

What to do if Windows Update keeps turning itself back on

Keeping your Windows 10 updated ensures an optimized performance, best security, and system stability. However, if you want it disabled, it might be tiring when Windows Update keeps turning itself back on.

And while enabling automatic windows updates is the recommended way because it won’t bother you, it’s sometimes annoying since it often interrupts you with a request to restart the PC.

You may also feel it is sucking your bandwidth, slowing your gaming or related computing tasks, or just messing up your resources.

And so you may decide to turn off the automated Windows updating process only to get more disappointed as the windows update keeps turning itself back on- seemingly.

Now, this problem has several solutions and they will be the focus of this article starting with the easiest.

Windows Update service won’t stay disabled

1. Uninstall Window’s Update Assistant
2. Tweak The User Account Credentials
3. Disable The Task Scheduler Trigger Settings
4. Delete wuauserv From the Registry

SOLVED: Windows Update service starts automatically

Method 1: Uninstall Windows Update Assistant

Windows update assistant is a small application that manages the actual windows update process in some versions of the popular operating system including Windows 10.

This means that you can eliminate this issue by uninstalling this application as explained in the following steps:

1. Simultaneously press the Windows key +R on your keyboard. This opens the Run dialog box (ensure you are logged in as an administrator).
2. Now, type cpl in the provided Run dialog box then click OK.
3. A list of all the installed programs appears. You are now supposed to search for the Windows Update Assistant. Locate the app. from the shown list or head over to the search programs and features area or type Windows update assistant in the search box to quickly trace it. If the tool is installed, right-click on it and select Uninstall.

1. Next, you should check whether your PC has a folder named Windows10Upgrade in the local disk C and delete it. For Windows 10 click This PC then Local Disk(C :)
2. The Windows10Upgrade folder is found in the Windows folder so go there and delete it- if present. For other Windows’ (Windows 7, 8, and 8.1), just press the Windows key +E to move to C:

You must then disable Windows update service to fully eliminate the windows update keeps turning itself back problem.

Follow these steps:

1. Simultaneously press the Windows key +R on your keyboard. This opens the Run dialog box (be logged in as an administrator).
2. Now type msc in the provided Run dialog box then click OK. This opens the Windows services management platform.
   
3. Look around for the service named Windows update, then right-click it and select stop– if marked as running.
4. From there you right-click it again then choose properties.
5. Now, under startup type, click on the drop-down arrow and choose disabled.
6. Proceed to the Recovery option (in the same Window). Locate the First failure tab and click on the dropdown arrow right against it.
7. Click Take no Action.
8. Press Apply and then OK.

This will block the Windows update assistant from the irritating re-launch.

Method 2: Tweak The User Account Credentials

If the previous method comes to naught, you can try to tweak the user account required to run the Windows updates automatically.

This involves assigning the process to a Guest account. And since this account lacks administrative privileges, an attempt to turn the updates on after disabling them may fail.

Steps:

1. Simultaneously press the Windows key +R on your keyboard. This opens the Run dialog box(be logged in as an administrator).
2. Now type msc in the provided Run dialog box then click OK. This opens the Windows services management platform.
3. Right-click on the Windows Update service then click on properties.
4. Click Stop to first discontinue the service.
5. Now Click on the Log On
6. Under the This account section: type .Guest leaving the password blank.

1. Click on OK. You will receive this notification.

Now the system will generate an error (to the effect that the account specified is different from the usual account for running the same process) each time your Windows attempts to restart the service and the trial to reenable is halted.

What if I want To Re-enable The Updates?

To re-enable the updates, just repeat the above procedure but the Log on the account should be set to Local System instead of Guest.

Also, remember to start the Windows update service under the general tab.

Method 3: Disable The Task Scheduler Trigger Settings

Another potential reason why windows update keeps turning itself back on is the relevant task scheduler triggers re-activating the windows update after you have stopped it.

Prohibiting them should thus, hopefully, make it stop.

Steps:

1. Disable the Windows Update service– follow the previously highlighted steps.
2. Simultaneously press the Windows key +Ron the keyboard. This takes you to the Run dialog box (use an administrator account).
3. Now type msc in the Run dialog box. Click OK.This brings the WindowsService Control Manager window.
4. As we have been seeing, search for the windows update service and stop it under its properties tab. Also, disable it (Under Startup type, pick disabled).
5. Again press the Windows key +R.
6. Now type taskschd.msc in the dialog box.
7. Under Task Scheduler Library, find the Microsoft folder.
8. Then locate the Windows subfolder inside Microsoft. Now identify and first click the UpdateOrchestrator folder.
9. You will note its numerous triggers on the right pane. Right-click each of these and ensure they are set to disable.
10. Similarly, locate the WindowsUpdate folder and again disable all its triggers.
11. Exit the task scheduler window.

Please note that users who have already installed the Windows 10 KB4023057 update have to additionally disable all the triggers under the Microsoft>Windows>rempl folder for this solution to succeed.

Method 4: Delete wuauserv From the Registry

Another fairly drastic but helpful solution for the problem of windows updates keeping turning itself on is to delete the wuauserv (Windows Update Agent User Service) setup.

The only issue here is that you may no longer manage to update your PC using the routine Windows Update.

Steps:

1. Press the Windowskey+R on the keyboard.
2. Type regedit. The registry editing Windows pops open.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services.
4. Right-click on the wuauserv tab and select delete.
5. Confirm the erasure by clicking yes.
6. Close registry editor window and reboot.

Conclusion

These are our four suggested solutions for those struggling to use their PCs seamlessly because windows update keeps turning itself back on.

Try each and let us know what worked in the comments section.