This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the pause updates feature of Windows Update for Windows 11.
Windows Update keeps Windows 11 updated by automatically downloading and installing the latest updates, drivers, and hotfixes released by Microsoft.
If you have a Windows Insider build of Windows 11 installed, you can only pause updates for a maximum of 1 week (7 days) by default until updates automatically resume.
If you do not have a Windows Insider build of Windows 11 installed, you can pause updates for a maximum of up to 5 weeks (35 days) by default until updates automatically resume.
Some updates, like Microsoft Defender definition updates, will continue to be installed.
When updates resume, your device will need to get the latest updates before it can be paused again.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the pause updates feature.
If you disable the Pause updates feature while updates are currently paused, you will still be able to resume updates if wanted.
You can manually change the maximum days you have available to pause Windows Update for however long you want instead of the default.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature using Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature using REG file
EXAMPLE: Pause Updates Enabled and Disabled in Windows Update
OPTION ONE
Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature using Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Two.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update/Manage end user experience
3 In the right pane of Manage end user experience in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Remove access to "Pause updates" feature policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
5 To Enable Pause Updates Feature
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
6 To Disable Pause Updates Feature
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
OPTION TWO
Enable or Disable Pause Updates Feature using REG file
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 To Enable Pause Updates Feature
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Pause_updates_feature.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"SetDisablePauseUXAccess"=-3 To Disable Pause Updates Feature
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Pause_updates_feature.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"SetDisablePauseUXAccess"=dword:000000014 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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