How to disable preview updates

I was one of the unfortunate ones who had more than one computer corrupted by KB5034848 update. It cost me an entire weekend reinstalling Windows (I tried everything else to go back, uninstall updates, repair Windows, etc.) and reconfiguring applications on two machines.

Now that the two systems are running stable versions again, I paused updates so they won't be corrupted in the meantime. However, my understanding is that KB5034848 was a Preview build (the MS catalog does still list it as "2024-02 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 23H2)." If this is indeed true, I can't determine why it was installed on any of my machines (and it was actually installed automatically on all 4 PCs in the house). I have checked the Windows Update settings and "Get the latest updates as soon as they are available" setting is OFF on all computers. I also verified that my email address (the one used for my MS account used by all Windows installations) is NOT enrolled in the "Windows Insider Program".

So now my question is, why did my PC receive a "preview" update and how can I stop preview builds from being automatically installed in the future (aside from constantly re-pausing Windows Updates)?

Thanks!

Go to settings>windows update
toggle off "get the latest updates as soon as they are available"
This stops the Previews, but once a preview goes into release it will be automatically downloaded (usually about 2 or 3 weeks after the preview MS releases it to the masses)
While it's working with no issues, I suggest you make a system image so your can recover if it gets broken again.

\EDIT" If it ever becomes necessary for whatever reason to pause updates for longer than the 5 weeks we are allowed in settings>windows updates (I hope it doesn't) our man Brink tells us how to pause them up to 20 years

Thanks. As previously mentioned, I checked the Windows Update settings and "Get the latest updates as soon as they are available" setting is OFF on all computers. This is why I don't understand why it was delivered to all PCs in my house. I guess it's no longer a "preview" and is being released to the masses now? Odd, since they still refer to it on their site as a preview release.

KB5034848 is still a "preview," at least until tomorrow, when it will be released as a regular CU with a different KB number. Glad you got the two victimized machines back in running order. No idea why you got the supposedly entirely optional previews without choosing to get them.