How to really defer updates in Windows 10 and 11 (step by step)
This tutorial will show you step by step how to defer updates in Windows 10 and 11 Pro and Home.
Methods:
How to defer updates in Windows 10 or 11 Pro (Local Group Policy Editor)
1. Right-click on the start menu button > Run.
A Run window will appear.
2. Type gpedit.msc.
3. Click on OK or press the Enter on your keyboard.
A “Local Group Policy Editor” window will appear.
4. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Windows Update for Business or Manage updates offered from Windows Update (Windows 11).
5. In the right section, you double-click on Select when Preview Builds and Feature Updates are received.
6. Check the Enabled option.
7. Select Semi-Annual Channel.
8. For days, you enter 365.
9. Click on the Apply button in the bottom right corner of the window.
10. Click on the OK button.
11. In the right section, you double-click on Select when Quality Updates are received. This is also security updates.
12. Check the Enabled option.
13. Enter or select 4 days.
You may be wondering why four days.
Well. The reason is that all these updates get released on patch Tuesday, and sometimes these updates cause problems.
And if Microsoft releases a bad update and the update causes a lot of problems, they usually pull back the update two or three days after the release day.
And by the weekend, when your PC searches for updates, it's either fixed or already been pulled.
So if you delay these updates for four days, you'll only receive quality updates.
14. Click on the Apply button in the bottom right corner of the window.
15. Click on the OK button.
Windows will, from now on, defer updates.
How to defer updates in Windows 10 or 11 Home (Registry Editor)
1. Right-click on the start menu button > Run.
A Run window will appear.
2. Type regedit.
3. Click on OK or press the Enter key on your keyboard.
4. When the “User Account Control” window appears, you click Yes. If you're not using an administrator account (which you shouldn't use for daily use anyway), you first need to enter the administrator password and then click on Yes.
A “Registry Editor” window will appear.
5. Go to the following key:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings
6. In the right section, you right-click on an empty space > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
7. Name the new value BranchReadinessLevel 20.
8. Create another DWORD (32-bit) Value with the name DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays 365.
9. Create one more DWORD (32-bit) Value with the name DeferQualityUpdatesPeriodInDays 4.
You may be wondering why four days.
Well. The reason is that all these updates get released on patch Tuesday, and sometimes these updates cause problems.
And if Microsoft releases a bad update and the update causes a lot of problems, they usually pull back the update two or three days after the release day.
And by the weekend, when your PC searches for updates, it's either fixed or already been pulled.
So if you delay these updates for four days, you'll only receive quality updates.
10. Close the Registry Editor.
Windows will, from now on, defer updates.