You can鈥檛 stop updates altogether, but you can pause them. There is also a way to disable updates, but it, too, is not permanent. If you want to hold off in case of any potential glitches or would rather put them off as long as possible, here is how to adjust your settings.
Stop Windows 11 automatic updates temporarily in Settings
This is by far the simplest method, but it鈥檚 also the most limited. If you鈥檙e getting bombarded with updates right now but don鈥檛 want to have to check manually long-term, it鈥檚 worth trying:
- Open Settings
- Select Windows Update from the left pane 鈥 it鈥檚 usually at the bottom of the list
- Under 鈥楳ore updates鈥, you鈥檒l find an option to 鈥楶ause updates鈥. Click the button marked 鈥楶ause for 1 week鈥, after which automatic updates will continue again []
- Windows 11 turn off automatic updates
- However, this setting completely disables updates for seven days, or until you resume them. There鈥檚 no option to continue installing them manually.
NOTE: Unfortunately, unlike with Windows 10, where you could pause updates for up to 35 days, in Windows 11, you only get up to those three weeks.