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Disable Automatic Updates (AU) feature

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script disables the Automatic Updates feature on Windows.

Automatic Updates downloads and installs updates without requiring explicit user permission 1 2. When enabled, it automatically checks for updates from the Windows Update website whenever you are online 2. By default, Automatic Updates is enabled 1 3.

Disabling Automatic Updates provides users control over when and how updates are installed. This enhances privacy by minimizing automatic data transfers to Microsoft servers.

However, disabling Automatic Updates prevents the system from automatically receiving important security patches or feature updates. This may increase your system's vulnerability to security threats if updates are not installed manually. It is recommended to regularly check for and install updates manually to maintain system security.

Caution

Disabling Automatic Updates may leave the system unprotected against known vulnerabilities. Consider manually checking and installing updates to ensure security.

Technical Details​

This script modifies the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU!NoAutoUpdate registry value 3 4.

The NoAutoUpdate setting accepts these values 4 5:

  • 0: Automatic Updates are enabled.
  • 1: Automatic Updates are disabled.

By default, Windows enables Automatic Updates by setting NoAutoUpdate to 0 3. This script disables Automatic Updates by setting NoAutoUpdate to 1 3 4 5.

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Not Advised

This script should only be used by advanced users. This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality. Do not run it without having backups and system snapshots.

Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Disable automatic updates category. Disabling automatic updates is often considered counterintuitive when it comes to securing your system. However, there are substantial arguments to consider this option if you're privacy-centric: 1. Patching and Pre-Approval: Manual control over update deployment allows for pre-emptive... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Disable Automatic Updates (AU) feature.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script​

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy​

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide

  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU!NoAutoUpdate"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU'; $data = '1'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU' /v 'NoAutoUpdate' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Set the registry value "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU!NoAutoUpdate"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$revertData = '0'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU' /v 'NoAutoUpdate' /t 'REG_DWORD' /d "^""$revertData"^"" /f"

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