If you do not want Windows 10 to install updates automatically and cause problems, adopt these measures to disable or stop automatic updates.

When updates are available, Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs those updates with no user intervention. One of the biggest benefits of automatic updates is that your system will be current in terms of features and security.

On the other hand, automatic updates may cause problems and negatively affect your daily work. This is especially true for older Windows laptops or desktops.

If you don't such as this behavior and not thinking about taking chances with machine critical systems, you can completely disable automatic updates. Let me show you how.

Steps to Disable Automatic Updates with Settings App

The settings app lets you stop automatic updates for approximately 35days. Generally, 35 days is plenty enough from Microsoft to iron out any bugs within the updates. So, if you want Windows to update automatically but not right away then make use of the Settings app.

Steps you should follow to turn off automatic updates using the Settings app.

Press "Windows Key + I" to spread out the Settings app.
Visit "Update & Security → Windows Update".
Click the "Advanced options" button around the right page.
Scroll down and choose a date in the drop-down menu under "Pause updates".

To postpone updates for as long as possible, select the last possible date. Doing so stop automatic updates for 35 days. After that, Windows will automatically install the accessible updates.

Disable Feature Updates Only:

A feature update is a new major form of Windows 10 that's released twice a year. Should you just want to delay feature updates and permit only security updates, you can do that too.

Press "Windows Key + I" to open the Settings app.
In the app, visit "Update & Security → Windows Update".
Click around the "Advanced options" button on the right page.
Now, select the length of time in the drop-down menu underneath the "Feature update" section.

Should you would like to delay the security updates then all you need to do is select the number of days in the drop-down under the "Security improvements/updates" section.

Switch off Automatic Update using Group Policy Editor (GPO)

By configuring a GPO (Group Policy Object) you are able to stop automatic updates. The best thing about this process is that it will notify you associated with a available updates but will not set them up if you don't give explicit permission.

These the steps you need to follow to stop automatic updates using Group Policy

Open the beginning menu.
Search for "Edit Group Policy" and then click the end result to open Group Policy Editor.
In the GP Editor, visit the following folder.
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update
Find and double-click on the "Configure Automatic Updates" policy.
Select the "Enabled" option.
Select "2 - notify for download and auto-install" from the drop-down menu under "Options".
Click the "Apply" and "Ok" buttons.
Close the audience Policy Editor.
Reboot Windows.

After rebooting, the insurance policy will be put on the machine. From now on, Windows 10 will notify you of any available updates but will not download or install them automatically.

To manually trigger the update, go to "Update & Security → Windows Update" within the Settings app and then click the "Check for updates" button.

To revert back, select the "Not configured" option in the policy properties window (look step 5).

Steps to Disable Windows 10 Automatic Updates Using Registry Editor

If you fail to access the Group Policy Editor, you may make the exact same change while using Registry Editor. Produce a full registry backup and follow the steps the following.

Press "Windows Key + R" to open the Run window.
Type "regedit" within the blank field and click "Ok".
In the registry editor, visit the below location.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
Right-click on the "Windows" folder and select "New → Key".
Name the brand new folder as "WindowsUpdate".
Right-click on the "WindowsUpdate" folder and choose "New → Key".
Name the new folder as "AU".
On the best panel, right-click and choose "New → DWORD value'.
Name the empty value as "NoAutoUpdate".
Double-click on the value and hang its Value Data as "1".
Click on the "Ok" button to save changes.
Close the Registry Editor.
Reboot Windows.

The "NoAutoUpdate" value is the same as the "notify for download and auto-install" option in the Group Policy Editor.

After configuring the registry and rebooting, Windows will only notify you of any available updates. To upload those updates, you have to manually bring them on from the Settings app.

To revert back and let automatic updates, delete the "NoAutoUpdate" value.

Disable Windows Update Service to Stop Automatic Windows 10 Updates

Windows 10 uses the Windows Update plan to download and install updates. So, if you do not want Windows to set up updates automatically, all you need to do is disable the service. Doing so will completely stop Windows 10 automatic updates.

Stick to the below steps to disable Windows update service and stop automatic updates.

Press "Win + R" to open the Run window.
Type "services.msc" and press Enter.
Scroll down and discover the "Windows Update" service.
Right-click on the Windows Update service and choose "Properties".
In the "General" tab, click on the "Stop" button.
Select "Disabled" from the drop-down next to "Startup type".
Visit the "Recovery" tab.
Set all three drop-down menus to "Take no action".
Click around the "Apply" and "Ok" buttons.
Close the Services window.
Reboot Windows.

After rebooting, Windows 10 will no longer install updates automatically due to Windows Update service not running without anyone's knowledge. If you want to install the update, either let the Windows Update service or download offline Windows Update installers from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

Do remember that disabling the Windows Update service might have unintended consequences if some application is using it to update itself. A good example would be the Office software.

Enable Windows update service:

If you notice any odd behavior because of the above steps, let the Windows Update service and everything ought to be normal again.

To enable the service, return to step five and choose "Automatic" in the drop-down menu. Next. Go to the Recovery tab and hang "First failure" drop-down menu to "Restart the service". Save changes and reboot Windows.

Overall

In general, I encourage you to definitely let Windows update automatically for better security, bug fixes, and additional features.

But if you are facing problems with Windows 10 automatic updates then following the above methods should effectively stop those automatic updates. Though they are workarounds for which should be a readily available option in the Settings app, the methods act as they should. So, there shouldn't be any problems.