Disable Windows updates to more precisely control your PC

Keeping your PC up to date is always advised. Windows updates are frequently issued with news, security patches, and enhancements so they can be extremely useful in keeping your PC running in tip-top shape. However, there may be times when you don’t want to run updates. You may wish to have more precisely control over when and how your PC gets updated rather than letting your PC control the schedule. Or else you may want to avoid your memory resources from getting filled up or your PC slowing down. In those cases, you can permanently disable Windows updates. Here’s how to do that: What to do: In the Search bar type Services . Then scroll down the page to locate the Windows update service. Double click on Windows update service . A window will pop up. Now under “Service status” press the Stop button. Click the drop down menu next to Startup Type and change it to Disabled . Then click Apply and Ok . Dominic Bayley / Foundry Your Windows updates should now be permanently disabled. To reverse it and switch updates back on again, simply click the Start button under “Service status” and select manual under “Startup Type”. That’s a wrap for this edition of Try This. For more PC tips and tricks, be sure to subscribe to our PCWorld Try This newsletter .