To turn it off completely and for good do as follows:
1. Go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.
2. Highlight the service called "Automatic Updates". You will know when you have the correct one because you will see a description about it telling you what it does.
3. Right click once highlighted and click stop to terminate the service.
4. Right click on it again and go to Properties. Half way down the first tab there is "Startup Type:" change this to disabled.
Congratulations. You have now disabled Automatic Updates service. Not only will this make certain the service won't run, but by disabling it properly you are freeing up system resources as they won't be diverted to running a service that you don't use.
Comments
Comment #1
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thanks alot.
Comment #2
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thanks alot.
Comment #3
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
one of the most annoying "features" of windows... thank you!
Comment #4
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
helps with sp1 :-) (get rid of sp2!!!!!!)
Comment #5
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
you should include that the user may need to switch to classic mode to see "Administrative Tools"
Comment #6
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thank god my computer aint lagging no more
Comment #7
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Quick and works exactly as presented. I agree that "Classic" mode is required, but I default my Control Panel to that anyway.
Comment #8
(Posted by Jesse) Rating
Thanks a bunch! Stupid annoying windows update i will murder you ahaahhah :/!!
Comment #9
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
I tried doing that but it gives an error..... cant stop the service..what do I do now?
Comment #10
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
It worked
Comment #11
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thanks
Comment #12
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Because it worked...
Comment #13
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Great!
Comment #14
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Did exactly what I wanted it to do.
Comment #15
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
great, those updates were annoying
those microsoft sons o'bitches deserve to die
Comment #16
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
This only disables the service during that bootup. The next time you boot up your computer, there it is again -- enabled.
Comment #17
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks a lot. You should include that the user may need to switch to classic mode to see the "Administrative Tools".
Comment #18
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thank you. This helped me when Automatic Updates was continually crashing, and displaying error messages. Now my computer runs fine.
Comment #19
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Didnt work
Comment #20
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Simple to follow
Comment #21
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
well, my system is of 256MB RAM and because of this Automatic updates, system virtual memory is becoming low. Thanks to the above solution to turn it off
Comment #22
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Very helpful with nagging problem.
Comment #23
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Clear cut and quick.. What else could you ask for?
Comment #24
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Perfect answer for a grayed out box.
Comment #25
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thats got rid of that ..thanks
Comment #26
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
very good advice dont use ie use firefox
Comment #27
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thxx soo much
Comment #28
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
you know how to disable it properly and now my pc wont restart on its own thanks
Comment #29
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
very helpful
Comment #30
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thank you Man
This should be a basic thing
Comment #31
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
fianlly, couldn't shut off auto updates the normal way, but this worked
Comment #32
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thank you, the information was exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, this site is riddled with pop-ups
Comment #33
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks. Excellent
Comment #34
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Already knew that, already did that. Tell me how to stop the insanely annoying nag for a restart!
Comment #35
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
finally! I could not get rid of it. Thanks a lot
Comment #36
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks for the tip! It works!
Comment #37
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
clear, how, and why
Comment #38
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks
Comment #39
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
I am on administrative account, bot for some reason, its all filled in grey, and I cannot do anything about it. please help
Comment #40
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thank you!
Comment #41
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks.
Comment #42
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thank you so much for your help! Very easy steps to follow and it worked! I was able to stop these pesky automatic updates always hogging up my PC once and for all!
Comment #43
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks. Brief accurate instructions. Great!
Comment #44
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
it worked. no more nags!!!
Comment #45
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
That helped me a lot, thanks!
Comment #46
(Posted by ZNet) Rating
nice job...how do we turn it on again
Comment #47
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks, worked like a charm
Comment #48
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
I forgot about that trick! Bad ass!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!
Comment #49
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Wonderful relief from Bill Gates always trying to tell me what to do.
Comment #50
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
a well worth 5 .. thanks u are great
Comment #51
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Answered exactly the asked question. Easy to follow instructions.
Comment #52
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Took me few hours tying to find right instructions. Only took me 10sec or less to perform!
Great work!!!!
Comment #53
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks a lot
Comment #54
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
easy to search for and find
succinct
generous
Comment #55
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
I LOVE YOU!!!!!
Comment #56
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
easy to understand
Comment #57
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
would have given u a 5 but there were annoying pop ip with this
Comment #58
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thankx For providing the solution.
Gr8
Comment #59
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thanks, it worked
Comment #60
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
It Worked For ME !
Its Worth a 5
vibhu2006@gmail.com
Comment #61
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
goes straight to the point and solves the issue.
Comment #62
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
worked great - thx.
Comment #63
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Had a pc constantly updating and getting slower and slower
Comment #64
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
I don't know how many times my machine ground to a near halt only to discover later that AU was downloading yet another update. What a poorly written piece of software Windows is!!
Comment #65
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
This is the first help that has actually allowed me to disable automatic updates. Anybody can find the disable option in the start menu, but if it isn't an option this will actually work. Thanks!!!
Comment #66
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
top...great help :D
Comment #67
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Step 5. Click on "Apply".
Comment #68
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
I have been trying to turn this off for some time now without the annoying reminder that it is turned off. Thanks, it works.
Comment #69
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
a 5-year old can figure out this shit! Try being a real computer nerd, and rid the automatic updates in yuor registry, like I did in LOCAL_MACHINE... LOL! Have fun, losers!
Comment #70
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
This was so helpful. My automatic update ran all the time slowing down my computer. For some reason the simple option to turn it off in the control panel was disabled. This type has made my computer use so much less frusterating
Comment #71
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Excellent. Control back to where it belongs
Comment #72
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Disabling the automatic update according to these instructions should eliminate the "your computer may be in danger" pop-up. It doesn't.
Comment #73
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Good Idea, and I will try it out
Comment #74
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
ty
Comment #75
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thanks!
Comment #76
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
ah thank you for telling me how to properly disable those thrustrating updates which i hate so much and give me headaches muhahahaha they are finally destroyed.
Comment #77
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
thanx_alot
Comment #78
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
This only disables the service during that bootup. The next time you boot up your computer, there it is again -- enabled.
Comment #79
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Fantastic - I am sure microsoft don't realise how many things they do are so annoying to the average person!
Comment #80
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
great help
Comment #81
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
very helpfull, many thanks!!!!
Comment #82
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Awesome post! ty
Comment #83
(Posted by Ram) Rating
Cool Buddy. i was getting annoyed with the automatic updates and finally i managed to get rid of it with your help.
Comment #84
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Thanks, now it wont keep trying to reboot everytime I log on!
Comment #85
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
very easy to understand even for someone who isn't very good with computers- plus it works
Comment #86
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Does not work!still get validation nag!
Comment #87
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Absolutely excellent! I will come to this page frequently! Thank YOU!
Comment #88
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
well done
Comment #89
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
I know how to do this already
I want to know how to STOP users from Disabling it in the FIRST place
Comment #90
(Posted by an unknown user) Rating
Excellent guide
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