I don’t postpone Windows updates as often as I used to. They download automatically, and I install them when it’s convenient. But occasionally, those feature updates become a real nuisance, especially when I’m tethered to a mobile hotspot. I’ll be in the middle of work, and Windows decides it’s the perfect time to chew through my already limited data pack.
Since the built-in Windows Update settings weren’t helping (you’ll see why), I turned to a registry tweak I hadn’t used in years. With that single edit, I finally stopped Windows Update from hogging my bandwidth and could actually use it for something more important, like actual work.
You can control updates in Windows 11…
But they’re a hit or miss
Tashreef Shareef / MakeUseOfCredit: Tashreef Shareef / MakeUseOf
Windows 11 gives you a few ways to control how updates use your data. You can set your Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot as a metered connection to stop Windows from downloading updates in the background and limit how much data other apps consume. You can also pause Windows updates for up to five weeks.
In my case, though, the metered connection setting often turns off on its own when I reconnect to the network. It might be a glitch or something with my adapter, but the result is the same—Windows Update happily burns through my limited mobile data in minutes.
The pause option isn’t much better. You can only pause updates for five weeks, after which Windows automatically resumes downloads and installs them. It’s a handy short-term fix, but not enough to keep my bandwidth safe when I’m working on a tight deadline.
Extend Windows update pause indefinitely
You can pause updates till 2035 and beyond
Fortunately, there’s a simple registry trick that lets you stretch the Pause Updates limit far beyond its default 5 weeks. Rather than having to resume updates after 35 days, you can set the pause to any future date—even 2033 if you like. You decide exactly when Windows should download and install updates.
Before we dive in, a word of caution. Modifying the Windows Registry can cause serious issues if done incorrectly. Always create a system restore point before making registry changes so you can roll back if something goes wrong.
With that out of the way, let’s start by manually pausing Windows updates through the Settings app:
- Press Win + I to open Settings, and then open the Windows Update tab in the left pane.
- Click the Pause updates drop-down and choose the maximum 5-week option. Then click Pause updates.
- If the updates are paused, you’ll see a Resume updates button in the top right corner.
Now, to extend this pause, we need to make a few registry tweaks. While you can manually make these changes, we’ll execute a registry script instead.
To do this, click Start, type Notepad, and open it from the search results. Then copy and paste the following text. Finally, click File -> Save, give it a name with a .reg extension (for example, pause-updates.reg) and set Save as type to All files.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UpdatePolicy\Settings]
“PausedFeatureStatus”=dword:00000000
“PausedQualityStatus”=dword:00000000
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]
“FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays”=dword:00000e42
“PauseFeatureUpdatesStartTime”=“2025-10-29T10:00:00Z”
“PauseFeatureUpdatesEndTime”=“2035-10-29T10:00:00Z”
“PauseQualityUpdatesStartTime”=“2025-10-29T10:00:00Z”
“PauseQualityUpdatesEndTime”=“2035-10-29T10:00:00Z”
“PauseUpdatesStartTime”=“2025-10-29T10:00:00Z”
“PauseUpdatesExpiryTime”=“2035-10-29T10:00:00Z”
Once saved, right-click the saved .reg file and select Run as administrator. Accept the UAC prompt and confirm you want to add the information to the registry.
The script works by modifying two key registry sections. First, it sets the pause status for both feature and quality updates. Second, it extends the maximum pause period to 3,650 days (about 10 years) and sets all pause end dates to October 31, 2035. This tricks Windows into believing updates have been paused through the system’s UI for the maximum allowed period, effectively disabling automatic updates until that date.
This registry hack only affects Windows Update. It won’t stop background downloads from other Microsoft services, such as Delivery Optimization or Game Pass. Delivery Optimization may still use bandwidth to download or share data for Microsoft Store apps, Game Pass games, or other content. To limit this, open Settings -> Windows Update -> Advanced options -> Delivery Optimization, and turn off Allow downloads from other PCs.
Resuming Windows updates
You can still manually install updates
While this hack works, the truth is Windows updates help keep your system secure. So even if you’ve paused them indefinitely, it’s a good idea to install updates every six months or so to stay protected. When you’re ready, you can easily resume and install them manually from the Settings app.
To install updates, click the Resume updates button in Windows Update settings. The update engine will check for available updates and allow you to download and install them as usual. Once you’ve installed the updates you want, you can re-run the registry script to pause them again.
Keep in mind that sometimes Windows updates can reset these registry tweaks to their defaults, especially after major feature updates. If you notice updates starting to download automatically again, just re-run the script to restore the pause.
Taking back your internet bandwidth
Microsoft may close this loophole in a future update, but for now, it works just fine. It’s a straightforward way to pause automatic updates without breaking anything or running third-party tools. More importantly, it gives you the breathing room to work without worrying about Windows quietly using up your data in the background. And when you’re ready, you can always turn updates back on and get your system up to date.
