Starting with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903), Microsoft is doing a lot of things right with updates. In this release and moving forward, Windows Update will stop forcing feature updates on devices, and it'll let you choose when to install new versions. Also, the option to pause updates will be easier to find in the Settings app, and the feature will be available for Windows 10 Home users.

Alongside these new changes, the May Update will also allow you to take full control and decide if users can pause updates, which is an option that can come in handy in many scenarios. For instance, it'll be useful when sharing a computer with multiple users when you're already managing deadlines for automatic updates and restarts. Or when you're working in a network environment and you need to comply with the policies of your organization.

More on the May Update

Windows 10 May 2019 Update

Whatever the reason, if you must remove (or re-enable) access to the feature to pause updates on Windows 10, you can accomplish this task using the Group Policy Editor and Registry.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to disable the option to pause updates with the settings available with the May 2019 Update.

How to disable Pause updates option using Group Policy

If you're running Windows 10 Pro, the easiest way to remove access to the "Pause updates" feature is using the Local Group Policy Editor with these steps:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

  3. Browse the following path:

    Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update

  4. On the right side, double-click the Remove access to "Pause updates" feature policy.

  5. Select the Enabled option.

  6. Click Apply. 
  7. Click OK.
  8. Restart your computer.

Once you complete these steps, the "Pause updates" option will no longer be available in the Windows Update settings page, or in the Advanced options page in the Settings app.

If you want to revert the changes, or the "Pause updates" is grayed out even though you didn't change the settings, you can use the instructions outlined above, but on step No. 5, make sure to select the Not Configured option.

How to disable Pause updates option using Registry

Alternatively, if you're running Windows 10 Home, or you don't have access to the Group Policy Editor, you can modify the Registry to disable the option to pause updates on the May 2019 with these updates:

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don't do it correctly. We recommend making a temporary full backup of your PC before proceeding.

  1. Open Start.
  2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

  3. Browse the following path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

    Quick tip: On Windows 10, you can now copy and paste the path in the Registry's address bar to quickly jump to the key destination.

  4. Right-click the WindowsUpdate (folder) key, select New, and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.

  5. Name the key SetDisablePauseUXAccess and press Enter.

  6. Double-click the newly created DWORD and set the value from 0 to 1.

  7. Click OK.
  8. Restart your computer.

After you complete the steps, users will no longer have access to pause updates using the Settings app.

At any time, you can undo the changes using the same instructions, but on step No. 6, make sure to set the value from 1 to 0, or right-click the SetDisablePauseUXAccess key and select the Delete option.

While we're focusing this guide on disabling the update feature, you can also refer to these instructions if for some reason the option becomes disabled without warnings, and you need to re-enable the setting again.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

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Hi, I'm Mauro Huculak, Windows Central's help and how-to guru. I wrote the post you're reading now, and I know the Windows OS inside and out. But I'm also a bit of a hardware geek. These are some of the affordable gadgets on my desk today.

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