9 Ways to Stop Windows 10 from Upgrading to Windows 11

Method 1: Adjust Windows Update settings

Changing the default behavior of Windows Update can provide users with more control. By fine-tuning these settings, users can better manage when and how updates are received. Doing so will not only help delay upgrades, but also improve overall system controllability and stability. If you want to stop Windows 10 from upgrading to Windows 11, just follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open "Settings" and go straight to "Update & Security".
• Step 2: Find and click "Windows Update" on the left.
• Step 3: Find "Pause updates" and choose a time to pause it, up to 5 weeks. Choose the longest pause period possible and buy yourself some time.



• Step 4: Select "Advanced options" where you can find more options for controlling updates.



• Step 5: Turn off all update notifications to ensure you are not disturbed.
• Step 6: Check "Active hours" to set a time period when you won't be disturbed.



• Step 7: Finally, go to "Optional updates" and make sure the Windows 11 upgrade package is not checked.

In this way, your Windows 10 can temporarily stay away from the "harassment" of Windows 11.

Method 2: Disable Windows Update service

To completely prevent unwanted updates from being automatically installed, disabling the Windows Update service is a radical but effective measure. This operation cuts off the direct connection between the system and Microsoft's servers, thus preventing accidental upgrades from occurring. However, this also requires users to take responsibility for maintaining the security of their systems.

• Step 1:Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box, then type services.msc and hit Enter.
• Step 2:Find Windows Update in the list of services. This may require a little patience as the list is long.
• Step 3:Right-click Windows Update and select Properties to enter the properties window.



• Step 4:Select Disabled from the Startup type drop-down menu to completely prevent it from starting.
• Step 5:Click the Stop button to stop the currently running service and ensure it no longer works quietly in the background.
• Step 6:Click Apply and then OK to save your changes. Windows Update is now disabled.



• Step 7:Remember to restart your computer to ensure that the settings take effect, so you can rest assured that you don't accidentally upgrade to Windows 11.

Method 3: Block through Group Policy

For users who are familiar with group policies, using group policies to block Windows 10 from upgrading to Windows 11 will be an efficient and reliable choice. By configuring specific group policy settings, we can precisely control the behavior and scope of updates, thereby ensuring that the system is updated as we wish. Next, we will introduce in detail how to achieve this goal through group policies.

• Step 1: Press "Win + R", type "gpedit.msc", and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.



• Step 2: Navigate to "Computer Configuration" > "Administrative Templates" > "Windows Components" > "Windows Update".



• Step 3: Find "Manage end user experience" and click it to see more options
• Step 4: On the right, find and double-click "Defer Windows 10 upgrades" or a similar option for more recent versions. Select "Enabled" and set a reasonable deferral time to pause the upgrade schedule.
• Step 5: If this option is not available, find other update-related options. For example, "Allow updates to be downloaded automatically over metered connections" and "Configure Automatic Updates".
• Step 6: Double-click the option, and select "Disable" to ensure that updates are not automatically downloaded and installed.



• Step 7: Look for other automatic update related options, and if so, set them to "Disable" to prevent surprises caused by sudden updates.
• Step 8: Click "Apply" and "OK" to save your changes. Now you can rest assured that the system will not decide to upgrade without your permission.

Please note that the method of blocking Windows 10 from upgrading to Windows 11 through Group Policy is mainly applicable to those who have Professional, Enterprise, or Education editions of Windows 10. This is because the Group Policy Editor is usually only available in these versions of the operating system, which provides more granular control over the behavior of the operating system.

Method 4: Block via Registry

In addition to group policies, the registry is also an important tool to prevent Windows 10 from upgrading to Windows 11. By modifying specific key values in the registry, we can change the system's update behavior and prevent unnecessary upgrades. However, since registry modifications have certain risks, be sure to back up the registry before operating and act with caution.

• Step 1: Press "Win + R" keys, enter "regedit" in the Run dialog box that pops up, and then press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Step 2: In the Registry Editor, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate. If there is no "WindowsUpdate" folder, right-click the Windows folder, select "New > Key", and name it "WindowsUpdate".



• Step 3: In the "WindowsUpdate" folder, right-click a blank area, select "New > DWORD (32-bit) Value", and name it "TargetReleaseVersion".



• Step 4: Double-click "TargetReleaseVersion", set the value data to "1" in the pop-up window, and then click "OK".



• Step 5: Right-click the blank space again, select "New > String Value", and name it "TargetReleaseVersionInfo".



• Step 6: Double-click "TargetReleaseVersionInfo", set its value data to your current Windows 10 version number, such as "22H2", and then click "OK". If you can't remember the system version, you can check it through the "Windows Settings > System > About", then scrll down to find the Windows "Version" info.



• Step 7: Close the Registry Editor and click "Yes" to save the changes. And restart the computer for these changes to take effect. If you need to undo these operations, just delete the newly created folder and files. But be careful not to delete other existing registry files.

After following these steps, your Windows 10 system will no longer receive Windows 11 upgrade prompts. However, before modifying the registry, it is recommended to back up the current registry state or create a system restore point to prevent system instability caused by operational errors.

Method 5: Disable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

The launch of Windows 11 has put forward higher requirements for hardware, among which TPM 2.0 and secure boot are two important hardware conditions. By disabling these two features, we can make the system unable to meet the upgrade requirements of Windows 11, thereby preventing the upgrade process. However, it should be noted that disabling these features may affect the security and stability of the system.

• Step 1: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup. This varies by brand, but is usually done by pressing "F2", "Del", or "Esc" during boot.
• Step 2: Find the "Security" or similar tab in the BIOS setup. This may require a bit of exploration.
• Step 3: Look for the "TPM" (Trusted Platform Module) setting and change its status to "Disabled", which will prevent Windows 11 from installing.
• Step 4: Next, find the "Secure Boot" option and, again, select "Disabled" to turn off Secure Boot.
• Step 5: Once you've made your changes, save your settings. This is usually done by pressing the "F10" key and confirming the save, depending on your computer model.
• Step 6: Exit the BIOS setup and let the computer restart. Now that you've removed two critical requirements, you can temporarily block the Windows 11 upgrade.

It should be emphasized that directly disabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot may reduce the security of the system, and not all computers allow these features to be disabled in BIOS/UEFI. In addition, Microsoft may change the upgrade policy in future updates, making it impossible to completely block Windows 11 upgrades even if these features are disabled. Therefore, the more recommended method is to use Group Policy or third-party tools to limit Windows 10 version updates rather than directly disabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.

Method 6: Uninstall Windows Updates

Sometimes, the simplest solution can be the most immediate and effective. For example, manually uninstalling an already installed update can stop the upgrade process from moving forward. This method is suitable for users who want to solve the problem quickly without digging deep into the system.

• Step 1: Click the Start button in the lower-left corner of the screen, type "Control Panel" in the search box, and click it to open it.
• Step 2: In the Control Panel, find and click "Programs and Features" under the Programs" category.
• Step 3: In the Programs and Features window, click "View installed updates" on the left.
• Step 4: In the list of installed updates, scroll to find an update entry similar to KB5005463, which is usually labeled "Windows 10, version XXXX, Cumulative Update for Windows 10".
• Step 5: If you find KB5005463 or a related update, right-click it and select "Uninstall". Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstall process.
• Step 6: After the uninstall is complete, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

However, it should be noted that even if you successfully uninstall KB5005463 or other updates related to the Windows 11 upgrade, Windows 10 may still automatically download and install these updates in the future, or prompt you to upgrade Windows 11 through other channels.

Method 7: Delete Upgrade Package

Now that the update package has been downloaded locally, in addition to deleting specific update files, we can also directly delete the entire update package to prevent Windows 10 from upgrading to Windows 11. This step can help users regain control of their own systems while avoiding the risks of automatic installation. Of course, this also means that you need to check regularly for new update packages.

• Step 1: Press the "Win + R" keys to open the Run dialog box, type "services.msc" and press Enter to open the Service Manager.
• Step 2: Find the "Windows Update" service, right-click it, and select "Stop". This step is to prevent conflicts with the Windows Update service when deleting the upgrade package.



• Step 3: Usually, the Windows 11 upgrade package is downloaded to the "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download" folder. But please note that sometimes the upgrade package may also be saved in other locations, such as the "$WINDOWS.~BT" folder (this is a hidden folder, and you may need to enable the "View hidden folders" option in File Explorer to see it).
• Step 4: Go to these possible folder locations and search for files related to the Windows 11 upgrade. These files may have specific names or extensions, but it is usually difficult to determine which one is the upgrade package by name alone. Therefore, a safer approach is to delete the entire Downloads folder or the contents of the $WINDOWS.~BT folder (make sure no important files are accidentally selected before deleting).



• Step 5: Sometimes, even after deleting the contents of the Downloads folder, the Windows Update service may still retain some old or corrupted update files. To completely clean up these files, you can rename the "SoftwareDistribution" folder. Doing so will force Windows Update to re-download all necessary files the next time it checks.
• Step 6: Right-click the "SoftwareDistribution" folder, select "Rename", and give it a new name (such as "SoftwareDistribution.old").
• Step 7: Back in Services Manager, find the "Windows Update" service, right-click it, and select "Start". This will restore Windows Update to normal operation, but it should no longer try to install Windows 11 updates (since you've deleted them).

Please note that while this method will prevent Windows 10 from upgrading to Windows 11 at the current moment, Microsoft may continue to push updates, including upgrade prompts for Windows 11.

Method 8: Use Disk Cleanup tool

By using the built-in disk cleanup tool, you can not only free up valuable storage space, but also eliminate those potential upgrade threats. By cleaning up no longer needed files, including old update packages, users can maintain a more tidy and efficient system environment.

• Step 1: Press Win + S, type "Disk Cleanup", and click to open the Disk Cleanup tool and prepare to give your system a big cleanup.
• Step 2: Select the system drive, usually the C: drive, and click "OK" to start scanning for files that can be cleaned.



• Step 3: After the scan is complete, check "Previous Windows installation(s)" and "Windows Update Cleanup", which are specifically for old versions and update files.
• Step 4: Click "OK", and then click "Delete Files" in the confirmation window that pops up to decisively delete those unnecessary files.
• Step 5: The cleanup process may take some time, so please be patient. This step is like giving your computer a deep clean, making it look brand new.
• Step 6: When you are done, close the Disk Cleanup tool. Now, not only has the space been freed up, but the Windows 11 upgrade package has also been prevented from sneaking in. Restart your computer and enjoy a cleaner system without the trouble of unexpected upgrades.

Method 9: Roll Back to Windows 10

Finally, if all efforts fail to stop the upgrade, rolling back to the previous version becomes the last straw. This not only tests the user's technical ability, but also challenges their patience. Fortunately, as long as it is done properly, the rollback process can be completed smoothly in most cases.

• Step 1: Click the Start menu and select "Settings".
• Step 2: In Settings, click "System", then find and click "Recovery".
• Step 3: Scroll down to the "Go Back" section, where there will be a note telling you how many days you have left to roll back. (Note that this option is only available for a short time after the upgrade, and only if you have not manually deleted the Windows.old folder.)



• Step 4: Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm that you really want to roll back. This process may take some time, as it will restore your system to the state it was in before the upgrade. Wait for the rollback to complete, and your computer may automatically restart a few times during this time, which is normal.

Once it's finished, you'll find yourself back in the familiar Windows 10 environment, with all your troubles gone. Now you can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that you have successfully blocked this upgrade attempt to Windows 11.

If you have exceeded the time limit of the recovery window or the Windows.old folder has been deleted, you will not be able to roll back to Windows 10 using this method. In this case, you may need to reinstall Windows 10.