When many users face the same problem, Windows launch a new version to fix all the existing bugs. Most Windows 10 users use Windows Updates to download and install updates for their operating system automatically.
All that is good, but some users commonly have their machines on for most of the time. Therefore, it would be a waste of time for such a user to wait for over half an hour for his or her computer to update during office hours. In this article, we will show you how to skip Windows update while shutting down or restarting your PC.
Here’s what happens:
- Your PC automatically checks for updates.
- If updates are available, Windows 10 starts to download them.
- After downloading updates, Windows begins to install each update.
- When the installation is complete, your machine needs to restart to enforce the updates.
We are going to adjourn that process and do it when we want, not when Windows decides.
When Windows wants to update the standard Shut down and Restart options become Update and Shut down and Update and Restart.
At this moment, do not choose any of these options but follow the solutions below to postpone the updates.
Method #1: Clear the SoftwareDistribution Download Folder
The SoftwareDistribution Download folder is the location where the Windows downloaded updates are stored. You can delete all files and folders in this directory to clear all Windows downloaded updates. However, you will have to download these updates again if you want to update your Windows 10 version.
1. Go to the taskbar, then type command prompt in the search box. Right-click on the first match and select Run as administrator.
When you open command prompt as admin, you will see a User Account Control window seeking permission to proceed. Click Yes.
2. Type the following commands in the Command Prompt console then press Enter:
net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSrv net stop bits net stop msiserver
These Command lines stop all the Windows Update Services running on your system.
3. Open File Explorer and navigate to the following directory:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
Select all the files and folders then right-click and choose Delete.
4. Shut down your computer from the Start Menu. If you can’t see Update and shut down, the method worked well. The next time you start your PC, ensure Windows Update Service is running by typing the following commands in Command Prompt console with Administrator privileges and pressing Enter:
net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSrv net stop bits net stop msiserver
Method #2: Configure the Power Button
Windows 10 allows you to configure the power button to make it take actions you want. In our case, we will set the power button to shut down when pressed immediately. Therefore, skipping updating… particularly what we want, right? To do so:
1. Press Windows key + R to open Run.
2. Type “powercfg.cpl” and hit Enter or click OK.
3. In the Power Options window, select Choose what the power buttons do from the left pane.
4. Under Power and sleep buttons and lid settings, change when I press the power button to Shut down. Then click Save changes.
Now you will be able to Shut down your computer without Windows checking for updates to install.
Method #3: Shut down via Command Prompt
You can execute commands to force your PC to shut down and reset without an issue. Try it yourself:
1. Go to the taskbar, then type command prompt in the search box. Right-click on the first match and select Run as administrator.
2. Type the following command then hit Enter:
Shutdown/p
Your PC should shut down immediately.
Conclusion
Now you know how to shut down your computer without installing updates. Mission Accomplished!
