How to prevent Windows 10 from installing the Anniversary Update

Although updates are very important to patch security holes, add improvements and features to Windows 10 (and in any operating system), installing a significant update as soon as it releases could bring more issues than fixes.

On Windows 10, the way the operating system receives updates has changed drastically. Long gone are those days where you have to manually install or control how updates are applied to your device.

In the new version updates are mandatory for every device. While this is a good approach to keep users up to date and secure, during the initial roll out of a major update (e.g., Anniversary Update) could still have some bugs, and some drivers and features may not work correctly on every device.

This is one of many reasons, you may want to consider to defer installing a new version of Windows 10 in the early days. Microsoft understands that this concern is real and that’s why it offers various methods to control updates on your computer.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to prevent Windows 10 from downloading and installing the Anniversary Update on your computer by changing the servicing options to Current Branch for Business (CBB) and then using the Windows Update for Business (WUB) to delay upgrades up to 12 months.

• How to defer Windows 10 Anniversary Update using the CBB servicing option
• How to defer Windows 10 Anniversary Update using the WUB servicing option
• How to defer Anniversary Update on Windows 10 Home

How to defer Windows 10 Anniversary Update using the CBB servicing option

The Current Branch for Business (CBB) option allows computers to block feature updates, such as the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, for up to 4 months. This option is only available for Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education.

Here are the steps to defer feature updates:

1. Use the Windows Key + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.

2. Open Update & security, navigate through Windows Update, and get into the Advanced options.

3. Make sure to enable the Defer upgrades option.

   

Keep in mind that we’re following these steps as a precaution, when enabling Windows Update for Business setting should automatically enable the Defer upgrades option (Current Branch for Business).

How to defer Windows 10 Anniversary Update using the WUB servicing option

In the case, you need to postpone the Windows 10 Anniversary Update for a longer period of time, Microsoft offers the Windows Update for Business (WUB), which let you defer feature updates for up to 8 months. However, this an option aim for organizations, meaning that it’s not accessible from Settings app, instead you’ll need to use the Group Policy editor. This option is also only available for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education.

Here are the steps to defer feature updates:

1. Use the Windows Key + R keyboard shortcut open the Run command, type gpedit.msc and hit Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. Browse the following path:

   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update

3. Inside Windows Update find and double-click the Defer Upgrades and Updates setting.

   

4. In the settings box, make sure to select the Enabled option first.

5. Under Options, choose for how long you want to defer upgrades. You can change the number of months from 0 to 8.

6. Choose for how long you want to defer Windows updates. You can change the number of weeks from 0 to 4.

7. You’ll also notice that there is a “Pause Upgrades and Updates” option. If you’re on an organization and there are policies in place to delay upgrades and updates, the Pause option allows to pause this feature per-device basis. During the pause period, no updates or upgrades will be installed in the specified computer. However, if you don’t remove the pause after five weeks, updates will auto-resume.

   

8. Click Apply.

9. Click OK to complete the process.

You can also stop your computer from installing the Anniversary Update by configuring the Windows Update for Business option using the registry.

How to defer Anniversary Update on Windows 10 Home

If you’re running Windows 10 Home, you’re technically out of luck, as soon as the Anniversary Update, or another significant update, rolls out it’ll download and install automatically. However, Windows 10 comes with a feature that let you specify if you have a limited internet connection. When you enable this option, updates won’t download automatically to your computer.

Here are the steps to defer feature updates on Windows 10 Home:

1. Use the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.

2. Click Wi-Fi.

3. Click the Advanced options link.

   

4. Under Metered connection, make sure to enable Set as metered connection.

   

The caveat with this feature is that it only works with when connected using a Wi-Fi network. For some mysterious reason, Microsoft didn’t include a metered connection option for Ethernet adapters. However, this should help to avoid installing the Windows 10 Anniversary Update on your computer.

It’s also important to note that this method will block all kind of updates, meaning that your computer will be unprotected until you disable the metered connection.

Wrapping things up

Keep in mind that this guide is not meant to discourage you from installing the Windows 10 Anniversary Update on your computer. This is a major update that includes a lot of new features, such as Cortana in the Lock screen, extension support on Microsoft Edge, new pen support though Windows Ink, improvements on notifications, new redesigned Start menu, and much more.

This guide is meant to postpone the update to a later date, until you know for sure that bugs and issues that may appear during the early days have been fixed to reduce issues on your PC, laptop, or tablet.

Are you installing the Windows 10 Anniversary Update as soon as it comes out or you’re planning to wait? Tell us in the comments below.