Defer Windows Updates

09-09-22:  Defer Windows Updates

Susan Bradley, a well-respected Microsoft Windows expert who we have quoted before, has made a very strong recommendation to defer the upcoming major Feature update from Microsoft. This would be the Feature update known as 22H2. We don’t know for sure that 22H2 will be part of the September Patch Tuesday updates scheduled for 9/13, but it might. In the past many folks have had negative experiences of varying degrees when new Feature updates were installed immediately following their release. As a consequence of past history, and Ms. Bradley’s recommendation, the VCC urges our members to defer September updates.

OK, great so how do you do that? It’s actually quite easy if you follow either of the options outlined below. We also suggest that you wait for a green light from the VCC before installing 22H2. Here are two ways to stop the updates:

1. For consumers and home users, one of the easiest ways to defer updates is to go into Start, click PC Settings, click Updates and security, under Windows update, click Advanced Options, and under “Pause Updates” choose the date (from the popup list) to which you'd like to defer. Virus definition and threat protection updates, regardless of software vendor including Microsoft, are not impacted by this deferral method and will continue to be downloaded and installed.

2. Another way to defer updates under PC Settings, is to turn on “metered connection”. Here is how: Click on Network & Internet, under Status, click on the box labeled “Properties” for an Ethernet or for a Wi-Fi connection, then under “Network Profile” scroll down the section labeled “Metered Connection” and change the “Off” setting to “On”:

This action will effectively stop all updates from Microsoft, until the switch is turned back to the off position again. However, it may in fact prevent virus definition and threat protection updates for Microsoft’s Windows Security (Defender) from downloading. Consequently, the VCC recommends the use of option # 1., as described above. We believe that updates for third party antivirus and malware programs will not be prevented from downloading when option # 2. is used.

Please note that these instructions were written specifically for Windows 10, but should be applicable to Windows 11 as well. Since updates cannot remain deferred for an excessive amount of time, the VCC will communicate with you when it is time to resume allowing updates to be downloaded and installed.

Stay safe.