How to Stop Windows Updates from Slowing Down Your PC: The Ultimate Guide

 

How to Stop Windows Updates from Slowing Down Your PC

Windows updates are essential for security, performance improvements, and new features. However, frequent updates can slow down your PC, causing lag, longer boot times, and system resource consumption. If you’ve noticed performance drops after updates, this guide will help you prevent Windows updates from slowing down your PC while keeping your system secure.

---

Why Do Windows Updates Slow Down Your PC?

Before we dive into solutions, it's crucial to understand why Windows updates might be affecting your PC’s performance:

✅ Background Processes: Updates run in the background, consuming CPU, RAM, and disk usage. ✅ Storage Consumption: Large updates take up disk space, leaving less room for essential files. ✅ Driver Conflicts: Some updates may install incompatible drivers. ✅ Pending Installations: Updates waiting to be installed can slow system boot and performance. ✅ Automatic Restart & Resource Usage: Windows may restart at inconvenient times, using more system resources.

Understanding these factors helps us take effective measures to prevent slowdowns.

---

1. Pause or Delay Windows Updates

If you want to temporarily stop Windows updates from interfering with performance, you can pause them.

Steps to Pause Windows Updates:

1. Open Settings (Win + I).

2. Navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update.

3. Click on Pause updates for 7 days.

4. For longer pauses, go to Advanced options and select a date to stop updates for up to 35 days.

✅ Pros: Temporary relief from performance issues. ❌ Cons: Security updates will be delayed.

---

2. Set Active Hours to Avoid Performance Drops

Windows installs updates automatically, often at the worst times. You can set active hours to prevent interruptions.

Steps to Set Active Hours:

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

2. Click Change active hours.

3. Set a time range when you usually use your PC.

✅ Pros: Ensures updates run when your PC is idle. ❌ Cons: Doesn’t stop updates, only delays them.

---

3. Disable Automatic Windows Updates (Advanced Users)

If updates are significantly slowing down your PC, you can disable them completely using Group Policy Editor or Services Manager.

Method 1: Disable via Group Policy Editor

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.

2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.

3. Find Configure Automatic Updates, double-click it, and select Disabled.

4. Click Apply and OK.

Method 2: Disable via Services Manager

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.

2. Scroll down to Windows Update, right-click, and select Properties.

3. Under Startup type, select Disabled.

4. Click Apply and OK.

✅ Pros: Completely stops updates from running. ❌ Cons: Leaves your PC vulnerable to security threats.

---

4. Free Up Disk Space After Updates

Windows updates store temporary files that take up space. Cleaning them can improve performance.

Steps to Free Up Space:

1. Open Settings > System > Storage.

2. Click on Temporary Files.

3. Select Windows Update Cleanup and Delete temporary files.

✅ Pros: Frees up disk space for smoother performance. ❌ Cons: Doesn’t prevent future updates from slowing down your PC.

---

5. Prevent Windows from Updating Drivers Automatically

Windows updates sometimes install incompatible drivers, causing performance issues.

Steps to Disable Automatic Driver Updates:

1. Open Control Panel > System & Security > System.

2. Click Advanced System Settings.

3. Go to the Hardware tab and select Device Installation Settings.

4. Choose No (your device might not work as expected) and save changes.

✅ Pros: Prevents unwanted driver conflicts. ❌ Cons: Requires manual driver updates.

---

6. Optimize Windows Update Delivery Settings

Windows updates use bandwidth, slowing down your internet. You can limit bandwidth usage to reduce lag.

Steps to Optimize Delivery Settings:

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

2. Click on Advanced Options > Delivery Optimization.

3. Set bandwidth limits to prevent updates from using excessive resources.

✅ Pros: Reduces network slowdowns. ❌ Cons: Doesn’t stop updates, only optimizes them.

---

7. Use Metered Connection to Restrict Updates

Setting your internet connection as metered tells Windows to minimize update downloads.

Steps to Set Metered Connection:

1. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.

2. Select your connected network.

3. Toggle Set as metered connection to ON.

✅ Pros: Limits background downloads. ❌ Cons: Some updates may still download.

---

8. Manually Install Only Necessary Updates

Instead of allowing Windows to install updates automatically, you can manually install only important updates.

Steps to Manually Install Updates:

1. Open Settings > Update & Security.

2. Click Check for updates.

3. Select only security updates or critical patches.

✅ Pros: Keeps your system secure without unnecessary updates. ❌ Cons: Requires manual monitoring.

---

Final Thoughts

Windows updates are necessary, but they don’t have to slow down your PC. By following these steps, you can prevent updates from affecting performance while keeping your system secure.

Quick Recap:

✅ Pause updates temporarily for better performance. ✅ Set active hours to avoid interruptions. ✅ Disable automatic updates (advanced users). ✅ Free up disk space after updates. ✅ Stop automatic driver updates to prevent conflicts. ✅ Optimize delivery settings to save bandwidth. ✅ Use metered connection to restrict updates. ✅ Manually install only necessary updates.

By implementing these strategies, you’ll keep your PC running smoothly without being disrupted by slow updates. If you found this guide helpful, share it with others who might be facing similar issues! 🚀