How to shutdown without updating Windows 11

Want to know how to shut down without installing Windows Updates? In this post, we will show you how to shutdown without updating Windows 11/10.

With the release of Windows 11 and Windows 10, Microsoft moved to update and maintenance concept to the principle of WaaS (Windows as a Service), which is based on the principle of SaaS (Software as a Service). With the implementation of this, Microsoft kind of forced Windows Updates to not only be downloaded on the users’ machines but also installed while we shut down Windows 11/10 and sometimes even seed them to other users. This seeding concept took off much load from the Microsoft servers that would provide these Windows Updates to the users earlier. Installing these updates can be tedious for the users are it takes a lot of precious time from the users’ working hours, and actually, people criticize this kill of their productivity.

How to shutdown without updating Windows 11/10

Today, we will check out two easy methods by which we can skip this installation of updates and continue working without interruption.

1] Clear SoftwareDistribution Folder contents

Windows Updates downloads two types of updates. They are either Critical Update and Non-critical updates. The security updates, bug fixes and patches that are delivered to Windows 10 come under the category of Critical Updates. And the delivery of other features, visual changes come under the category of Non-critical updates. Critical Updates are the ones that are released on the second Tuesday of every month or termed as Patch Tuesday. Non-critical updates are the ones released twice every year, bringing new features.

Critical Updates need to be installed immediately as they are downloaded, whereas the feature updates need not be installed immediately and can be postponed.

Start by hitting the WINKEY + X combinations and select Command Prompt (Admin) in order to launch Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges.

Now copy and paste the following commands one by one in the Command Prompt console and hit Enter.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

This will stop all the Windows Update Services running on your Windows 11/10 PC.

Open File Explorer and navigate to the following location from the address bar:

• C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

Make sure that you replace the drive letter with the one where Windows 11/10 is installed on your PC.

Now, select every file present inside the Software Distribution folder and hit these key combinations on your keyboard: Shift + Delete.

Now start the Windows Update services on your PC by copying and pasting the following commands in Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges and hitting Enter:

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

2] Using Power Button to shut down your PC

First of all, start by hitting the WINKEY + R button combinations or search for Run in the Search box to launch the Run box.

Inside the text label, search for powercfg.cpl and hit Enter.

This will launch the Power Options window.

On the left side panel, click on Choose what the power buttons do.

In the drop-down for When I press the power button and set both the drop-downs to Shut down.

Click on the button that says Save changes.

Now you can shut down your PC without installing any Windows Updates.

3] Alternatives to shutting down your computer

Rather than shutting down your computer, you can try other alternatives to save power and keep your computer from being on constantly. They are – either you can try keeping your computer in Hibernate mode or Sleep mode.

Using the Hibernate option, your applications are moved from RAM to your HDD until you turn your computer back on. If you use the sleep option, your computer will go into a low-power consumption state, allowing you to quickly resume your work after turning on your PC.

4] Disable Update and Shutdown in Windows 11/10

If you wish to know how to disable the Update and shutdown button, you will have to open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Create a new key under Windows and name it WindowsUpdate. Create another key under this one and name it AU.

So the final path would be:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Now, under AU, on the right side, create a new DWORD value named NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption and give it a value of 1.

Also, create NoAUShutdownOption and give it a value of 1.

Now, you will not have the Update and shutdown option. Windows will install the updates only when you restart.

Read: Windows Update and Shutdown/Restart not working and won’t go away

If you wish to explore more, you can read more about these power options like Hibernate and Sleep here and read our guide if you wish to disable Windows Update permanently.