Microsoft forcing Windows 11 on you? Here’s how to stop it, permanently

It’s not ok for Windows 11 to install without your permission.

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I hopped off for a quick coffee at work the other day, only to discover upon my return a popup that read “Windows 11is downloading.” Now I’d not considered how to block Windows 11 before, but only since I had assumed Microsoft would at leastaskme first before installing its most recent OS.

My initial thought was that one of my work mates sneakily clicked OK when it popped up and asked for permission to download. They all denied involvement—my boss, in fact,wishes Microsoft had been brave enough not to release Windows 11at all, so I doubt it was him.

Anyway, a quick sweep of the web showed a lot of people searching how to stop Windows 11that it’s not uncommon forWindows 11 to download and install without permission. A lot of people are getting the same unwanted notification thatWindows 11 was installing, which is being called the Windows 11 ‘push’ by sites likeComputer World.

I’d been declining the upgrade for months, and I’m pretty sure it had gotten to the point where each time my screen flashed with “We recommend Windows 11 for your device,” my only option was to install it now, or remind me later.

I mean, really Microsoft? No means no. Basically I thought it best to share how to stop Windows 11 from installing altogether, so you don’t get backed into a corner by Microsoft too. Of course, you could alwaystemporarily prevent Windows 10 updatesbut the most effective and permanent way is to block updates altogether.

If you’ve already been forced into the Windows 11 club, but aren’t convinced (despite the mostrecent update having fixed game crash woes) the first step is toRevert.

Revert to Windows 10

Reverting to Windows 10 is simple enough, provided you are still within the grace period that allows yourevert to Windows 10 within a specified timeframeof 10 days.

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Just navigate to theStart menu,then go intoSettings>Windows Update>Advanced options>Recovery, and selectPrevious version of Windows.

Make sure to note down the exact version of Windows 10 you’re on, we’ll need that later—it’ll be in the format of21H1, or similar, depending on which version you’re reverting to.

Using Regedit

If you’re using Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition, you can use theLocal Group Policy Editor. Home edition users will need to jump into theRegistry Editorinstead, as there’s no access to the former on Home.

First mashWindows+R, then pasteregeditin theOpenbox, and run it.

If aUser Account Controlprompt pops up, hitYes.

In the Registry Editor, navigate here:Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

If theWindowsUpdatedirectory isn’t there justright clicktheWindowsdirectory, chooseNew, thenKey, pasteWindowsUpdatein there and pressEnter.

The next step involves locating theTargetReleaseVersionfile in the right pane anddouble clickingit.

If it doesn’t exist yet, right click the blank space and selectNew, thenDWORD (32-bit) Value, and pasteTargetReleaseVersionin there. Then hitEnterand nowdouble click it.

In theValue databox that appears, enter1, and hitOK.

If there’s aTargetReleaseVersionInfoentry there already,double clickit.

If not,right clickthe blank space again and selectNew, thenString Value, and pasteTargetReleaseVersionInfobefore hittingEnter. Now you candouble clickthat.

When you get into theEdit Stringprompt, underValue datasimply paste theversion of Windows you’re looking to stick with, and hitOK.

Now, simply restart and that should keep Windows 11 from installing altogether.

Remember though, you’ll need to update manually if you see aversion of Windows 10that catches your eye. To do so, simply go through the process again and change the version where you entered it last.

Using the Local Group Policy Editor

If you don’t have Local Group Policy Editor, but would like to install it, you can enable it by following the stepshere.

First pressWindows+Ron your keyboard, then pastegpedit.mscinto the box and run.

Simply use the side panel to navigate toLocal Computer Policy>Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Windows Components>Windows Update>Windows Update for Business.

Then double clickSelect the Target Feature Update versionandEnableit in the top left check boxes.

Below that, in theTarget Version for Feature Updatesbox, paste the version you want to stick with.Applyit, and clickOK.

That’s it. Now justrestartand revel in the fact that Microsoft has nothing on you.

Screw sports, Katie would rather watch Intel, AMD and Nvidia go at it. Having been obsessed with computers and graphics for three long decades, she took Game Art and Design up to Masters level at uni, and has been rambling about games, tech and science—rather sarcastically—for four years since. She can be found admiring technological advancements, scrambling for scintillating Raspberry Pi projects, preaching cybersecurity awareness, sighing over semiconductors, and gawping at the latest GPU upgrades. Right now she’s waiting patiently for her chance to upload her consciousness into the cloud.

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