Disable Automatic updates command line

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Leave a Comment

We can disable windows automatic updates from command line using the below command.


reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f 

I have tested this on Windows XP and Windows server 2003 and it works perfectly. After running the above command you can also see a balloon popping up near the system tray with the message "Your computer might be at risk... Automatic updates is turned off......".

To enable automatic updates we need to set the registry value to 0. Command is given below.

reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

4 comments »

  • Salim said:  

    Thanks for the tip.. I tried this on Windows 7 and it worked perfectly. Thanks again.

    November 13, 2009 6:23 AM
  • Anonymous said:  

    thanks mate. one question, does this command only disable? or does it enable and disable?

    November 28, 2009 3:28 AM
  • Techblogger said:  

    It can be used to enable also. The command would vary slightly.. just replace 1 with 0. Please see the command below after making this change..

    reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

    January 11, 2010 10:41 PM
  • Anonymous said:  

    Thanks i tested that with Vista it worked for that too .
    In my windows update page was having error i did nt have any way other than to disable or enable automatic updates through command prompt.

    Best Regards

    Kanwal

    July 22, 2010 6:56 PM

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