Policy

Remove access to use all Windows Update features

Microsoft Windows

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Remove access to use all Windows Update features
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Policy overview

Key metadata and intent for this policy.

User
Category
Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Server Update Service
Supported on
At least Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 or At least Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.

Supported OS tags: Windows2000, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsVista, WindowsXP

This setting allows you to remove access to Windows Update. If you enable this setting, all Windows Update features are removed. This includes blocking access to the Windows Update Web site at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, from the Windows Update hyperlink on the Start menu, and also on the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. Windows automatic updating is also disabled; you will neither be notified about nor will you receive critical updates from Windows Update. This setting also prevents Device Manager from automatically installing driver updates from the Windows Update Web site. If enabled you can configure one of the following notification options: 0 = Do not show any notifications This setting will remove all access to Windows Update features and no notifications will be shown. 1 = Show restart required notifications This setting will show notifications about restarts that are required to complete an installation. On Windows 8 and Windows RT, if this policy is Enabled, then only notifications related to restarts and the inability to detect updates will be shown. The notification options are not supported. Notifications on the login screen will always show up.

Internal name
RemoveWindowsUpdate
Policy ID
777520925ffb
Elements
1

Registry values

How enabled and disabled states update the registry.

ScopeRegistry locationTypeEnabled valueDisabled valueCopy
User
Path
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate
Value name
DisableWindowsUpdateAccess
REG_DWORD
HKCU
1
HKCU
0
Registry location
Type REG_DWORD · User
Path
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate
Value name
DisableWindowsUpdateAccess
Hive
HKCU
Enabled value
1
Disabled value
0

Policy elements

Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.

ScopeElementTypeRegistry mappingConstraints & behaviorCopy
User
Configure notifications:
ID RemoveWindowsUpdateMode
enum
Path
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate
Value name
DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode
Type
REG_DWORD
Options: 0 - Do not show any notifications (0), 1 - Show restart required notifications (1)
Configure notifications:
User · Type enum
Registry mapping
Path
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate
Value name
DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode
Type
REG_DWORD
Details
Options: 0 - Do not show any notifications (0), 1 - Show restart required notifications (1)