Disable Windows Server Automatic Update

Objective

Disable automatic Windows Update on your Windows Server 2016.

Prerequisites

None.

Steps

Step 1: Validate Current Windows Update Settings

To determine what updates you machine has already installed, run the following command on the Windows command prompt.

sconfig

Then, wait for a short while as the tool inspects your system.

After the scan, look for Option #5. It shows the current configuration of your Windows Update settings.

Step 2: Change Windows Update Settings

Open a command prompt window with Administrator privileges.

Then, execute the following command.

sconfig

Next, press 5 and then Enter. This will bring up the following options for you to choose from:

1. (A)utomatic – This will configure your machine to automatically scan, download, install and reboot after applying any updates.
2. (D)ownloadOnly – This will automatically scan, download and notify the admin if updates need to be installed. This is the default setting on Windows Server 2016.
3. (M)anual — This turns Automatic Updates off. Your system will never check for updates.

Press the letters specified and then press Enter to apply the configuration.