Remove access to use all Windows Update features: registry value DisableWindowsUpdateAccess and 1 more (Policies\WindowsUpdate)UserHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate

Policy ID: RemoveWindowsUpdate
Scope: User Configuration
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.
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Windows Update › Manage updates offered from Windows Server Update Service

Registry

DisableWindowsUpdateAccess

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate Current key

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"DisableWindowsUpdateAccess"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"DisableWindowsUpdateAccess"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate" /v "DisableWindowsUpdateAccess" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate" /v "DisableWindowsUpdateAccess" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'DisableWindowsUpdateAccess' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'DisableWindowsUpdateAccess' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Configure notifications:

Options
Item	Stored value
0 - Do not show any notifications	0
1 - Show restart required notifications	1

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate]

; Options (use only one)
; 0 - Do not show any notifications
"DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode"=dword:00000000
; 1 - Show restart required notifications
"DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode"=dword:00000001

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: 0 - Do not show any notifications
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate" /v "DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
:: 1 - Show restart required notifications
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate" /v "DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# 0 - Do not show any notifications
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
# 1 - Show restart required notifications
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'DisableWindowsUpdateAccessMode' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null