Turn off access to all Windows Update features: registry value DisableWindowsUpdateAccessComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

Policy ID: RemoveWindowsUpdate_ICM
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems, Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1, or Windows 2000 Service Pack 3
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: System › Internet Communication Management › Internet Communication settings

Registry

DisableWindowsUpdateAccess

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate Current key

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]

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

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

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

PowerShell

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

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