Windows 10 constantly receives updates to keep your PC secure with the latest vulnerability patches, improvements, and new features. However, because updates download and install automatically, when a new feature update becomes available (such as Windows 10 version 1803), during the early days, this could cause a number of problems.
Typically, when a new version of Windows 10 begins to roll out, it may still contain unknown bugs, some features may not work as expected on every system configuration, and device drivers might not be compatible with the new release, and this is one of the reasons that deferring an upgrade until most issues are fixed is a good idea.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to stop Windows 10 from installing the April 2018 Update on your PC using the Settings app, Group Policy, and even using a metered connection if you’re running Windows 10 Home.
- How to defer Windows 10 version 1803 using Settings
- How to defer Windows 10 version 1803 using Group Policy
- How to defer April 2018 Update (version 1803) on Windows 10 Home
How to defer Windows 10 version 1803 using Settings
Starting with the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, using the Settings app is possible to defer options new features updates and pause quality updates. However, these options are only available on Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise.
Microsoft provides two branch readiness levels to receive feature updates. The “Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)” is the readiness level everyone is enrolled by default, and this level gets upgrades as soon as a new version of Windows 10 releases.
The “Semi-Annual Channel“ branch gets feature updates when Microsoft confirms that features are ready for enterprise deployment. (If you want to delay a new version as long as possible, you should use this option.)
If you’re running Windows 10 in the “Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)” branch, you can defer a new version for up to 365 days since the day it was original released. Switching to the “Semi-Annual Channel” branch, you can also defer a new version for up to 365 days, but PCs in this level will get the new release with features 4 months after it’s available in the “Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted).” Therefore, using the “Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)” branch, you can defer feature updates up to 16 months.
To defer feature updates using the Settings app, do the following:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Update & security.
- Click on Windows Update.
- Click the Advanced options link.
- Windows Update settings
- Under “Choose when updates are installed,” select the readiness level: Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted) or Semi-Annual Channel.
- Select the number of days, up to 365 days that you want to defer installing Windows 10 version 1803 (Redstone 4).
- Windows Update advanced options to defer version 1803
- Quick Tip: To delay a new version of Windows 10 as long as possible, select Semi-Annual Channel and select 365 days. These settings will block new feature updates for 16 months.
Once you completed the steps, Windows 10 will not install a new version until after the defer time you specified.
Open Settings.
Click on Update & security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Advanced options link.
Windows Update settings
Under “Choose when updates are installed,” select the readiness level: Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted) or Semi-Annual Channel.
Select the number of days, up to 365 days that you want to defer installing Windows 10 version 1803 (Redstone 4).
It’s worth noting that there is an option to defer quality updates (those updates you get every month), but you can only delay these updates up to 30 days. However, you can use the Pause Updates option that temporarily prevents new updates from being installed for up to 35 days.
How to defer Windows 10 version 1803 using Group Policy
The easiest way to defer the Windows 10 Redstone 4 (version 1803) is using the Settings app. However, it’s also possible to use the Local Group Policy editor to achieve the same result.
To defer feature updates using the Local Group Policy editor, do the following:
- Use the Windows Key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
- Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
- Browse the following path:
- Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Windows Update for Business
- Double-click the Select when Preview Builds and Feature Updates are received policy.
- Windows Update for Business in Group Policy
- Select the Enabled option.
- Under “Options”, select one of the following options using the drop-down menu:
- Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted) — to stop Windows 10 from installing version 1803 for up to 12 months using the next step to specify the number of days.
- Semi-Annual Channel — to stop Windows 10 from installing version 1803 for up to 16 months using the next step to specify the number of days.
- Select how long you want to defer upgrades. You can stop Windows 10 from trying to install a new version for up to 365 days.
- Select when Preview Builds and Feature Updates are received policy
- Click Apply.
- Click OK.
After completing the steps, Windows 10 will not try to install the Redstone 4 update until the day you specified in the policy.
Use the Windows Key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Browse the following path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Windows Update for Business
Double-click the Select when Preview Builds and Feature Updates are received policy.
Windows Update for Business in Group Policy
Select the Enabled option.
Under “Options”, select one of the following options using the drop-down menu:
- Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted) — to stop Windows 10 from installing version 1803 for up to 12 months using the next step to specify the number of days.
- Semi-Annual Channel — to stop Windows 10 from installing version 1803 for up to 16 months using the next step to specify the number of days.
Select how long you want to defer upgrades. You can stop Windows 10 from trying to install a new version for up to 365 days.
Select when Preview Builds and Feature Updates are received policy
Click Apply.
Click OK.
How to defer April 2018 Update (version 1803) on Windows 10 Home
In the case you’re using Windows 10 Home, you won’t have an option to block the Redstone 4 update from installing automatically. However, you can set your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection as metered, which limits how the OS access and uses an internet connection, and when enabled, updates won’t download automatically to your PC.
Setting a Wi-Fi connection as metered to defer version 1803
If you want to set a wireless network connection as metered, do the following:
- Open Settings.
- Click on Network & Internet.
- Click on Wi-Fi.
- Click on the Wi-Fi connection to access its settings.
- Wi-Fi settings
- Turn on the Set as metered connection toggle switch to enable and restrict background data usage.
- Wi-Fi metered connection option
Setting an Ethernet connection as metered to defer version 1803
If you want to set a Ethernet (wired) network connection as metered, do the following:
Click on Network & Internet.
Click on Wi-Fi.
Click on the Wi-Fi connection to access its settings.
Wi-Fi settings
Turn on the Set as metered connection toggle switch to enable and restrict background data usage.
Wi-Fi metered connection option
- Open Settings.
- Click on Network & Internet.
- Click on Ethernet.
- Click on the wire Ethernet connection to access its settings.
- Ethernet settings
- Turn on the Set as metered connection toggle switch to enable and restrict background data usage.
- Ethernet metered connection option
This method will block all kinds of updates, meaning that your computer will be unprotected until you disable the metered connection.
Click on Ethernet.
Click on the wire Ethernet connection to access its settings.
Ethernet settings
Ethernet metered connection option
Wrapping things up
While these instructions allow you to delay Windows 10 version 1803 from installing automatically when it releases on April 30, 2018, it’s not meant to discourage you from installing feature updates. Updates are crucial to protect your system and data from hackers, viruses, ransomware and other types of malware.
The April 2018 Update improves many aspects of Windows 10, and it also introduces a lot of new features, such as Timeline and Nearby Sharing, and improvements on security, productivity, and performance.
These instructions are only meant to help you stop Windows 10 from installing a new version until you’re sure that bugs and issues during the early day have been fixed to prevent issues on your desktop computer, laptop, or tablet.
Are you installing Windows 10 version 1803 as soon as it’s ready or you’re planning to defer? Tell us in the comments below.
