How to block Windows 11 upgrade

Not all users are ready for Windows 11 or want to abandon Windows 10 out of the blue, even if their computers are compatible with the latest version of the operating system. If at the launch of Windows 11 the update is still presented as optional and can even be avoided, over time Microsoft will force the update to Windows 11 (passing it as essential), thus forcing users to use the latest version from Microsoft even if they don’t want to.

Before this happens we can always turn off the automatic update to Windows 11, so that you stay on Windows 10 as long as necessary. Considering that Windows 10 will not disappear overnight, we can very well postpone the update until we are ready, since Windows 10 will not be discontinued before 2025 anyway.

READ ALSO -> Go back to Windows 10 after upgrading to Windows 11

Uninstall PC Integrity Checker

If we have installed PC Integrity Checker on Windows 10 (also called PC Health Check) should be uninstalled immediately, since it can start the upgrade to Windows 11 in full autonomy if the computer is compatible.

To proceed, press the bottom right on the Start menu, look for the app Settings, let’s open the menu App, let’s make sure we’re on the menu App and features and we use the search engine to find the app PC integrity check O PC Health Check. To uninstall it, press on it and use the key Uninstall; if the Control Panel window also appears, search for the app again and uninstall it like any other program for Windows (right click on the app and click Uninstall / Change).

Block update via registry

If we do not have PC Integrity Check or we fear that the automatic update to Windows 11 will start sooner or later, we can proceed with some changes to the registry, so that we can only download the updates of Windows 10 and forget the version advancement to Windows 11 (which will only happen if we want to).

To proceed we press the WIN + R keys on the keyboard, we write regedit in the text field and confirm the administrator permissions when required. Once in the Registry Editor we will have to act precisely and in line, to avoid making mistakes and damaging the registry (a preventive backup of the registry can be very useful).

Stringa DisableOSUpgrade

To apply this block to updates to Windows 11, let’s take the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows, we press with the right button on the folder Windows we press on New -> Key and insert as a string WindowsUpdate.

Now let’s go to the right part of the window, press the right button on New -> DWORD Value (32 bit) and insert the string DisableOSUpgrade. We confirm with the Enter or Enter key on the keyboard, press the right key on the new item created, press on Edit and set the number as a value 1.

Stringa AllowOSUpgrade

If, on the other hand, we wanted to apply this update block to Windows 11, let’s take the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionWindowsUpdate, we press with the right button on the folder WindowsUpdate we press on New -> Key and insert as a string OSUpgrade.

Let’s open the new folder, go to the right side of the window, press the right button on New -> DWORD Value (32 bit) and insert the string AllowOSUpgrade. As we have already seen above, press the right button on the new item, click on Edit and set the number as a value 0.

Stinga UpgradeAvailable

To prevent Windows 10 from notifying the presence of Windows 11 and proposing the update in a constant and annoying way, let’s take the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMSetup, right click on the folder Setup, we select the path New -> Key and insert as a string UpgradeNotification.

Let’s open the new folder, go to the right section, press the right button on New -> DWORD Value (32 bit) and insert the string UpgradeAvailable. Now all that remains is to right-click on the new item, click on Edit and set the number as the value 0.

Block update from Microsoft Store

Now that Windows Update is fixed we have to take care of the Microsoft Store, the app store integrated in Windows 10 which can also show version updates if necessary. To block the update to Windows 11 through the Microsoft Store, open the Start menu, type regedit, open the registry editor again and take us to the path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoft.

Once in the right position, click with the right button on the folder Microsoft, we select the path New -> Key and insert as a string WindowsStore. As already seen in the other steps of the guide, open the new folder just created, go to the right section, press the right button on New -> DWORD Value (32 bit) and insert the string DisableOSUpgrade.

After creating the entry, right-click on it, click on Edit and set the number as the value 1.

Conclusions

By following all the steps carefully we can completely block the update to Windows 11 by continuing to use Windows Update on Windows 10, so as to receive only its updates and also avoid the warning windows on Windows 11. If in the future Microsoft will force the update to Windows 11 (marking it as Important), with the changes we have applied we will not receive it, therefore continuing to use our good Windows 10 to the end of support.

If we want to upgrade to Windows 11 at a later time or in a few years we can always download theWindows 11 Setup Assistant or download one of the Official ISO of the system to create Windows 11 installation media.

Alternatively we can also remove the changes applied with this guide (retracing the path back and deleting the DWORDs), so as to be able to force the update to Windows 11 directly from Windows Update.