We can disable Windows automatic updates from command line using the below command.
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
I tested this on Windows 7 and 10 and it works perfectly. After running the above command you can also see a balloon popping up near the system tray with the message “Your computer might be at risk… Automatic updates is turned off……“.
Note that this will not work if domain group policy is enforced and users are prohibited to change the settings. In Widows 7, we can find out if a GP is enforced or not by opening windows update window. Go to settings and see if the options are greyed out for ‘Important updates’. If so, then it’s controlled by administrator/domain policy and can’t be edited. In XP, same can be checked on ‘Automatic updates’ tab in Computer properties(sysdm.cpl).
To enable automatic updates we need to set the registry value to 0. Command is given below.
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
If you want to download updates but not install till the user acts on it then you can set the registy value to 3.
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
If you want to disable Automatic updates service then run the below command.
sc config wuauserv start= disabled
IF you want to stop Automatic updates service then run the below command.
net stop wuauserv
Command for starting automatic updates service:
net start wuauserv
Command for enabling the service:
sc config wuauserv start= auto
Errors
In Vista/Windows 7, the above commands should be run from elevated administrator command prompt. Otherwise you would get the following error.
c:\>reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f ERROR: Access is denied.
P S Athul 