How to Disable Windows Update on Server 2016?

Disabling Windows Update on Server 2016 is not recommended as it can leave your server vulnerable to security threats. However, if you need to temporarily disable updates for specific reasons, you can follow these steps:

Using Group Policy

1. Open Group Policy Editor: Press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the relevant policy: Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
3. Configure the policy: Double-click Configure Automatic Updates and select Disabled.
4. Apply the changes: Click Apply and then OK.

Using the Registry Editor

1. Open Registry Editor: Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the relevant key: Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate.
3. Create a new DWORD value: Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it AUOptions.
4. Set the value: Double-click the AUOptions value, enter 4 in the Value data field, and click OK.
5. Close Registry Editor: Close the Registry Editor and restart your server.

Remember: These methods disable automatic updates only. You can still manually install updates if needed.

Important Note: Disabling Windows Update on Server 2016 is not a recommended practice as it can leave your server vulnerable to security threats. Use these methods only if absolutely necessary and re-enable automatic updates as soon as possible.