How to Disable Safeguard Holds for Feature Updates on Windows 10  

    How to Disable Safeguard Holds for Feature Updates on Windows 10

    How to Disable Safeguard Holds for Feature Updates on Windows 10

    Published by Category: Windows Update & Activation
    25 Oct 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Disable Safeguard Holds for Feature Updates on Windows 10

    Feature updates are new versions of Windows 10 that are released via Windows Update twice a year usually around spring and fall.

    Microsoft uses quality and compatibility data to identify issues that might cause a Windows 10 feature update to fail or roll back. When Microsoft finds such an issue, Microsoft might apply holds to the updating service to prevent affected devices from installing the update in order to safeguard them from these experiences. Microsoft also use holds when a customer, a partner, or Microsoft internal validation finds an issue that would cause severe impact (for example, rollback of the update, data loss, loss of connectivity, or loss of key functionality) and when a workaround is not immediately available.

    Safeguard holds prevent a device with a known issue from being offered a new operating system version. Microsoft will renew the offering once a fix is found and verified. Microsoft uses holds to ensure customers have a successful experience as their device moves to a new version of Windows 10.

    The lifespan of holds varies depending on the time required to investigate and fix an issue. During this time Microsoft works diligently to procure, develop, and validate a fix and then offer it to affected devices. We monitor quality and compatibility data to confirm that a fix is complete before releasing the hold. Once Microsoft releases the hold, Windows Update will resume offering new operating system versions to devices.

    Safeguard holds only affect devices that use the Window Update service for updates.

    If necessary, you can opt out of safeguard protections by using the Disable safeguards for Feature Updates Group Policy. This policy is available to Windows Update for Business devices running Windows 10 version 1809 or later that have installed its October 2020 security update (not to be confused with the Windows 10 October 2020 Update).

    See also:

    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable safeguard holds for feature updates on Windows 10.

    Opting out of a safeguard hold can put devices at risk from known performance issues.

    Microsoft recommends opting out only in an IT environment and for validation purposes. You can also validate an upcoming Windows 10 feature update version without the safeguards being applied by using the Release Preview channel of the Windows Insider Program for Business.

    Disabling safeguards does not guarantee your device will be able to successfully update. The update might still fail and will likely result in a bad experience since you are bypassing the protection against known issues.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable safeguards for feature updates.

    After a device installs a new Windows 10 version, the Disable safeguards for Feature Updates Group Policy will automatically revert to “not configured” (aka: safeguards enabled) even if it was previously enabled (aka: safeguards disabled). Microsoft does this to ensure the admin is consciously disabling Microsoft’s default protection from known issues for each new feature update.



    Contents

    • Option One: Enable or Disable Safeguards for Feature Updates in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Two: Enable or Disable Safeguards for Feature Updates using a REG File



    EXAMPLE: Safeguard hold for feature update in Windows Update on Windows 10

    On devices that use Windows Update (but not Windows Update for Business), the Windows Update page in the Settings app displays a message stating that an update is on its way, but not ready for the device. Instead of the option to download and install the update, users will see the message below. If you see this message, it means one or more holds affect your device. When the issue is fixed and the update is safe to install, Microsoft will release the hold and the update can resume safely.
    How to Disable Safeguard Holds for Feature Updates on Windows 10-safeguard-hold-notification.png






    OPTION ONE

    Enable or Disable Safeguards for Feature Updates in Local Group Policy Editor


    The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

    All editions can use Option Two.


    1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).

    2 In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Update, and open Windows Update for Business. (see screenshot below)

    How to Disable Safeguard Holds for Feature Updates on Windows 10-disable_safeguards_for_feature_updates_on_windows_10_gpedit-1.png

    3 In the right pane of Windows Update for Business, double click/tap on the Disable safeguards for Feature Updates policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.


    5 To Enable Safeguards for Feature Updates

    A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below step 6)

    Not Configured is the default setting.


    6 To Disable Safeguards for Feature Updates

    A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    How to Disable Safeguard Holds for Feature Updates on Windows 10-disable_safeguards_for_feature_updates_on_windows_10_gpedit-2.png


    7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    Enable or Disable Safeguards for Feature Updates using a REG File


    The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

    DisableWUfBSafeguards DWORD

    0 or (delete) = Enable
    1 = Disable


    1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    2 To Enable Safeguards for Feature Updates

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Enable_safeguards_for_Feature_Updates_on_Windows_10.reg

    Download


    3 To Disable Safeguards for Feature Updates

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Disable_safeguards_for_Feature_Updates_on_Windows_10.reg

    Download


    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 Restart the computer to apply.

    8 If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 550
    Windows 10 Pro x86 and x64 dual boot
       #1

    Reg method didn't work for me. I already had it after resetting my PC but found a virus so had to restore from a backup which was still on 2004.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    banger said:
    Reg method didn't work for me. I already had it after resetting my PC but found a virus so had to restore from a backup which was still on 2004.
    Hello banger,

    Is your 2004 fully updated to the latest build below? If not, then that will be why it didn't work for you yet. This is not effective until its October security update has been installed.

    KB4579311 Cumulative Update Windows 10 v2004 build 19041.572 - Oct. 13

    It is recommend to wait until 20H2 is available via Windows Update instead though.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 2,585
    Win 11
       #3

    My old 1909 install, which originally was Win 8.1 and upgraded (and transferred to a new PC) has had several Safeguard holds and then update notices but it continues to fail (every time) at 75% and the second boot.

    My "fix" has been to do a clean Win 10 install as a dual boot and move my PC ops to the new install. I'm leaving the old 1909 install as is, which is for my recording studio ops and it works perfect on 1909 and doesn't need any OS updates.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 550
    Windows 10 Pro x86 and x64 dual boot
       #4

    Yes I was fully updates to 19041.572 but I decided to upgrade using the Windows Assistant and everything seems ok.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Great news.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 2,324
    Win10
       #6

    fireberd said:
    My old 1909 install, which originally was Win 8.1 and upgraded (and transferred to a new PC) has had several Safeguard holds and then update notices but it continues to fail (every time) at 75% and the second boot.

    My "fix" has been to do a clean Win 10 install as a dual boot and move my PC ops to the new install. I'm leaving the old 1909 install as is, which is for my recording studio ops and it works perfect on 1909 and doesn't need any OS updates.

    I seem to have the same (un)known issue on my main computer, a X99 system that was on win7 originally, Win Update offers 2004 every month or so but just rolls back after the second reboot with no clues as to what the issue is. ( tried twice on Sat. again)

    I might have to try the dual boot too , just to see if there really is an issue with 2004 ...not that I have any issues with 1909 but at some point 1909 will go EOL.

    KB.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 2,585
    Win 11
       #7

    Kbird, I've tried everything I could find about not upgrading to 2004 and nothing helps. I've seen similar posts on the Dell forums of users with upgraded OS" from Win 7 or 8/8.1 that have the problem and I'm convinced something in the upgrade install is causing the problem. My PC is an i7 8700K so its not incompatible hardware.

    (Sorry Brink, I didn't mean to hijack this thread)
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 2,324
    Win10
       #8

    fireberd said:
    Kbird, I've tried everything I could find about not upgrading to 2004 and nothing helps. I've seen similar posts on the Dell forums of users with upgraded OS" from Win 7 or 8/8.1 that have the problem and I'm convinced something in the upgrade install is causing the problem. My PC is an i7 8700K so its not incompatible hardware.
    (Sorry Brink, I didn't mean to hijack this thread)
    Hi fireberd, not sure if you figured out your Win10 2004 installation Issues yet ? just thought I'd let you know that with me it turned out to be that my Bios
    was Set to RAID for the HDD Controllers still even though I removed the old Sata2 drives that were in RAID 0 and replaced them with
    larger capacity SATA 3 Drives sometime earlier this year but didn't re-establish the Raid 0 Volume.

    Switching the Bios back to AHCI , then going into Win10 Safemode, installing the ACHI Drivers and rebooting into win10 was all it took for Win10 to offer
    2004 and then 202H again. and it finally proceeding past the 48% reboot issue....

    It's a bit weird since I have a Laptop using Raid drivers even though not having Raided HDDs ( like many do) and it upgraded fine.

    KB.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 2,585
    Win 11
       #9

    To Kbird from Fireberd (LOL).
    I gave up. After talking to a couple with the same problem and they were all installations that originally were upgraded from Win 8/8.1, which is also my installation, I suspect something "deep in the OS" is causing the problem. I'm leaving my 1909 installation as is, my recording studio apps run perfect on 1909 and don't need 2004. I made a dual boot and have installed 2004 as a clean installation on a new M.2 NVMe SSD. If I just want general PC ops I boot to the new 2004 (default). If I need to access the recording and CD production apps then I boot to the old 1909.
      My Computers


 

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