How to stop Windows 10 2004 from auto-installing things?

I have a lot of experience with Windows installs. In general, I disable auto-updates in Windows right after I've installed it, so I can manually run Windows Update when I like.

However, in a new Windows installation I've done (where I used the Media Creation Tool to create a Windows 10 Pro 2004 installer), despite the fact that I disabled automatic updates in the registry and the Group Policy Editor (and rebooted), AS SOON AS I CONNECTED IT TO MY NETWORK, it started downloading and installing things - both apps and drivers - and saying "X just got installed. Check it out." in the notification area.

This is new behavior to me. I wonder if this is new behavior with Release 2004?

Does anyone know how I can completely stop Windows 10 2004 from downloading drivers, apps and system updates, and only run when I run Windows Update manually? I used to be able to do this in the past, but now it seems impossible. I'm sure there must be some registry or group policy trick other than what I've already done, no?

Thanks for all the info. Yeah, I searched all over before posting and didn't find anything I hadn't tried that looked likely to work. But I'll study your links and suggestions! Sorry for asking such a common question - it's only that I thought I already tried what had worked on another machine I had, only for it to fail on this one, so I was getting frustrated. :-/

- Tim

Using CMD script and VBScript to control Windows Update

tbessie said:

AS SOON AS I CONNECTED IT TO MY NETWORK, it started downloading and installing things ... saying "X just got installed. Check it out." in the notification area.
This is new behavior to me. I wonder if this is new behavior with Release 2004?

No, that's normal for all versions. But it isn't Windows Update doing it, that notification is specifically for Microsoft Store apps being updated. The settings for turning off automatic updates for Store apps are separate from Windows Update.

Turn On or Off Automatic Updates for Apps in Windows 10 Store

Bree said:

No, that's normal for all versions. But it isn't Windows Update doing it, that notification is specifically for Microsoft Store apps being updated. The settings for turning off automatic updates for Store apps are separate from Windows Update.

Turn On or Off Automatic Updates for Apps in Windows 10 Store

Ah, thanks! I wasn't aware it was a different mechanism!

Bree said:

No, that's normal for all versions.

Well yes, but I meant even after the registry and Group Policy tweaks to stop it from doing that (which USED to work).

Anyway, I'll be looking at all the resources people have provided to fix this.

- Tim

I use metered connections, which will prevent Windows Store from installing updates automatically. I have never seen the following:

tbessie said:

AS SOON AS I CONNECTED IT TO MY NETWORK, it started downloading and installing things - both apps and drivers - and saying "X just got installed. Check it out." in the notification area.

I have never done the following:

tbessie said:

I disabled automatic updates in the registry and the Group Policy Editor (and rebooted),

Ok, I just used the various registry and Group Policy modifications in your provided links to turn off auto updates in both Windows Update and the Microsoft Store. I rebooted. Then I plugged in my network cable.

Windows Update automatically downloaded my mouse driver (it's a specific mouse, and it downloaded a specific driver for it).

Microsoft Store downloaded 2 audio apps for my proprietary motherboard audio chip, the Intel Graphics Command Center for my onboard graphics, and Intel Optane Memory support.

I suspect it's still downloading things.

So I did much of what was suggested in the links provided, but none of them seems to have stopped Windows Update and the Microsoft Store from going out and downloading and installing things.

Am I doing something wrong, such that my copy of Windows 10 Pro is being especially aggressive and ignoring the Group Policy and registry changes I've made?

- Tim

Try the one mentioned in post #4.