We suggest automatic updates are typically a good thing and I recommend leaving them on in general. As such these methods should primarily be used for preventing a troublesome update from automatically reinstalling or stopping a potentially troublesome update from installing in the first place.

Stop the Windows Update Service

As central as it is to the core of Windows 10, Windows Update is actually just another Windows process so it can be stopped with these simple steps:

Step 1 -- -- -- --

1. Open the Run command (Win + R), in it type: services.msc and press enter
2. From the Services list which appears find the “Windows Update service” and open it.
3. In ‘Startup Type’ (under the ‘General’ tab) change it to ‘Disabled’
4. In ‘Startup Type’ (under the ‘Recovery’ tab) change it to ‘set all Take No Action’ & Reset Fail count after “0” days
5. Click on Apply & OK
6. Restart

Step 2 -- -- -- --

1. Open the Run command (Win + R), in it type: regedit and press enter
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. Right-click the Windows (folder) key, select "New" and then click "Key".
4. Name the new key "WindowsUpdate" and press "Enter".
5. Right-click the newly created key, select "new", and click "Key" Name the new key AU and press Enter.
6. In there create a ‘32-bit DWORD’ value called ‘AuOptions’ and under ‘Value Data’ type 2 and click ‘OK’
7. Open the Settings app (Win + I) and navigate to -> Update and Security -> Windows Updates. Click ‘Check for updates’ which applies the new configuration setting
8. Restart