Outsmarting the Windows 11 Upgrade: A Power User’s Guide
Many Windows 10 users are reluctant to make the leap to Windows 11. While Microsoft positions the upgrade as an enhancement, those happy with the familiar Windows 10 environment have valid concerns. Will favorite programs still run properly? What data may be lost in transition? Is the process reversible if the user experience is disappointing? These uncertainties stall even tech-savvy users from trying the new system.
Fortunately, you have options to manage the Windows 11 upgrade on your own terms. We’ll walk through proven techniques to disable the update so you can continue using Windows 10 as long as you like. While we can’t make guarantees against potential data loss, following these steps precisely puts you back in the driver’s seat.
Turn Off Windows Update Service
Disabling Windows Update services is the most direct path to blocking Windows 11 installation. Here’s how:
How does Microsoft Teams work on Windows Virtual Desktop?
Microsoft recently improved the Teams experience on Windows Virtual Desktop by adding “ media optimizations “, which enable calling and meeting functionality without audio and video redirection (which we covered in a different blog post ).
Is Microsoft Teams still a heavy application?
It’s still an heavy application, and even Microsoft acknowledges that. So I’ve started looking for ways to run multiple desktop instances of Teams side-by-side on my work OS, which is Windows 10.
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Type "services.msc" in the Run box and press Enter. This opens the Services management console.
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Scroll down the list of services until you find "Windows Update". Double-click it.
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In the Properties window that appears, switch the Startup Type to "Disabled". Click Apply, then OK.
This stops the Windows Update service, preventing your system from downloading the Windows 11 files it needs to perform the upgrade.
Leverage Group Policy Editor
The Group Policy Editor is a powerful built-in tool for controlling Windows settings and behavior across an organization. By tweaking one key policy, you can reliably prevent the Windows 11 upgrade:
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Press Windows+R and type "gpedit.msc". Hit Enter.
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Navigate to: Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update
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Double-click "Configure Automatic Updates" and select "Disabled". Click Apply and OK.
Group Policy changes can override default Windows Update settings, giving you granular control. Disabling automatic updates here blocks the Windows 11 upgrade just as effectively as stopping the service.
Can I run multiple desktop instances of teams side-by-side on Windows 10?
So I’ve started looking for ways to run multiple desktop instances of Teams side-by-side on my work OS, which is Windows 10. Googling around I have come across a post published on the Microsoft’s Tech Community which adopted a clever solution: given you’re the administrator of your PC, run another Teams instance as another (Windows) local user.
What are the requirements for Microsoft Teams?
All of the requirements in the following sections apply to both the Microsoft Teams desktop app and the Teams Web app. Windows OS: Graphics hardware acceleration requires DirectX 9 or later, with WDDM 2.0 or higher for Windows 10 (or WDDM 1.3 or higher for Windows 10 Fall Creators Update)
Pause Updates Weekly
If completely disabling updates makes you uneasy, this approach lets you stall the Windows 11 upgrade without forfeiting security patches:
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Open Settings and click Update & Security.
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Choose Windows Update from the left pane.
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Select "Pause updates for 7 days".
As long as you click Pause every week, you can continually delay the Windows 11 upgrade for as long as you wish. Don’t worry about missing critical updates; security patches will still install automatically.
Tweak the Registry
For the ultimate in upgrade prevention, try this registry edit trick. It sets a policy that hides Windows 11 updates entirely:
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Press Windows+R to open the Run box. Type "regedit" and press Enter.
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Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
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Right-click the AU folder and create a new DWORD value named "AUOptions". Set its value to "2".
This registry change calls on the "Hide Windows Update" policy, removing Windows 11 updates from your device’s scan results. Just be cautious editing the registry in general.
Can I use Microsoft Teams on Windows Virtual Desktop?
Before you can use Microsoft Teams on Windows Virtual Desktop, you’ll need to do these things: Prepare your network for Microsoft Teams. Install the Windows Desktop client on a Windows 10 or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise device that meets the Microsoft Teams hardware requirements for Teams on a Windows PC.
What operating system do I need to run teams?
Windows 11, Windows 10 (excluding Windows 10 LTSC for Teams desktop app), Windows 10 on ARM, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2. Note: We recommend using the latest Windows version and security patches available. Requires two-core processor.
Consider Third-Party Tools
If you need simple software to handle upgrade blocking automatically, try StopUpdates10, Windows Update Blocker, or Wu10Man. These tools make the process very straightforward. Just know that relying on unsupported third-party utilities has some inherent security risks.
The Choice is Yours
While Microsoft pushes Windows 11 as the future, Windows 10 still has plenty of kick left for the foreseeable future. With the techniques above, you can maintain your current setup without the Windows 11 upgrade happening behind the scenes. Take control of how and when you migrate to the new environment.
Have you found other slick methods for avoiding the upgrade? Hit us up in the comments below! We’d love to hear your Windows 11 upgrade avoidance tips and tricks.
References
- https://www.easeus.com/knowledge-center/stop-windows-11-update.html
- https://keys.direct/blogs/blog/how-to-disable-windows-11-update-permanently
How do I use teams in a virtualized environment?
Using Teams in a virtualized environment requires the following components. : The resource and connection manager to the virtualization provider, such as Azure. : The Virtual Machine (VM) stack that runs Teams. : The device that the user physically interfaces with. : The Teams desktop client app in the VM.
What is the new teams desktop client for Windows?
The new Teams desktop client for Windows has been reimagined from the ground up with performance in mind, providing a faster, simpler, and more flexible experience. The new Teams client installs and loads faster, letting you launch the app and join meetings more quickly, giving you more time to focus on the business tasks.
Can a WVD share a desktop with teams?
I have a quick question: we have a Windows Virtual Desktop Woth Teams installed. The Remote Desktop client runs on a laptop connected to two monitors. the Remote Desktop client is set to use both screens to display the content of the WVD. Within the WVD when we try to share one desktop with Teams, we can’t.
Can I use Microsoft Teams on Azure virtual desktop?
Before you can use Microsoft Teams on Azure Virtual Desktop, you’ll need to do these things: Prepare your network for Microsoft Teams. Connect to a session host running Windows 10 or 11 multi-session or Windows 10 or 11 Enterprise. Session hosts running an N or KN SKU of Windows aren’t supported.