14 DAY TRIAL // Forced Windows 10 updates aren’t entirely a new concept, and most users found out this is really a thing back in the days when this operating system was available as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.1 devices.
But while Microsoft promised never to embrace forced updates again in the future, a recent company release makes some believe there’s a chance it could happen one more time with Windows 10 version 1809, also known as the October 2018 Update.
Microsoft rolled out a silent update to KB4023814 on December 24, and by the looks of things, the purpose of this update is to push Windows 10 version 1809 to some devices.
How to block a potential update
It’s all possible through the Windows Update Assistant, which is enabled by this update precisely on the systems where it is installed.
“If you're currently running Windows 10 version 1507, version 1511, version 1607, version 1703 or version 1709, your computer detects the Windows 10 Update Assistant automatically. Then, you can expect to receive a notification that states that your device must have the latest security updates installed and then initiates an attempt to update your device,” Microsoft explains on the official KB page.
While forced updates are something that many people are worried about because they could affect their productivity and workflow, Microsoft itself actually offers a very easy way to remove the Update Assistant and thus make sure that version 1809 isn’t installed unless you specifically choose to do it.
All you need to do is to launch an elevated Command Prompt window and then type the following command:
C:\Windows10Upgrade\Windows10UpgraderApp.exe /ForceUninstall
Beginning this month, Windows 10 version 1809 is available for all users who manually check for updates in Windows Update. The automatic rollout to devices across the world continues, and your system would be offered the update once it is considered to be fully compatible.