Stop Windows 10 Download in 3 Steps

Many PC users weren't very happy going from earlier versions of Windows to Windows 8 (especially Windows 7 users). And even though version 8.1 was an improvement over 8, many still went back to Windows 7.

But it also seems that a few people weren't very impressed with Windows 10 either, especially if they had older, but incompatible programs they couldn't use with Win 10 — and/or if they preferred the traditional Windows desktop and interface.

At PC Advisor, their poll (posted on 10/19/15) shows that most people (as of 12/14/15) aren't planning to upgrade to Windows 10. The screenshot below shows the before-and-after results when I voted (after 9,183 other users had already voted).

Make Windows 10 Stop Downloading the Easy Way

This post is for those with Windows 7 or a version of Windows 8 operating system on your PC who has a free (but annoying) Windows 10 upgrade icon running in your system tray:

Through AUTOMATIC UPDATES, Microsoft (unbeknown to me) had downloaded 6.1 gigabytes of Windows 10 files into a hidden folder on my computer for later installation if/or when I had decided to upgrade from my current operating system. After reading several articles, I learned that this seems to be a common occurrence.

But for those with limited space on your hard drive, I'm assuming this could also screw up your "system restore" — because I've noticed with earlier versions of Windows (XP, etc.) if you use up too much space on your hard drive, it erases your system restore points. So you if you have a major problem with your system (and want to restore your computer to an earlier point in time), this could be a big nightmare. I first noticed this with an older computer I once had when I had a lot less space on my hard drive and worked with huge video files.

So if you haven't already downloaded these Windows 10 upgrade files (or want to remove them), and/or if you want to remove the icon in your system tray and prevent any automatic installations of Windows 10 on your computer, I found these articles at PD Advisor and How to Geek about a small program that monitors this unwanted behavior and gives you several different options.

If you want a really simple and easy way to get rid of the “Get Windows 10” icon and stop your PC from downloading Windows 10, you can download a little piece of freeware called GWX Control Panel from a developer named Josh Mayfield.

You can download the stand alone version (only 4.25 megabytes) or download an installer for the program (I used the stand alone version). Version 1.6.0.1 (the latest version that I'm using, with possible newer versions being released in the future) can be found here at his website with a user guide here and a FAQs page here. He also posted two video tutorials at YouTube here and here.

But it's so simple to use, even a caveman can to do:

• STEP ONE: Just download it and run the program.
• STEP TWO: Then click the “Disable Get Windows 10 App (permanently remove icon)” button — and then click the “Disable Operating System Upgrades in Windows Update” button (And no, this doesn't disable regular automatic updates for your operating system).
• STEP THREE: After that, when prompted, reboot your computer. EASY PEASY!

It's also suggested you periodically run this program (because with Microsoft, one never knows what's up their sleeve). I downloaded the stand alone version to my desktop for simplicity and easy access. Overall, this solution seems to work for most users — and if I ever have a problem, I'll will post my own update to this post.

(* NOTE: If you have any questions, please don't contact me, contact the developer with a comment at his website — but feel free to leave a comment here for other readers.)

See the before-and-after screenshots of the GWX Control Panel below. Click to enlarge for more detail. As you can see, after you run the program, just click once on the buttons where the two read arrows are pointing. I chose not to delete the Windows 10 files because I have more than enough space on my hard drive, and I didn't see the point of downloading them again if I ever decide to upgrade to version 10 at a later date.

If after a year, if Windows 10 is no longer free to install anymore, I'll just buy a copy if I ever decide that I want to upgrade — hopefully with most of the bugs ironed out. According to Microsoft, extended support for Windows 7 doesn't end until January 14, 2020 — and January 10, 2023 for Windows 8. See Microsoft's website for FAQ for Window 10 upgrades and for system requirements.

(* NOTE: The regular Windows update that updates with the Windows 10 upgrades is KB3035583 — but from all I've read, uninstalling this is not a good solution — and if you're not sure what you're doing, manually editing the registry can be risky too. I do not guarantee the program "GWX Control Panel" — or take any responsibility for it. This post is only FYI. Read the reader's comments and replies at his website for more info. Use this program at your own risk, just like I did. See my blog's disclaimer. But so far, for me, it works just fine. I'll only update this post if I ever have a problem with this program.)