Last Updated on March 10, 2026
As you probably know, Microsoft has been updating Windows 11 on a regular basis, whether we like it or not. One problem with these forced Windows updates is that sometimes they can cause end users problems and may still need to have some bugs worked out of them.
There is a method you can use to prevent Windows from upgrading to the latest feature update build until it’s actually mandatory. Microsoft will push out these updates via Windows Update when they are first available but most of the time you have the option to ignore them until they are forced upon you. In this article, we will be showing you how to prevent the Windows 24H2 update (or other updates) from being installed on your computer.
1. Identify the Windows Update Icon
When you look at your taskbar and see the Windows Update double arrow icon with a small blue dot, that means there is an optional update currently available for your machine. When that specific dot turns yellow, that indicates a strictly required update is pending installation. It can also mean that your computer desperately needs to be restarted after some routine background updates were actually applied to the system.
2. Check Your Windows Update Settings
When you navigate directly to the Windows Update settings menu, you will clearly see what updates are currently ready to be installed. This list includes any optional feature updates such as the 24H2 or later builds. Once the feature update becomes mandatory from Microsoft, it will then get installed just like any other standard security patch. If you are not paying close attention and choose to manually apply all the updates shown, you might easily end up applying the massive feature update before you are truly ready.
3. Download the Custom Registry Files
To successfully prevent the 24H2 or other newer feature updates from being applied, we will be using a very simple registry edit. Keep in mind this trick can only be used for major feature updates and will absolutely not block other types of routine security patches. To apply this registry change quickly, we have provided a custom registry file for you that you can simply import into your computer. You can easily download the required zip file containing these specific registry files right here. We also have an article explaining how to pause Windows Updates for longer than 5 weeks, if you want to block Windows Updates altogether.
4. Review the Registry File Contents
We also have another handy registry file included in that zip folder that can be used to permanently remove the block so your feature updates will continue as normal. For your own peace of mind, here are the exact contents of the primary registry file used to prevent the updates from being installed on your computer. You can review the code block below to see exactly what rules are being applied.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
“ProductVersion”=”Windows 11”
“TargetReleaseVersion”=dword:00000001
“TargetReleaseVersionInfo”=”23H2”
5. Review the Reversal Script
If you ever decide to manually upgrade your system in the future, you will want to know exactly how the reversal script functions. Here are the exact contents of the secondary registry file that completely reverses the blocking process. This specific script basically just deletes the custom TargetRelease rules we just created.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
“ProductVersion”=-
“TargetReleaseVersion”=-
“TargetReleaseVersionInfo”=-
6. Extract and Run the Registry Edit
To actively apply the registry change to your system, all you need to do is completely extract the Keep 23H2.reg file from the downloaded zip file. Double click that specific file to immediately run the script. Do not be too concerned with the actual name of the file if 23H2 is not the exact version you are currently trying to stay on.
7. Edit the Target Version Manually
If you need to strictly change the feature version you are trying to prevent from being installed, you will need to tweak the file first. Right click the registry file and edit it in a basic text app such as Notepad. Simply change the specific “TargetReleaseVersionInfo”=”23H2” string to whichever exact version you want to stay at, such as 24H2 or 25H2.
8. Approve the Security Prompts
Once you are completely ready to import the file, double click it to trigger the system security warnings. You will need to click on the Yes button at the initial UAC prompt to authorize the action. Then click Yes again at the secondary warning prompt telling you that the information will be
9. Confirm the Successful Import
After agreeing to the final warning, a small dialogue box will appear on your desktop screen. Simply click the OK button telling you that the system import was successful. Now when you go to your main Windows update settings screen, it should confidently allow you to install regular security updates while preventing the massive feature update from being pushed onto your computer.
10. Modify the Blocked Version via Regedit
If you ever need to quickly update the exact feature build of Windows that you want to block in the future, you can easily open the registry editor directly. Type regedit in the Windows taskbar search box and hit enter to launch the tool. Then you can paste the exact text string below right into the top address bar to be taken to the proper location in the registry.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
11. Change the Target Release Version Info
Once you are looking at the correct registry folder, you will see your custom rules listed on the right side of the screen. You can double click directly on the TargetReleaseVersionInfo entry to open its properties window. Change the value data field to the brand new version of Windows that you want to actively prevent from installing via Windows Update.
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