If the Windows upgrade has begun, whether it can be stopped depends on the current stage. 1. If it is in the download stage, you can try to end the "Windows Update" or "BITS" process through the Task Manager and pause the update in the settings; 2. If the installation has started but has not restarted, you can uninstall the latest update through the control panel; 3. If the upgrade enters deep installation, forcibly interrupted may cause system damage, so it is recommended to avoid it; 4. To prevent future automatic upgrades, you can use the Group Policy Editor, set it to traffic billing mode, or pause the update function. Overall, the risk of stopping mid-time upgrades is high, and planned delays should be preferred to ensure system stability.

If your Windows is currently upgrading and you want to stop it, the bad news is that once the upgrade process has passed certain points, stopping or canceling it becomes risky or even impossible. But if you're still early in the process — like during the download or initial setup phase — there are a few things you can try.

Stopping the Upgrade During Download

If Windows is still downloading the update files (you might see a progress bar or percentage), you have a decent chance of stopping it without causing system issues.

• Open Task Manager (Ctrl Shift Esc)
• Look for “Windows Update” or “Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)” processes
• Right-click and choose End Task
• Then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
• Click on “Pause updates” or “Check for updates” to potentially cancel the pending download

Keep in mind, though, that if the download is already complete, this method won't remove the files that are queued up for installation.

If Installation Has Already Started

Once the actual installation begins — where the system starts configuring updates and may prompt for a restart — stopping the upgrade gets tricky. At this point, the system is modifying core files.

• Do not force shut down your PC unless you're absolutely sure it's stuck
• Avoid manually interrupting unless you know what you're doing — it can lead to boot problems or corrupted system files
• If you haven't yet restarted your machine after the update started, you might still be able to uninstall recent updates via Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > View installed updates

This is usually only an option if the upgrade hasn't completed more than 50–60%.

Preventing Future Upgrades

If you just want to avoid automatic upgrades from starting again, here are a few practical steps:

• Use the Group Policy Editor (for Pro versions) to disable automatic updates
• Or set your internet connection as metered under Network Settings to block background downloads
• You can also pause updates for up to 35 days in Windows 10/11 via Settings > Windows Update

Note: These don't permanently stop updates — they just give you more control over when they happen.

At the end of the day, once a Windows upgrade is deep into installation, stopping it isn't safe or straightforward. It's better to let it finish or plan ahead to delay it using the tools available.

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