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To remove the user-facing Pause updates control from managed Windows devices, configure an Intune Windows Update ring with Option to pause Windows updates set to Disable. The policy blocks users from pausing updates, but it does not disable Windows Update, force an immediate installation, or remove an administrator’s ability to pause an update ring.
What this Intune policy changes
Users can normally pause Windows updates temporarily from Settings. In a business environment, unrestricted pauses can create patch-compliance gaps, delay security fixes, produce inconsistent device baselines, and conflict with deployment schedules.
The Intune setting removes that user capability. Windows Update continues to follow the device’s other policies, including deferrals, deadlines, deployment rings, safeguard holds, restart behavior, and administrator actions.
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Quick reference
| Item | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Intune policy | Windows Update ring or Settings Catalog profile |
| Setting | Option to pause Windows updates |
| Required value | Disable |
| Policy CSP | Update/SetDisablePauseUXAccess |
| OMA-URI | ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/SetDisablePauseUXAccess |
| Scope | Device |
| Documented minimum | Windows 10 version 1809 |
| Documented editions | Pro, Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and IoT Enterprise LTSC |
These requirements and values are documented in Microsoft’s Update Policy CSP documentation. Windows Home is not included in the documented supported-edition list.
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Prerequisites and terminology
- The device must be enrolled and actively checking in to Microsoft Intune.
- Assign the policy to a device group rather than relying on a user assignment; this is a device-scoped setting.
- Confirm the Windows edition and version are supported.
- Identify existing update rings, Settings Catalog profiles, Group Policy objects, security baselines, Configuration Manager workloads, or other MDM policies that configure Windows Update.
- Use a pilot device group before broad deployment.
Microsoft’s current documentation generally calls the broader capability Windows Update client policies. “Windows Update for Business” remains a common historical and search term for this management model. See Microsoft’s terminology and policy overview at Windows Update client policies.
Method 1: Configure an Intune update ring
An update ring is the preferred method when your organization already uses Intune to manage Windows Update behavior.
- Sign in to the Microsoft Intune admin center.
- Go to Devices → By platform → Windows.
- Select Manage updates → Windows updates.
- Open the Update rings tab.
- Select Create profile, or open an existing ring.
- Complete the ring’s basic update settings.
- In User experience settings, find Option to pause Windows updates.
- Set the option to Disable.
- Continue through scope tags and assignments.
- Assign the ring to a pilot device group, select Review + create, and then select Create. For an existing ring, select Save.
Microsoft documents this navigation and recommends device-group assignments in Manage Windows update rings. Tenant interfaces can change labels or placement over time.
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Use a Settings Catalog profile when the pause restriction must be managed separately from the organization’s update-ring configuration, or when you want to group it with other Windows policy settings.
- In the Intune admin center, create a new Windows 10 and later Settings Catalog profile.
- Search for the Windows Update setting named Option to pause Windows updates or the corresponding policy name.
- Configure it as Disable.
- Assign the profile to a device pilot group, validate status, and then expand deployment.
Do not configure the same setting inconsistently in an update ring and one or more configuration profiles. Microsoft’s update-ring setting reference is available at Windows update ring settings.
Advanced method: Custom OMA-URI
A custom profile is useful if the native control is unavailable in your tenant or if you need direct Policy CSP configuration. It is more error-prone and less maintainable than the native setting.
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| OMA-URI | ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/SetDisablePauseUXAccess |
| Data type | Integer |
| Value | 1 |
Value 1 enables the restriction. Value 0 is the default disabled or not-configured state. The CSP is device-only; Microsoft documents user scope as unsupported. Refer to the Policy CSP entry before deploying a custom profile.
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What users should experience
After the device receives and processes the policy, the normal Pause updates control should be absent, unavailable, or restricted in Windows Update. The exact Settings layout varies between Windows 10 and Windows 11 releases.
Other notifications and controls can remain visible unless separate policies configure them. The policy affects every user operating the targeted device because enforcement is device-based.
Do not confuse this setting with disabling Windows Update
| Control | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Option to pause Windows updates = Disable | Removes the user’s ability to pause updates. |
| Option to check for Windows updates | Controls user access to the Windows Update scan experience and maps to Update/SetDisableUXWUAccess. |
| Update deadlines and deferrals | Set when updates are offered, required, or enforced. |
| Administrator pause | Lets an Intune administrator pause feature or quality updates for an assigned ring. |
Setting SetDisableUXWUAccess is much broader: Microsoft describes it as removing access to scanning, downloading, and installing updates. It is not the correct choice when the requirement is only to block pausing. See the SetDisableUXWUAccess documentation.
User pause versus administrator pause
User pause
The user selects the pause command in Windows Update. SetDisablePauseUXAccess removes this command.
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An Intune administrator can still pause feature or quality updates for an assigned update ring. Microsoft documents a maximum administrator pause period of 35 days, after which the pause expires and the device scans for applicable updates. Blocking the user control does not resume an administrator-imposed pause. Ring pause and resume actions are documented in Manage Windows update rings.
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Validate deployment
Check Intune
- Confirm the device is enrolled, active, and a member of the assigned device group.
- Check that no exclusion group removes the device from scope.
- Review the ring’s device assignment status and per-setting status.
- Look for another profile or management system configuring the same Windows Update policy.
Check the device
- Trigger a manual Intune sync from Windows Settings or the Company Portal.
- Allow time for the normal MDM check-in and policy processing.
- Open Settings → Windows Update.
- Verify that the pause control is absent or unavailable.
- If it remains available, collect MDM diagnostic logs and confirm the edition, build, assignment, and policy conflicts.
Policy delivery is asynchronous, so the control may remain visible immediately after the profile is created.
Common failure causes
Conflicting Windows Update policies
Multiple update rings, Settings Catalog profiles, Administrative Templates, Group Policy, security baselines, Configuration Manager co-management, or another MDM can produce conflicting settings or confusing status reports. Inventory all applied policies before changing configuration.
Wrong CSP setting
Using SetDisableUXWUAccess instead of SetDisablePauseUXAccess targets the broader Windows Update user experience and can remove access beyond the pause command.
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The documented policy support begins with Windows 10 version 1809 and covers Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions, including IoT Enterprise LTSC. Do not assume Windows Home supports it.
User-targeted assignment
The CSP is device-scoped. Assigning it only to users may not produce the intended result.
Local Group Policy override
Hybrid and co-managed devices can receive the equivalent policy from Active Directory. The Group Policy path is Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Windows Update → Manage end user experience → Remove access to “Pause updates” feature.
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Operational design and exceptions
Removing user pause access improves consistency, but it does not guarantee that devices are patched. Failed installations, connectivity problems, safeguard holds, pending restarts, unsupported builds, and devices that have not checked in can still delay updates.
Pair the restriction with pilot and production rings, appropriate feature-update deferrals, quality-update deadlines, maintenance-window planning, update-compliance reporting, and a documented exception process. Microsoft documents feature-update deferrals of up to 365 days, quality-update deferrals of up to 30 days, and pauses of up to 35 days as separate Windows Update client policy controls at Windows Update client policies.
Developers, laboratory systems, medical or manufacturing equipment, and other devices with validated maintenance windows may need an exception rather than a blanket restriction. Keep temporary administrator pause capability available for incident response.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Alternatives and licensing considerations
Group Policy
Domain-joined, on-premises fleets can use the equivalent Group Policy setting without introducing cloud management. Intune is preferable when you need cloud assignment, staged deployment, and per-device reporting.
Configuration Manager co-management
Organizations with existing Configuration Manager infrastructure can use co-management while shifting Windows Update workloads toward Intune. Microsoft documents this model at Integrate Windows Update for Business with Configuration Manager.
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Intune provides cloud-based device management, update rings, configuration profiles, compliance controls, and reporting. Review current licensing details at Microsoft Intune and Intune pricing; prices and license bundles can change.
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Other UEM products may support the same Windows Policy CSP. Evaluate whether a platform supports device-scoped integer policies, staged deployment, per-device reporting, conflict detection, and current Windows 10/11 enterprise editions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this policy disable Windows Update?
No. It only removes the user’s Pause updates control. Scanning, downloading, installation, deadlines, deferrals, and administrator actions remain governed by their separate policies.
Can an Intune administrator still pause updates?
Yes. Administrator pause actions for an update ring are separate from the user-facing control and can last up to 35 days before expiring.
Does it work on Windows Home?
Windows Home is not included in Microsoft’s documented supported editions for this CSP, so do not assume compatibility.
Is this a user or device policy?
It is device-scoped. Assign it to device groups for predictable enforcement.
Why is the Pause option still visible?
Allow time for an Intune check-in, then verify assignment, per-setting status, supported edition, and conflicts from other rings, profiles, Group Policy, or management systems.
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