Some values hidden in the registry allow you to specify the version of Windows 10 that you want to be used on your system.
By default Windows 10 automatically installs all updates that Microsoft releases on a monthly basis (called quality updates).
The most substantial half-yearly updates ( feature updates ) for Windows 10 are not installed automatically but it is the user who must authorize their upload through Windows Update or using a tool such as the Media Creation Tool .
There is only one case in which Windows Update automatically installs the latest feature update or when the version of Windows 10 in use is approaching the end date of support .
Each version of Windows 10 is supported for 18 months from the release date . The exceptions are the Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise editions which enjoy support extended to 30 months but only for the feature updates that Microsoft releases in the fall and marked with the acronym H2 ( half 2 ).
With H1, in fact, we refer to the feature updates released in the first part of the year (in spring); with H2 those distributed in autumn.
When is Windows 10 automatically updated to the latest feature update ? When there are 60 days or less left after you retire your version of Windows 10.
How to define the version of Windows 10 to install with Group Policy
If Windows 10 usually automatically updates itself for the quality updates of each month, there is a simple procedure that with all editions of the operating system allows you to activate the download and installation of updates only on request .
However, there is a little-known Windows 10 function that allows you to determine the version of the operating system to install.
It is called TargetReleaseVersion : by specifying a version number of Windows 10 equal to the one used, the installation will never be updated to the following feature updates and will remain as it is until the support retirement date is reached.
By indicating with TargetReleaseVersion a version number higher than the one installed on the Windows 10 system, it will automatically update to the specified release as soon as it is available.
In the Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 10 (only starting with Windows 10 release 2004) you can use the Local Group Policy Editor by pressing Windows + R then typing gpedit.msc .
Here you will have to select Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Update, Windows Update for Business then double click on Select target feature update version in the right panel.
By clicking on Enabled , in the Target version for feature updates field you will need to indicate a version number taken from the Version column published in the table on this page .
In the event that the user specifies the version number corresponding to the release of Windows 10 currently installed on the machine, no changes will be made under any circumstances.
To check the version of Windows 10 installed just press Windows + R , type winver and read how far right of the Version indication .
The set rule can be disabled if necessary by selecting Not configured or Disabled .
How to decide which version of Windows 10 to upgrade with TargetReleaseVersion from command prompt
While the procedure described above involves using Group Policy, you can achieve the same result (this time starting with Windows 10 version 1803) by simply using the command prompt opened with administrator rights.
To do this, just type cmd in the Windows 10 search box and then select Run as administrator .
At this point, at the command prompt, just type the following:
reg add HKLM \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ WindowsUpdate / v TargetReleaseVersion / t REG_DWORD / d 1 / f
reg add HKLM \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ WindowsUpdate / v TargetReleaseVersionInfo / t REG_SZ / d VERSION / f
Instead of VERSION, the version number of Windows 10 that you want to be installed (or that you want to keep) on the machine in use must be indicated. Once again the version number can be taken from the Microsoft table presented above.
To completely cancel the change just write:
reg delete HKLM \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ WindowsUpdate / v TargetReleaseVersion / f
reg delete HKLM \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Windows \ WindowsUpdate / v TargetReleaseVersionInfo /
