Microsoft has officially released Windows 11 26H2, but not all users are eager to upgrade. A new version of Windows can sometimes bring incompatibilities or bugs, and users satisfied with their current installation may want to wait a few weeks before switching. Fortunately, it’s possible to delay or even block the installation of this latest version without sacrificing security updates.
Delaying Windows Update
On Windows 11 Home, the most effective method is to slow down the pace of Windows Update without cutting off essential updates. To do this, go to Settings > Windows Update and disable the option to receive the latest updates as soon as they’re available.
This setting tells Microsoft that the PC should receive the latest Windows updates, which now include 26H2. By reverting to the default configuration, the automatic distribution of the update is delayed, while still benefiting from security patches.
To gain more time, it’s also possible to suspend updates until a preferred date. In Settings > Windows Update, click on Suspend updates, then select a date in the calendar. The pause can last up to 35 days from the current date, but it can be renewed later, within the same duration limit.
Windows 11 26H2 will then wait for the desired time, along with all other updates managed by Windows Update, including security patches. This method is practical for gaining a few days or weeks, but less suitable for resisting several months.
Blocking Windows 11 26H2
To block Windows 11 26H2 in a more durable way without penalizing other updates, it’s necessary to modify the Registry. Although not officially supported on Windows 11 Home, this method is supported on Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. It involves setting the target version of the operating system, such as 25H2, in Windows Update, so the system continues to receive corrections intended for that edition without trying to download the next one.
Before making any changes, it’s a good idea to save the Registry. Type regedit in the Windows search, open the Registry Editor, select Computer at the top of the tree structure, then go to File > Export. Choose a location for the save, verify that All is selected in the Export range section, and then save the .reg file. It can be reimported from File > Import in case of problems.
It’s also possible to create a restore point before proceeding. Simply type Create a restore point in the Windows search, open the corresponding result, and then click on Create in the System Protection tab.
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Once these precautions are taken, open regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate. If the WindowsUpdate key does not appear, right-click on Windows, select New > Key, and name it WindowsUpdate.
In the right-hand area, right-click in an empty space, then choose New > String value. Name it ProductVersion, double-click on it, and enter Windows 11 in the Value data field. Create a DWORD (32-bit) value named TargetReleaseVersion and assign it the value 1. Finally, add a second string value called TargetReleaseVersionInfo and enter the version of Windows you want to keep, for example, 25H2.
Using Group Policy Editor
On Windows 11 Pro, it’s not necessary to intervene in the Registry. The same option is directly accessible in the Local Group Policy Editor, allowing you to choose the version of Windows to keep without manually modifying system keys.
Type gpedit.msc in the Windows search, then go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update. Open Select the target feature update version, activate the policy, and indicate Windows 11 in the product field and 25H2, for example, in the target version field.
Once the modification is applied, Windows Update will continue to distribute corrections intended for the chosen version without proposing 26H2. If you change your mind, simply revert the policy to Not configured.
The same policy exists on Enterprise and Education editions, which are generally managed at the organizational level.
Users still on Windows 11 24H2 should avoid staying anchored to this version. On Home and Pro editions, its support will end on October 13, 2026, and security updates will cease with it.