Windows 10 Tip: Get the Creators Update on Your Own Schedule

Windows 10 Tip: Get the Creators Update on Your Own Schedule

This week, Microsoft began advertising how you can get the Windows 10 Creators Update as quickly as possible. But what if you wish to hold off a bit?

Oh good, a new ad!

As I noted earlier today, there are great reasons to take a wait-and-see approach with the Creators Update: The previous major Windows 10 upgrade, called the Anniversary Update, was an unmitigated disaster. And given that history, it probably makes sense to let the rest of the world play the role of guinea pig and delay the Creators Update until we’ll all sure that it is working properly.

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There are three basic approaches to accepting the Creators Update.

As with previous upgrades, Microsoft will of course ration out the release in stages, using “known-good” PC configurations first. These are PC configurations for which Microsoft has a high degree of confidence, thanks to telemetry data collected from Windows Insiders. Over time, that list of known-good configurations will of course expand as more and more people out in the real world install the Creators Update and expand Microsoft’s understanding of what works and what doesn’t. If this goes as planned, the upgrade will go out to more and more people over a few months then be completely deployed.

The second approach, which I don’t recommend for anyone other than very technical people, is to get the Creators Update as soon as possible. Those people are almost certainly on the Windows Insider program’s Fast ring right now, meaning that they have already installed build 15058, which is rightfully considered a Release Candidate for the final, shipping product. But once Creators Update is completed, anyone will be able to indicate to Microsoft that they want the upgrade as soon as possible: You will see a pop-up notification in Windows 10 when that’s possible, and will be asked to review your privacy settings so the install can proceed.

And then there’s the third approach, which I recommend to most people. You should seriously consider delaying upgrading to the Creators Update. If you can do so, that is.

Those running Windows 10 Pro can defer major Windows 10 upgrades—which Microsoft calls feature updates—for up to four months. You cannot defer monthly cumulative updates or security updates: This option applies only to upgrades.

To do so, open Settings (WINKEY + I) and navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update and then select the link “Advanced options.” Here, select the option “Defer feature updates.”

Note: As a superset of Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise also provides this option, but of course users of that system are bound by corporate policy and will receive updates at the whim of their system administrators.

There are other ways to defer upgrades for longer periods of time, but that’s overkill: Four months is plenty of time to determine whether the Creators Update is stable and reliable enough for your PC.

But what about those running Windows 10 Home?

As it turns out, Windows 10 Home does not include the ability to defer updates. So you’ll need to get a bit creative.

Note: If you’re not sure what Windows 10 product edition you’re using, type WINKEY + X to open the Quick Access menu—no, it’s not called the “power user menu”—and choose System from the list. In the System control panel that appears, you will see the product edition listed under “Windows edition.”

The obvious approach is to configure your network as a metered connection, which will indicate to Microsoft that it should not deliver updates because you are ostensibly paying for your bandwidth. (You can imagine that the ~4 GB needed to install the Creators Update could rack up some big bills for users such connections.)

This workaround isn’t ideal for two reasons.

First, it only works with Wi-Fi by default: If your PC is connected to the Internet via Ethernet, you cannot configure it as a metered connection. You can find the (complicated) workaround to this on Microsoft’s support forums.

Worse, you won’t get security updates either. But you should be OK for a month or two, and if you are serious about delaying the Creators Update, this workaround will do the trick.

To configure your network connection as a metered connection, open Settings (WINKEY + I) and navigate to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Then, select your currently-connected network. On the page that appears, change the option “Set as metered connection” to On.

Don’t be a statistic: You can manage the risk of installing the Creators Update on your own schedule, Microsoft and its silly forced updating policies be damned.

 

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Conversation 28 comments

  • SherlockHolmes

    Premium Member
    15 March, 2017 - 9:57 am

    <p>Using the Current Branch for Business option can delay Upgrades for 180 days. In group policy you csn turn on that option and name how long you want to delay the upgrade.</p>

  • madthinus

    Premium Member
    15 March, 2017 - 10:00 am

    <p>It should not be this hard…</p>

    • Narg

      15 March, 2017 - 12:08 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#90619"><em>In reply to madthinus:</em></a></blockquote><p>seems pretty easy to me…</p>

  • kenhes

    15 March, 2017 - 10:15 am

    <p>"Worse, you won’t get security updates either. But you should be OK for a month or two, and if you are serious about delaying the Creators Update, this workaround will do the trick."</p><p>I think I'd prefer to get the update than do this. At least they'll only roll out the update to known working configurations.</p>

  • canamrotax

    Premium Member
    15 March, 2017 - 10:17 am

    <p>I fix computers for a living! (Throws himself on the grenade)</p>

  • MattHewitt

    Premium Member
    15 March, 2017 - 10:31 am

    <p>At least they fixed the meter connection on Ethernet issue in the Creators Update. That means when Redstone 3 rolls out people won't have to use the use the workaround…</p><p><br></p><p>Progress. Insert golf clap.</p>

    • PeteB

      15 March, 2017 - 12:45 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#90630">In reply to MattHewitt:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Nevermind that P2P updating shouldn't be defaulted On in the first place, it should be opt-in. Defaults matter. </p><p>Problem is that the ability to set connection to metered only helps people that know it exists. Most users wouldn't since it's not obvious. </p>

  • Darmok N Jalad

    15 March, 2017 - 10:32 am

    <p>So basically forced updates are bad because the major updates can't be trusted to install correctly. And that the only short term fix is to be on Pro or to disable all updates. Either way, you still eventually have to trust that the update won't break your system, as you can't defer forever. Time might also be your enemy if MS adjusts the install process based on feedback and it doesn't go according to plan. About the only thing I don't understand is the claim that Windows 10 is an excellent OS, as every article is about how to make it less annoying. </p>

    • david.thunderbird

      15 March, 2017 - 10:54 am

      <blockquote><a href="#90631"><em>In reply to Darmok N Jalad:</em></a><em> When it works you just smile, when it annoys ya then you write articles…</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

    • PeteB

      15 March, 2017 - 12:53 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#90631">In reply to Darmok N Jalad:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'm sure there's a point in there somewhere and you really believe people rushing into a beta update is a good idea, but you can't go wrong by waiting. There's nothing compelling feature-wise in this update anyway. Unless you consider ads a feature. </p>

    • lwetzel

      Premium Member
      15 March, 2017 - 7:48 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#90631"><em>In reply to Darmok N Jalad:</em></a></blockquote><p>Now days it seems the only new is bad news.&nbsp; Seldom does good news make it.&nbsp; </p>

  • david.thunderbird

    15 March, 2017 - 10:33 am

    <p>I have 50 to do, is it available as ISO? (no I'm not going to do at once just DL once) I'm looking in all the wrong places if it is out there.</p>

    • Dan1986ist

      Premium Member
      15 March, 2017 - 10:56 am

      <blockquote><a href="#90632"><em>In reply to david.thunderbird:</em></a></blockquote><p>After Version 1703 ships the Media Creation Tool will be updated like it was with Version 1607 (14393.x) so people like yourself can make an iso or USB drive of the latest Windows 10 version for installation purposes.</p>

      • david.thunderbird

        15 March, 2017 - 11:30 am

        <blockquote><a href="#90644"><em>In reply to Dan1986ist:</em></a><em>Ya it just dawned on me that it wasn't let go yet, duh. Slow this morning.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

      • DrDrTed

        15 March, 2017 - 6:03 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#90644">In reply to Dan1986ist:</a></em></blockquote><p>is there a way to d/l the media creation tool (MCT) for 1511 as well as 1607. then when 1703 comes out, I'll hope to be able to download all 3: MCTs for 1511, 1607, and 1703.</p><p>thanks in advance</p><p><br></p><p>For now, I'm downloading current MCT for 1607 and creating install media (I'm lucky as I only need x64 for Prof version)</p>

    • Narg

      15 March, 2017 - 12:08 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#90632"><em>In reply to david.thunderbird:</em></a></blockquote><p>Once it's released you should find it on the media creation tool.&nbsp; But, if you set the "get updates from local computers" thing in the updates, it will go fast enough and use very little external bandwidth.</p>

    • BinBinLives

      15 March, 2017 - 4:37 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#90632">In reply to david.thunderbird:</a></em></blockquote><p>Why would you rush 50 PC's into a potentially trainwreck update before seeing if there are the kinds of disastrous issues of previous milestone updates? I'd give it a few months. There's nothing feature-wise in this update for businesses anyway (or consumers, for that matter).</p><p>Maybe you don't care about your job.</p>

    • Birraque

      26 March, 2017 - 10:43 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#90632"><em>In reply to david.thunderbird:</em></a></blockquote><p>Try Windows 10 (1703) Upgrade Assistant https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RW1t9R</p&gt;

  • davidblouin

    15 March, 2017 - 10:53 am

    <p>As more and more people do this, Microsoft's already less than stellar upgrade process will be less and less reliable</p>

    • Narg

      15 March, 2017 - 12:08 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#90642"><em>In reply to davidblouin:</em></a></blockquote><p>From the fast ring, I can say the updates are getting much more reliable.</p>

      • davidblouin

        15 March, 2017 - 1:02 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#90684"><em>In reply to Narg:</em></a></blockquote><p>Do you test fast ring update on your primary day to day pc with all your devices connected to it ?</p>

        • RickEveleigh

          Premium Member
          15 March, 2017 - 6:35 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#90705"><em>In reply to davidblouin:</em></a></blockquote><p>yes I run the latest insider build on my only PC and my only phone. And yes I'm an IT pro. Only had two problems in the last 18 months, both fixed in the next build. Both were due to graphics drivers.</p>

        • JudaZuk

          16 March, 2017 - 4:22 am

          <blockquote><a href="#90705"><em>In reply to davidblouin:</em></a></blockquote><p>&nbsp;- I run Windows 10 fast ring on all my devices,&nbsp;including my work laptop and my main PC at home.&nbsp;(And Xbox&nbsp;and my 950XL)&nbsp;and I must say there have been hardly any issues for me the past year at all.&nbsp;Only issue I had recently was that the Groove Music app refused to start, but&nbsp;one update later, and it worked again . and once Bash stopped working so I had to reinstall that, but that was fast and easy</p><p><br></p><p>I have not been forced to do a full reinstall&nbsp;of my computers even once because of any issue .&nbsp;The builds at least for me are very stable overall&nbsp;</p><p><br></p>

  • davidsmi

    Premium Member
    15 March, 2017 - 2:49 pm

    <p>I think pushing out for 4 months the update is more of a problem than taking the update. Of course most of your users will take the update early – maybe not a good idea either!</p>

  • cfourkays

    15 March, 2017 - 4:37 pm

    <p>Paul,</p><p>My Advanced options has a lot more in it then your picture. Choice between Currant Branch and Currant Branch for Business.</p><p>You also have that can be delayed:</p><p>"A feature update ..". with a number of days indicator</p><p>and</p><p>"A quality update…</p><p><br></p><p>and a "Pause…" for up to 7 days with a switch.</p><p><br></p><p>Version 1703 (OS Build 15058.0)</p><p><br></p>

  • John Scott

    23 March, 2017 - 11:18 am

    <p>No question it will have bugs. Nothing is perfect, have yet to have any OS release come out perfect at the start. Given the sketchy history of Microsoft and monthly updates. I don't have much confidence in their major build releases. I just don't see the got to have it now feature in Creator that cannot wait a few months to upgrade. </p>

  • Doug

    03 April, 2017 - 10:39 am

    <p>my slow ring machine got 15063 yesterday 4/2. it downloaded in the background and asked for a restart. all went smoothly as it had 14363(?) before.</p>

  • BLeduc

    Premium Member
    05 April, 2017 - 6:32 pm

    <p>I had to roll back to the anniversary update. The new Bluetooth code was very spotty for me, where the Surface Bluetooth keyboard and mouse were unusable. So I will definitely be delaying this update. </p>

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