How to Manage Windows 10 Notification and Upgrade Options

Qualified computers and devices that are deployed in your organization and that are running Windows 7 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro are eligible for the free Windows 10 upgrade offer and will be able to upgrade through Windows Update. (This offer is not available to customers who are using Enterprise or Embedded editions of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.) This article describes the notification and upgrade options, and it explains how you can manage these options.

Regardless of current disqualifying criteria, administrators who want to prevent Windows 7, Windows 7 for Embedded Systems, Windows 8.1, and Windows Embedded 8.1 Pro clients from upgrading should enable the policy settings.

Computer Configuration To Block Upgrade

To block the upgrade by using Computer Configuration, follow these steps:

  • Click Computer Configuration.
  • Click Policies.
  • Click Administrative Templates.
  • Click Windows Components.
  • Click Windows Update.
  • Double-click Turn off the upgrade to the latest version of Windows through Windows Update.
  • Click Enable.


Policy path: Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Windows Update Policy
Setting: Turn off the upgrade to the latest version of Windows through Windows Update

Windows registry
Important Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.

To block the upgrade to Windows 10 through Windows Update, specify the following registry value:

Subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUp date
DWORD value: DisableOSUpgrade = 1


Hide the Get Windows 10 App (Notification Area Icon)

Windows Registry
Important Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.

For non-Enterprise versions of Windows, the notification icon can be suppressed through the Windows registry. To do this, set the following registry value:

Subkey: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Gwx
DWORD value: DisableGwx = 1

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