Block upgrade in Windows 7/8.1 Pro/Ultimate/Enterprise

1.     Open gpedit.msc with administrative rights.

2.     Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.

3.     Find Turn off the upgrade to the latest version of Windows through Windows Update and double-click it.

4.     In the window that opens mark Activate and click OK.

This should prevent downloading the upgrade to Windows 10 in the form of a Windows update. The entry is present only if updates preparing for upgrade are installed.

Block upgrade in Windows 7 Home/8.1 Core

In the home- und core-editions of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, resp., there is no Local Group Policy Editor. Here the Registry editor is needed..

1.     Run the Registry Editor as administrator.

2.     Navigate to the following branch: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

3.     In the key WindowsUpdate add the DWORD value (32 Bit) DisableOSUpgrade and set it to 1.

This also blocks the download of Windows 10.

Eliminate the Get Windows 10-App

If the updates that prepare for Windows 10 are installed, the symbol to the left appears in the task field. It remains to get rid of that, too, which can be achieved with the Registry Editor.

     1.     Start the Registry Editor as administrator.

     2.     Navigate to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade

     3.     In the key OSUpgrade, change the DWORD value (32 Bit) ReservationsAllowed from 2 to 0.

If the key and the value are not there, the respective upgrades are not installed.

Addition: There is another way to block GWX. In the Registry, go to

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\

and add the subkey Gwx. Add the DWORD entry DisableGwx in the subkey and set it to 1. After restarting Windows, the upgrade symbol will have disappeared.

Here is a script to block Windows 10 upgrade offer.

Addon 2: Try the following to establish registry entries with a reg file that block Windows 10:

1.     Close all open applications.

2.     Press the Windows-Key + R.

3.     Enter notepad and click OK.

4.     Copy the following in Notepad:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\GWX]
„DisableGWX“=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
„DisableOSUpgrade“=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade]
„AllowOSUpgrade“=dword:00000000
„ReservationsAllowed“=dword:00000000

5.     Save as Upgrade.reg.

6.     Run Upgrade.reg with a double-click. Confirm with Yes and then OK.

7.     Restart your computer.

  8.     Test its behavior.