No one would like their interface to change, especially when you have just begun getting used to a new Microsoft product. This is one of the reasons why users normally wish to turn off automatic updates for the Office suite. Let us walk you through the different ways you can turn off automatic updates for Microsoft Office 2021.

Why Turn Off Automatic Office Updates How to Disable Microsoft Office 2021 Automatic Updates Through Office Apps Through Windows Settings Using Group Policy Download and Install Administrative Templates (admx) for Microsoft Office Disable Microsoft Office Automatic Updates using Group Policy Through Windows Registry By Disabling Windows Update Entirely Closing Words

Why Turn Off Automatic Office Updates

As we already mentioned, one of the reasons for switching off automatic updates for Office is the changing interface and functionality of the Office tools. However, Microsoft recommends keeping all your software, including apps, drivers, and other tools, up to date. But that is not always a good thing. Another reason you may want to disable these updates is because of the bugs that accompany them. Although new updates often bring new features and patch up security vulnerabilities, they can occasionally be glitchy. If they are, Microsoft could take several weeks before a bug is identified and fixed. If your Office products are functioning as they should, you can switch off automatic updates to prevent them from being faulty. Although you may want to disable automatic updates, you should keep installing new Office updates from time to time.

How to Disable Microsoft Office 2021 Automatic Updates

Through Office Apps

The most conventional and convenient way to disable automatic updates for Office 2021 is through one of the tools itself, like Word, Excel, etc. Disabling automatic updates through one app automatically disables them for the entire suite. Here is how: Automatic updates for all Office 2021 products will now be disabled. You can confirm this by returning to the Account page of any Office product and seeing “This product will not be updated” written under Office Updates. To revert changes, simply expand the Update Options drop-down menu and click Enable updates.

Through Windows Settings

Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 allow you to control whether you receive updates for other Microsoft products through Windows Updates. Microsoft Office is one of these products. By default, this option is enabled. However, it can be disabled so you do not receive automatic updates anymore. Follow the steps below to disable automatic updates for Microsoft Office 2021 through the Settings app: Please note that we are using Windows 11 to take screenshots but this method applies to both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Office updates, along with other Microsoft updates, with the exception of Windows updates, are now disabled. If you want to re-enable them, simply turn the slider back into the On position.

Using Group Policy

Another way to control automatic Office 2021 updates is through Group Policy. By default, neither Windows 11 nor 10 gives you the option to manage Microsoft Office directly from the Group Policy Editor. However, the relevant options can be added by downloading and installing Administrative Templates (admx) for Microsoft Office products. We have categorized this section into two parts so it is easier for you to follow through with the procedure:

Download and Install Administrative Templates (admx) for Microsoft Office

Administrative Templates add a new set of policies through Windows Registry, which allows a system administrator to centrally control the devices on an Active Directory (AD). Using these new policies, we can disable automatic updates for Microsoft Office. You have now successfully installed Administrative Templates for Microsoft Office. Continue down to the next phase to disable Office updates using these templates.

Disable Microsoft Office Automatic Updates using Group Policy

Automatic updates will now be turned off for all Office products. You can confirm this by navigating to the Account page in any Office app and seeing the “This product will not be updated” written under Office Updates. Note that making changes to automatic updates through the Office app will no longer take effect as long as the Group Policy is configured and will now take precedence. To enable automatic updates for the Office suite, return to the Enable Automatic Updates Group Policy Object and select the Not Configured radio button. This will give control to the Office apps for automatic updates.

Through Windows Registry

Misconfiguration of critical values in the system’s registry could be fatal for your operating system. Therefore, we insist that you create a system restore point before proceeding forward with the process. This will help you restore your OS in case any issues are discovered or fail entirely. The same can be achieved through Windows Registry. If you are using the Home edition of Windows, then this method would be more suitable as it does not have the Group Policy Editor installed. Learn how to enable Group Policy Editor in Windows 11 Home or Windows 10 Home. Follow the steps below to disable Office 2021 automatic updates using the Registry Editor: As soon as you reboot, you will see that automatic updates for Office will be disabled and you will no longer have control over how to activate it with an Office app. If you want to re-enable automatic updates, return to the OfficeUpdate key with the Registry Editor and change the value data for EnableAutomaticUpdates to 1 and then restart the computer. However, if you want to control automatic updates through the Office apps only, delete the EnableAutomaticUpdates value using the Registry Editor.

By Disabling Windows Update Entirely

One way to disable Microsoft Office 2021 automatic updates is by completely disabling Windows updates. This is not the recommended method, but gets the job done nonetheless. We have separate methods to disable Windows Updates for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Click on the respective link below to learn how: Disable automatic updates for Windows 10 Disable automatic updates for Windows 11

Closing Words

We noticed that enabling Metered Connection for different internet connections also stops Microsoft Office updates from being installed. However, we did not add this method to our list, because a Metered Connection needs to be enabled for each Wi-Fi and Ethernet connection. Therefore, if you unknowingly connect to a new network, the chances are that Office updates will start downloading and installing in the background. However, we suggest that you resume Office updates when it is no longer required to disable them. This is because Office updates not only bring new features, but also install security patches, significantly reducing the risk of hackers exploiting threats.