Problem with a Windows Update setting.

Topic

When I look at Windows Update under settings, the top button is greyed out and the verbiage says: This setting isn’t available due to your organization’s policy.

I have tried multiple suggestions offered on the web including this one: FIX: Some settings are managed by your organization in Windows Update. (Solved) – WinTips.org

where I have done each of the steps outlined there.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this error of mine?

Thank you,

southieguy aka Dick_Y

 

Replies

Anything listed at Windows Update, Advanced options, Configured update policies?

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southieguy

Sorry I didn’t see this earlier. For some reason I didn’t get any email notification.

southieguy

It is not an error, it is what you get when you have used Group Policy / registry edits to change WU behaviour.

This is one reason I run WuMgr to do all my update work.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

southieguy

Paul T:

It’s a catch-22 with WuMgr for me. If I run it now, with the greyed-out button that you can see on the attachment to this reply, it doesn’t show anything that I can choose or ignore.

If I click on Update Now on Windows Update, everything starts downloading and installing before I get a chance to use WuMgr on them.

For example, KB5047489 installs before I can ignore it. That mucks up my system and I have to do a backup restore to get back to where I was before the updates.

southieguy

[Moderator edit] removed attachment. If you want to post a screenshot, post the PNG directly

Why does .NET mess up your system?

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

Susan,

I’m running Ghostery 8 and that update didn’t run well with the VPN.  I forget the symptoms, but when I restored my system from before having installed the .NET update, Ghostery ran well again.

southieguy

southieguy wrote:

It’s a catch-22 with WuMgr for me. If I run it now, with the greyed-out button that you can see on the attachment to this reply, it doesn’t show anything that I can choose or ignore.

No.

In Windows Pro using GPEdit set ‘Notify=2’ so you will be notified on new updates with no download/install (you don’t need pause). Than you can run WUmgr and hide the updates you don’t want to install until you are ready…

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southieguy

Alex5723,

Once I run GPEdit.msc, where do I find what you are illustrating?

southieguy

Group Policy location:

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Alex5723, southieguy

@southieguy , there are two images in PK’s post above. If you need to see the second, lower image, better, just click on it and it’ll open in a way that will let you expand it to see the exact location better.

 

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southieguy

I’m guessing that my system must have outdated administrative templates, because I don’t have “configure automatic updates” as an option for me to work with.

southieguy

Thanks to Bob99’s suggestion, and being able to see PKCano’s outlined steps, I was able to set “notify =2”

After supper I will go back to WUMGR and see where I stand.

As always, everyone on this forum is top-notch and much appreciated.

What a way for you all to spend New Year’s Day (helping me.)

May God richly bless 2025 for all of you and everybody who hangs out here on the forums helping guys like me.

Thank you!!!!

Susan Bradley wrote:

Why does .NET mess up your system?

southieguy wrote:

Susan,

I’m running Ghostery 8 and that update didn’t run well with the VPN.  I forget the symptoms, but when I restored my system from before having installed the .NET update, Ghostery ran well again.

southieguy

@southieguy –

If you weren’t aware, Ghostery was last up to version 10, per a post on their website here, and it was released back in June of 2024. So, you may want to try updating what you have from them which might very well allow you to install that November patch for .NET 8.0 which contains security updates.

On a separate (but related) note, Ghostery announced back on December 5th that they were discontinuing the development of their dedicated browser and urged their users to download Firefox and install Ghostery as an add-on. That particular post can be found here.

If you were already aware of these developments, then I apologize for this post.

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southieguy

southieguy wrote:

After supper I will go back to WUMGR and see where I stand.

WUmgr runs Windows update. If you have a pause/metered… in Windows update WUmgr won’t find any updates.

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/60002-guide-to-using-wumgr-for-windows-10-updates/

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southieguy

Alex5723 wrote:

If you have a pause/metered…

Not so, I run metered on W10 and WuMgr works perfectly.

cheers, Paul

2 users thanked author for this post.

southieguy, Alex5723

Things seem to be working.  The greyed-out option is no longer that way. WUMgr worked for me with the latest M’Soft updates. I’ve attached a picture of my current Windows Update settings and am wondering if that’s the way it should be set.

Also, my apologies: my Mensa brain isn’t working the way it used to,  I guess. I made comments about Ghostery 8 when I should have said Cyberghost 8.

I have updated all my browsers to Ghostery 10 thanks to Bob99’s reply though.

southieguy

 

Moderator Edit: Removed .docx file. Please do not post a file that has to be downloaded to view. Make a screenshot and post it. See moderator note here.

Why does it say “Your account has the ability to upload any attachment . . .”?

[Moderator edit] removed attachment to keep your identity private. Only take a shot of the relevant window / screen section.

You may be able to upload DOCX, but we don’t want to have to download them, scan them, open them, delete them. Make everyone’s life easier by posting PNGs.

cheers, Paul

2 users thanked author for this post.

southieguy, Sueska

Thank you for protecting me from shooting myself in the foot or my brain.

 

Are you still on the insider program? That may affect your updates.

This doesn’t really answer your question, but I use WuMgr on W10 and 11 and tell it to Disable Automatic Update on the Auto Update tab.
Then I update manually using WuMgr.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

southieguy

Paul T,

Thanks for your helpful reply.

No, I am not (that I know of) on the insider program.

southieguy

I tried the FIX steps and on the 3rd one, however, I do not find an AU setting in my registry at the Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate   as the step indicates…

hmmm! Not sure what to do next.

I have same issue with greyed out control to stop updates. I had them blocked thru 1/15/25 and it downloaded and launched them while I was on lunch break. UGH! Now the control is greyed out. Would really like to regain control of this…

Anyone have a suggestion for a fix?

I tried online chat with MS and tech did not understand my problem clearly. After 45 min. I closed the chat without help I needed.

Greatly appreciate the solutions above, but not sure whether to keep going without more help.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Kelly

 

I’m a long-time WP Plus member but made the request and must have been logged out.

WSkmack wrote:

I tried the FIX steps and on the 3rd one, however, I do not find an AU setting in my registry at the Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate as the step indicates…

Step #5 of Method 3 is to delete the AU key so, if it’s not there, that step has already been performed on your system.

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WSkmack

Thanks for great tips and links. I worked back thru them, held my breath and was glad to see the control was returned to me so I won’t get updates without allowing them my permission… back in control. Great to be back in the Forums… I’ve been watching from afar and involved with other issues but the old lounge has been good to me over many years! Thanks to all!