Stay on a specific Windows version (block the next feature update) — via Microsoft Learn

Group Policy

Open gpedit.msc (Pro, Enterprise and Education only) and go to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update > Select the target Feature Update version

Registry equivalent

Double-click a .reg file and confirm to merge it. Right-click → Edit first if you want to read it, which is always a good idea with any .reg file from the internet.

Apply

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Oddbyte.Me: Stay on a specific Windows version (block the next feature update)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"ProductVersion"="Windows 11"
"TargetReleaseVersion"=dword:00000001
"TargetReleaseVersionInfo"="25H2"

Undo

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Oddbyte.Me: undo Stay on a specific Windows version (block the next feature update)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"ProductVersion"=-
"TargetReleaseVersion"=-
"TargetReleaseVersionInfo"=-

Same thing from a command prompt

Run in an administrator Command Prompt or Terminal.

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "ProductVersion" /t REG_SZ /d "Windows 11" /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "TargetReleaseVersion" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "TargetReleaseVersionInfo" /t REG_SZ /d "25H2" /f

Undo:

reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "ProductVersion" /f
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "TargetReleaseVersion" /f
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "TargetReleaseVersionInfo" /f

The example pins Windows 11 25H2, which Microsoft lists as supported for Home and Pro until 2027-10-12 (24H2 Home/Pro has already reached end of updates). On Windows 10, don't apply it as-is: a Windows 11 target can offer the upgrade. Change ProductVersion to Windows 10 and TargetReleaseVersionInfo to 22H2 first. Microsoft says that if you don't update the target before it reaches end of service, the device is updated automatically once it's 60 days past end of service, and that feature-update deferrals stop applying while this policy is set. Home edition ignores these policies.