Top 3 Ways to Get Rid of the Annoying 'Get Windows 10' Prompt

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 09 May 2016

At the time of writing this, more than 300 million people have switched to Windows 10, either by upgrading from their existing OS to Windows 10, or by purchasing a new device that runs Windows 10 out of the box.

While there are several advantages to adopting Windows 10, there are several disadvantages as well. And because of that, you’ve chosen not to switch to Windows 10 and stay with your current Windows edition.

That being said, you’re rather annoyed with Microsoft pushing its newest operating system on you. The 'Get Windows 10' prompt is starting to get on your nerves and you want to get rid of it. Here are 3 ways to do that.

1. Stay away from update KB3035583

As you might already know, I don’t like it when apps automatically update themselves – and I don’t like Windows Update running on its own either. I’ve set it so that Windows Update will check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them.



By doing so, I was able to stay away from KB3035583, the update that installs 'Get Windows 10' (GWX) on your system. Once installed, GWX will show up every time you boot your PC and nag you to upgrade to Windows 10. Like this.



If you haven’t installed KB3035583 yet, make sure to stay away from it. If you already installed it, you should uninstall it. You can do that from Windows Update -> Installed Updates -> right click and select Uninstall.



Mind you, once you uninstall KB3035583, Windows Update might offer it again. Stay away from it and make sure you do not install it on your system!


2. Use a "blocker" application

Microsoft annoyed a lot of people with its GWX app and Get Windows 10 prompt. It’s no wonder then that 3rd party developers came up with what I call "blocker" applications. These are custom-made applications that block or remove the Get Windows 10 prompt.

Such as these three:
  • I Don’t Want Windows 10 – a graphical uninstaller for the "Get Windows 10" update.
  • Never10 – an easy to use utility which gives users control over whether their system will upgrade to Windows 10 or not.
  • GWX Control Panel (formerly GWX Stopper) – a free tool that can remove and disable the "Get Windows 10" notification area icon and perform a few other tasks as well.



3. Wait it out, GWX will be gone soon

Windows 10 hit general availability last summer, on July 29, 2015 to be more precise. Come July 29, 2019, Windows 10 will celebrate its first anniversary – which is good news for all the 300 million people who switched to Windows 10 and its good news for all the other millions of people who did not adopt Windows 10.

On Windows 10’s 1-year anniversary, Microsoft will release the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. It is a major update that will come with plenty of exciting new features.

Also on Windows 10’s 1-year anniversary, Microsoft will pull the free upgrade offer, meaning you will no longer be able to upgrade to Window 10 for free (which you didn’t want to do anyway). On the bright side, Microsoft pulling the free upgrade offer means that the Get Windows 10 app will be discontinued.

"Details are still being finalized, but on July 29th the Get Windows 10 app that facilitates the easy upgrade to Windows 10 will be disabled and eventually removed from PCs worldwide," said Microsoft in a statement for WinBeta. “Just as it took time to ramp up and roll out the Get Windows 10 app, it will take time to ramp it down."

So if you endured GWX so far, try to endure it a bit more. It will be disabled after Windows 10's first anniversary on July 29, 2016..





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