Microsoft’s Windows 10 is out, and even though it’s free for a short time, not all of us are ready to upgrade. If you let Windows install updates automatically, you’re probably getting a prompt to upgrade to Windows 10 in your taskbar. This article shows you how to remove that prompt.

The advice in this article explains how to disable the Windows 10 upgrade message in Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, all versions. Please note that you must have administrative access to your PC (a user account with administrative privileges) in order to follow these steps.

Uninstalling Specific Windows Updates

The Windows 10 upgrade prompt was added by a Windows update. We’ll be showing screenshots for Windows 7, but the removal process is nearly identical for Windows 8 and 8.1.

First, access the Control Panel.

Windows 7: click the Start orb in the lower left corner of your screen and then click the Control Panel item along the right side.

Windows 8 and 8.1: bring up Windows Search by pressing the Windows key and the S key simultaneously; type control panelin the box, and finally click on the Control Panel item in the list.

Once you have opened the Control Panel, change the View bydrop-down in the upper right to Category. Then under the Programs section, click Uninstall a program. This will take you to the Add/Remove Programswindow.

On the left, click View installed updates. It take a while to load the screen that follows.

Once the list of updates is showing, scroll down to the Microsoft Windows section. What you’re looking for is a specific update called: Update for Windows 7 for x64 based systems (KB3035583). There be some variance in the name if you’re using Windows 8 and/or have an x86-based system (e.g. Update for Windows 8.1 for x86 based systems (KB3035583); however, the important part to look for is the update ID, KB3035583. Once you locate the update, right-click it and then click Uninstall. This should take less than a few minutes.

After your computer is finished uninstalling the update, you’ll be prompted to restart your computer – do so. After the restart, the Windows 10 upgrade prompt will have disappeared from your taskbar.

Conclusion

Although Microsoft is offering Windows 10 for free – for a limited time, at least – not all of us on Windows 7 or 8 and 8.1 are ready and willing to upgrade. That doesn’t prevent Microsoft from nagging you to do so, however. Fortunately, it’s relatively simple to remove this prompt by uninstalling a specific Windows update, KB3035583, which we showed you how to do in the article.