Update & Upgrade Problems

How to Prevent Microsoft Office Updates from Changing Settings

John Wilson Sep 25, 2026 874 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to stop Microsoft 365 or Office updates from automatically modifying software preferences or causing peripheral issues like printing anomalies.

How to Prevent Microsoft Office Updates from Changing Settings

Product: Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Users notice that their personal preferences, scaling, or printing configurations are altered after automatic software updates are applied.
Observed behavior: Office applications update automatically, which sometimes unexpectedly alters user settings, while printing outputs may suddenly exhibit incorrect scaling or borders.

Before you start

Disabling automatic Office updates will prevent you from receiving important security patches and software stability improvements. Consider checking your printer and system configurations before fully turning off these updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Automatic Updates in Microsoft Office

Turn off the automatic update feature directly within any Office application to prevent future unprompted changes to your settings and behavior.

By disabling automatic updates, you force Microsoft Office to remain on its current version. This ensures that your customized settings, interface layout, and specific behaviors remain exactly as you configured them without interference from new patches.

Navigate to Account Settings

Launch any Microsoft Office application, such as Word or Excel. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, then select 'Account' from the left-hand menu. If you are using Outlook, select 'Office Account' instead.

Open Update Options

On the Account page, locate the 'Product Information' section on the right side. Click on the 'Update Options' drop-down button located next to the Office Updates section.

Disable Updates

Click 'Disable Updates' from the drop-down menu. You may be prompted by Windows User Account Control to confirm this action; click 'Yes' to finalize the setting.

Disable Automatic Updates in Microsoft Office

Security Warning: Turning off automatic updates is generally not recommended by Microsoft, as it leaves your office suite vulnerable to security threats and prevents you from receiving new feature enhancements.

Solution 2

Troubleshoot Scaling and Printer Driver Settings

Since many formatting, scaling, and border changes are actually caused by Windows or printer drivers rather than Office itself, verifying these settings can resolve the underlying problem.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Stable and Consistent Experience

If frequent Microsoft Office updates are disrupting your workflow and changing your preferred settings, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, user-friendly environment where you maintain full control over your workspace without unexpected configuration resets.

1. Download the Installer: Navigate to the official WPS website and click on the 'Download WPS Office Free' button to get the setup file.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up the software on your computer.
3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and easily open all your existing Microsoft Office documents to continue working without losing your formatting.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats.Offers a stable working environment that won't randomly reset your custom settings.Lightweight installation that uses minimal system resources and runs smoothly.Free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate tabbed user interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Office settings change after an automatic update?

During major updates, Microsoft often introduces new features, interface modifications, or security patches that may reset certain default configurations to standardize the user experience across all devices.

Does disabling Microsoft Office updates also stop Windows updates?

No. Office updates and Windows cumulative updates are handled by separate systems. Disabling Office updates will not stop Windows OS components, like File Explorer or system drivers, from updating.

How can I fix printing issues without turning off my software updates?

Printing anomalies are usually tied to Windows configurations or printer drivers. Check your Print Preview settings under File > Print, review your Windows update history, and ensure your specific printer drivers are fully up to date.

Installation & Activation