JAWS - Disable JAWS automatic updates
Problem
A customer who does not have a current SMA would like to avoid their JAWS updating to prevent them updating to a version for which they do not have a license and therefore risk going into 40 minute demo mode.
Applies to
- JAWS
Resolution
Pleases see each method below:
- Method 1 may be best employed by domestic users.
- Method 2 may be most apropriate for IT Technicians and other professionals create installation packages for large organisations.
Method 1 - Disable auto-update via the user interface
- Click the JAWS button in the taskbar or right click the JAWS task tray icon in the notification area.
- Then choose Options > Basics.
- Then uncheck the option “Automatic notification of updates” in the Basics dialogue.
- Then click OK button to confirm the change.
- Confirm any security or UAC prompts by clicking Yes as they appear.
Method 2 - Disable auto-update by editing the Windows registry
- Open Regedit.exe and navigate to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Freedom Scientific\JAWS\[version]
Where version should be replaced by the installed year/version of the currently installed JAWS eg. 2022.
2. Then create a new REG_DWORD entry called “AllowUpdates”.
3. Double click the “AllowUpdates” entry and set a value of 0.

Note
To allow automatic update set “AllowUpdates” value to 1
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