How to downgrade Geforce Experience back to v2.11.40 and block the update

I finally found the best way to block the crappy GeForce Experience 3.x.x update.

Follow the steps below to block the NVIDIA GeForce Experience update feature.

Downgrade Geforce Experience to 2.11.40:

If you're still using an older version then you can skip this step

1. If you've already updated GFE to 3.x.x, access "Uninstall or change a program" dialog from Control Panel or from My Computer (Win10: This PC) and uninstall it.

2. Download and install last stable version (2.11.4.0): http://www.filehorse.com/download-nvidia-geforce-experience/26526/

Block the Geforce Experience 3.x.x update:

1. Navigate to the folder C:\ProgramData\NVIDIA Corporation\GeForce Experience\ and delete the "Update" folder

2. Download the hosts file https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_6TXpxCnMc7NkU1NVNYakxmN1k

3. Navigate to the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc and replace the hosts file. If your computer does not have hosts file, you can safety place the downloaded hosts file. (Administrator password may be required)

4. Reboot your computer

The hosts file contains "0.0.0.0 gfwsl.geforce.com" which blocks the update

How to manually add a host in hosts file:

1. Download Notepad++

2. Navigate to the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

3. Right click on hosts file and select "Edit with Notepad++"

4. Create a new line and add this host

0.0.0.0 gfwsl.geforce.com

5. Save it, but It will ask you to launch Notepad++ in Administrator mode since modifying something in system32 folder require admin access for security reason. Click "Yes". UAC will popup and click "Yes" again. (Administrator password may be required)

6. Save it one more time and the file is saved

To confirm that the update is permanently blocked, make sure that the "Update" folder is deleted. Open Geforce Experience -> Prefences and click on "Check for update". It will ask you to install. Click "Install now". If it restarts and do nothing, it means the update is blocked successfully!

Enjoy gaming!

Note: Nvidia Driver update will be blocked. You can update driver manually from http://www.geforce.com/drivers

Credit:

AndnixSH (this tutorial)

MojoHand Gaming (for telling us the path of GFE update setup)