Don’t let Microsoft interrupt your work.
Windows Update can be a pain. Rebooting for updates is one thing — but a forced reboot for updates that shut down your running applications when you’re trying to get work done? Now, that’s obnoxious.
Windows Update hit rock bottom in the early years of Windows 10. Back then, lots of people I know complained to me that Windows Update had automatically rebooted their PC and messed up their work — often to install a major update that made that reboot take an especially long time!
The good news is that Windows Update is less irritating now; whether you’ve upgraded to Windows 11 or are still using Windows 10, Windows Update has learned some restraint. The bad news is that Windows Update still reserves the right to reboot your PC when it wants to automatically install updates. If you leave your computer running overnight, Windows Update might automatically reboot it.
But there are some ways you can take control.
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Why Windows Update forces automatic reboots
Like any operating system, Windows has security vulnerabilities that need to be fixed when they’re discovered. And, even after Windows Update installs those updates, they often don’t take effect until your PC reboots, leaving it vulnerable.
Because many people ignore updates, Windows Update takes things into its own hands and reboots for you, ensuring your PC has all the latest active security patches.
Hopefully, this will become less necessary in the future. Microsoft appears to be working on “hotpatching” for Windows 11, which would let Windows install some security updates and make them take effect immediately — no reboot necessary. That’s something to look forward to.
Windows Update workaround #1: Set your active hours
The best thing you can do to prevent Windows Updates from interrupting your work (or play) is to change your PC’s “active hours.” These are the hours you generally use your computer; Windows Update won’t restart your PC during these times.
You can set up to 18 hours of the day as active hours. For example, you could set the hours of 6 a.m. to midnight as your active hours. Windows Update would then only restart automatically for updates between midnight and 6 a.m.
This works on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Changing it may not be necessary: Windows will learn when you generally use your PC and attempt to automatically set hours that make sense for you. But you can set them yourself.
To change your PC’s active hours:
- On Windows 11, open the Settings window from the Start menu, select “Windows Update,” select “Advanced options,” and then click “Active hours.”
- On Windows 10, open the Settings window, select “Update & Security,” and click “Change active hours.”
Chris Hoffman, IDG
Windows Update workaround #2: Reboot on your own schedule
Active hours aren’t the ideal solution if you need your PC to run for days on end. Perhaps you’re performing an important long-running task overnight and need to ensure Windows Update doesn’t get in the way and start rebooting things.
Personally, I like taking control of matters. I choose when to reboot for any updates. That’s why I set Windows Update to tell me when it needs an update. I will then reboot at a time that’s convenient for me.
To have Windows Update notify you before rebooting your PC:
- On Windows 11, head to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options. Ensure that “Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating” is toggled On.
- On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & security > Advanced options. Ensure that “Show a notification when your PC requires a restart to finish updating” is on.
Then, when an update is necessary — which you’ll know when you see that nagging system tray icon — you can choose to restart and update. Just use the power menu in the Start menu and select “Update and restart.”
This works hand in hand with active hours. Windows Update will not reboot during the 18 hours of the day that are your active hours. Then, if you plan on leaving your PC on overnight to perform an important task, you can choose to restart it before you step away. (That’s what I do.)
This isn’t a total escape from Windows Update’s automatic reboots. If you ignore the notification, Windows Update might automatically reboot outside of active hours. But at least you can choose to do it at a convenient time.
Chris Hoffman, IDG
Windows Update workaround #3: Stop automatic update downloads
Windows has a well-disguised way to stop Windows Update from automatically downloading and installing updates. And, if it won’t install them, it won’t automatically reboot your computer, either.
To do this, you have to set a connection as “metered.” This is what you would do if you were using a cellular data connection without much data, for example. Windows Update will respect this and won’t automatically download updates on metered networks.
To get updates, you’ll have to open the Windows Update pane in Settings and click a button to download them. To do this on either Windows 11 or Windows 10, head to Settings > Network & internet. If you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, click “Wi-Fi” and then the name of the network. If you’re connected to a wired network, click “Ethernet.” Then, toggle on the “Metered connection” or “Set as metered connection” option.
You’ll want to check this setting to ensure Windows Update respects the “metered connection” option:
- On Windows 11, head to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options and ensure “Download updates over metered connections” is set to Off.
- On Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced options and ensure “Download updates over metered connections (extra charges may apply)” is set to Off.
Be sure to visit the Windows Update settings screen and install updates regularly if you do this. You can choose to install the updates when a reboot is convenient.
Bear in mind that Windows Update will automatically download updates when it connects to a connection that isn’t marked metered. So, if you mark your home Wi-Fi connection as metered and then take your laptop to a coffee shop, it will automatically begin downloading updates when you connect it to the coffee shop’s Wi-Fi hotspot.
Chris Hoffman, IDG
Windows Update workaround #4: Pause updates (not recommended)
There’s another way to take control over updates: While Windows 11 and Windows 10 don’t offer any built-in options for turning off automatic updates, they do offer a way to pause automatic updates. You can pause updates for up to five weeks.
This isn’t something I recommend to most people, as you will be going without security updates. But it’s a way to ensure Windows won’t install any updates — and reboot — for a period of time, if you have a pressing reason to do so.
To pause updates:
- On Windows 11, head to Settings > Windows Update. Use the “Pause updates” drop-down box and select the number of weeks you want to pause updates for.
- On Windows 10, head to Settings > Update & security > Advanced options. Use the box under “Pause updates” to choose how long you want to pause updates for.
After you unpause updates, Windows Update must check for and install updates before it lets you pause again.
Chris Hoffman, IDG
Windows Update workaround #5: Configure group policy (for businesses, mostly)
If you’re using a PC managed by your employer, it may be updated on your employer’s schedule. It’s up to the IT department to configure automatic update behavior. Businesses have a number of group policy options to control just how these automatic restarts work.
If you have a Windows professional license, you can configure some of these yourself on your own PC. But you shouldn’t need to do so — the above options will let you take control.
One final word of wisdom…
However you go about handling Windows Update activity, it’s a good idea to use applications that automatically save your work so they can recover from unexpected reboots.
Luckily, this applies to most modern Windows applications. Then, if your PC suddenly has to shut down — whether due to Windows Update, a blue screen of death, or a power outage — you won’t lose any data.
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