The Windows 11 updates that Microsoft delivers to your computer regularly are designed to keep your operating system up to date.
You can’t completely stop updates, but you can pause them. There is also a way to turn off updates, but this is not a permanent solution. Here’s how to alter your settings if you want to hold off in case of any potential difficulties or just want to put them off as long as possible.
PAUSE UPDATES
- Select Settings from the Start menu.
- Open the Windows Update program.
- If you have any pending updates, they will be placed at the top. You may also use the Check for Updates button to see if any updates are available. You’ll be told you’re up to date if you don’t.
- A Pause updates option can be found directly below. On the right, there is a Pause for 1 Week button that will allow you to do just that.
- If you want to pause for more than a week, simply click that button again, and the stop will be extended for up to three weeks.
- If you wish to restart updates, click the button that used to say Check for Updates and change it to Resume updates. That should be clicked.
ADJUST RESTART TIMES.
- Select Advanced options from the Windows Update screen.
- Seek out Notify me when a restart is necessary to complete the update and turn it on. You’ll know if a restart is imminent, and you’ll be able to reschedule it if necessary.
- Click on Active hours just below that. Select Manually or Automatically from the drop-down option to the right of Adjust active hours. If you choose the first option, you can choose the hours when it won’t restart (for example, if this is your work computer, you can choose not to have restarts between the hours of 9 a.m and 5 p.m.). If you select the latter, the machine will restart if you leave it idle for an extended period.
DISABLE UPDATES
- Use Win+R to open the Run box and type in services.msc. Hit OK
- Scroll down to Windows Update and double-click on it.
- In the Startup type drop-down menu, select Disabled.
- Click Okay and restart your PC.