To temporarily delay Windows 11 updates, open Start > Settings > Windows Update and choose a pause length or end date beside Pause updates. Microsoft currently allows a pause of up to 35 days from the current date. If you want updates to continue but need to avoid an inconvenient restart, set Active hours or schedule a pending restart instead.
Pause Windows 11 updates temporarily
- Open Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- Beside Pause updates, choose one of the offered durations or select Pick a date if that option is shown.
- To end the pause early, return to Settings > Windows Update and select the option to resume updates. Windows will check for available updates and may download and install them.
- If you need another pause after the current one ends, choose a new end date. Each pause can extend only up to 35 days from the date you set it; previously paused days do not stack onto the new period.
Pausing is a temporary delay, not a permanent way to turn off automatic updates. Microsoft says Windows does not download or install new updates that may require a restart during the pause, and automatic restarts to complete those updates wait until the pause ends. Updates already in progress are canceled when the pause begins. When the pause expires, Windows checks for updates again, and available updates may download and install. Microsoft’s pause guidance states: “This doesn’t permanently turn off automatic updates.”
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Choose a restart time without pausing updates
If you want updates to keep arriving but do not want an automatic restart during your usual work or gaming hours, use Active hours:
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- Choose automatic adjustment or set the hours manually to match when you typically use the PC.
Active hours help Windows avoid automatically restarting during the time you are active; they do not pause update downloads or installations. If Windows has finished preparing an update and is asking for a restart, choose Schedule the restart when offered and select a convenient time. Windows tries to restart when the device is not in use and may prompt you to schedule it if it cannot find a suitable time. Microsoft explains Active hours and its Windows Update FAQ covers restart scheduling.
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What pausing means for a feature upgrade
Windows feature updates add functionality and capabilities and can also include fixes or security updates. Quality updates arrive more frequently and mainly provide smaller fixes and security updates. The Pause updates control delays updates generally rather than blocking only a particular feature upgrade.
For consumer and non-managed business devices, Microsoft says a feature update may be offered automatically as the installed Windows version approaches the end of servicing. A pause can defer that update temporarily, but the FAQ says updates eventually need to be installed. It is not a permanent block on moving to a supported version. Microsoft’s FAQ explains the feature- and quality-update distinction.
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Do not confuse early-update preference with pausing
The Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available setting is an opt-in to receive the latest offered non-security updates, fixes, improvements, and enhancements sooner. It is not a pause control; Microsoft says you can turn the preference off if you do not want to prioritize early availability. See Microsoft’s explanation of the setting.
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| Control | Use it when | What it changes | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pause updates | You need a temporary window without update-related interruptions. | Delays updates and associated restarts. | Up to 35 days from the current date; updates resume afterward. |
| Active hours or Schedule the restart | You want updates to continue but need to protect work time or pick a restart time. | Reduces automatic restarts during active hours or lets you choose a time for a pending restart. | Does not pause update downloading or installation as a whole. |
A version-dependent note on Windows 11 restarts
Microsoft’s article published August 14, 2026, says a combined-update experience begins for updates released on and after July 28, 2026, on Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. Under that experience, certain driver, .NET, and firmware updates that require a restart are grouped with the monthly security update to reduce restart occasions. Microsoft describes the rollout as gradual, so it may not be available on every device.
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The article also says Microsoft Defender security intelligence updates, AI component updates, critical or expedited driver updates, and emergency or out-of-band updates can still install as available. This is a version- and rollout-dependent change, not a guarantee that every Windows 11 PC will have only one restart a month. See Microsoft’s combined-update details.
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