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If Windows Update is restarting your PC while you play, set Active hours to cover your usual gaming time: open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Active hours, then choose automatic or manual hours. This reduces update interruptions; it does not permanently disable updates or prevent every kind of restart.
Set Active hours to cover your gaming time
Active hours tell Windows when you are likely to be using the PC, helping it avoid restarting for updates during those hours. Microsoft’s guide explains the setting in Keep your PC up to date with active hours.
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- Open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Active hours.
- Choose Automatically if you want Windows to adjust the hours based on device activity. Choose Manually if your gaming schedule is predictable.
- If you chose Manually, set a start and end time that include your regular gaming sessions.
Active hours reduce the chance of an update restart interrupting play, but they are not a permanent update block. Windows updates still need to be installed eventually, as Microsoft explains in its Windows Update FAQ.
If an update is already waiting for a restart
Open Settings > Windows Update and check the update status. If Windows offers a restart schedule, choose a time when you are not playing. If you need more time, you can temporarily pause updates from that page; the available controls may vary by version and device policy.
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Scheduling is the better choice when you can install the update soon. Pausing can buy time, but it does not stop updates indefinitely. Microsoft says updates eventually need to be downloaded and installed in its Windows Update FAQ.
Choose the right setting for the interruption
| Option | Best for | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Active hours | A variable play schedule | Lets Windows adjust active hours based on device activity. |
| Manual Active hours | A regular play schedule | Lets you specify hours when Windows should avoid an update restart. |
| Schedule restart | An update that is already waiting | Moves the restart to a time you choose, when the option is available. |
| Pause updates | A short-term need to defer an update | Temporarily delays updates; it is not a permanent way to stop them. |
| Do Not Disturb | Notification banners distracting you during play | Suppresses notifications; it does not control update restarts. |
Quiet game-time notifications separately
If the interruption is a notification rather than a restart, go to Settings > System > Notifications > Turn on do not disturb automatically. Windows can turn on Do Not Disturb while you are playing a game or using a full-screen app. This hides notification interruptions; it does not prevent Windows from scheduling or carrying out an update restart. See Microsoft’s guide to notifications and Do Not Disturb in Windows.
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If the PC restarts suddenly without an update notice
Active hours only address update-related restart timing. If Windows restarts abruptly when no update was pending, note any stop code or error message on screen. A sudden restart may be an unexpected system failure rather than an update, and possible causes include hardware, drivers, or software. Follow Microsoft’s steps for troubleshooting unexpected restarts and stop code errors instead of relying on Active hours.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What to know about Windows’ monthly restart changes
In a support article published August 14, 2026, Microsoft said updates released on or after July 28, 2026 are being combined for one monthly restart on Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. The described change brings driver, .NET, and firmware updates into the monthly security-update restart, while some critical or emergency updates may still install as soon as available. Microsoft says the feature is rolling out gradually, so it may not be available on every eligible PC. Details are in One restart a month for Windows updates.
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