To delay Windows 11 updates for a chosen period, go to Start > Settings > Windows Update, select Pick a date under Pause updates, and choose an available date. Microsoft currently allows a pause of up to 35 days. If you mainly want to avoid a restart during work, set active hours instead; if Windows offers a scheduled restart, choose a time that suits you.
Pause Windows 11 updates until a chosen date
- Open Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- On the Pause updates control, select Pick a date.
- Choose an end date from the calendar. The available dates are limited to the supported pause period.
Microsoft documents a maximum pause of up to 35 days from the current date. The pause is temporary: when it ends, Windows checks for, downloads, and installs the latest available updates. You can also resume updates manually before the selected date. Microsoft’s Pause updates in Windows guidance explains the setting.
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Choose the right control for your situation
| Option | What it controls | Duration or timing | What happens next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pause updates | Temporarily delays updates that might require a restart. | Choose an available end date, up to 35 days from the current date. | Windows checks for, downloads, and installs the latest available updates after the pause ends. |
| Active hours | Helps prevent update restarts while you usually use the device; it does not pause updates. | Use automatic adjustment based on device activity or set hours manually. | Windows can schedule a restart outside the hours you set or the device determines. |
| Schedule the restart | Sets a convenient time for a restart when Windows offers this option. | Select a time in Windows Update. | The device restarts at the selected time to finish installing updates. |
Keep update restarts away from working hours
If updates can install but you do not want a restart during your usual day, open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Active hours. Choose automatic adjustment based on device activity or set the hours yourself. Active hours manage restart timing; they are not a way to stop updates from downloading or installing. See Microsoft’s active hours guidance.
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Schedule a restart when Windows offers it
If Windows Update presents a restart scheduling option, open Settings > Windows Update > Schedule the restart and choose a convenient time. This is separate from pausing: it arranges when the restart happens rather than deferring updates until a later date. The option and its wording may vary as Windows features roll out. Microsoft’s Windows Update FAQ describes the scheduling path.
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What a pause does—and does not do
A pause temporarily delays updates that may require a restart and prevents Windows from automatically restarting to finish installing those updates until the pause ends. It does not permanently disable automatic updates. Microsoft says updates cannot be stopped entirely: they will eventually need to be downloaded and installed to help keep the device secure. Microsoft’s pause guidance and its FAQ explain those limits.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Recent restart changes are still rolling out
Microsoft’s August 14, 2026 article describes a monthly combined-restart experience for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1. The experience is rolling out gradually, so it may not be available on every device. In that experience, driver, .NET, and firmware updates may be combined with the monthly security update for a shared restart. Microsoft says some Defender security intelligence, AI component, critical or expedited driver, and emergency or out-of-band updates continue to install as soon as available. These details describe that rollout, not a behavior guaranteed on every Windows 11 PC. The article also confirms that updates cannot be held indefinitely. Microsoft’s One restart a month for Windows updates article has the rollout details.
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