To keep your system protected and running smoothly, Windows 11 provides you with the latest security updates and patches to help secure and enhance your machines’ performance. These updates and patches provide security improvements, help your device run efficiently, and stay protected while you go about your business. Windows 11 will always want to restart your computer after every update. It will try to restart your device when you’re not using it or when in an idle state. If Windows can’t find a time to restart automatically, it will prompt you to restart or schedule a time to do so. If you can’t restart anytime soon, you can temporarily pause the update. Then resume when you have time to do so. You cannot pause or stop updates entirely which will make your system insecure. You can only temporarily postpone it, and when the pause limit is reached, you’ll have to install all pending updates before postponing another update. To get started with pausing Windows updates, use the steps below:
Pause or Postpone Windows 11 updates
Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane. To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below: Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it. Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Windows Updates, and select Pause updates on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below. You will be able to pause updates for update 5 weeks. However, some updates, like Microsoft Defender definition updates will continue to be installed. After you pause Windows updates, you should see a similar screen as shown below. Windows will not receive new updates until updated resumes.
Resume Windows updates
If Windows updates are paused and you want to resume, reverse the steps above. Click on Start ==> Settings ==> Windows Updates ==> Resume updates. That should do it! Conclusion: This post showed you how to pause or resume updates for Windows 11. If you find any errors above, please use the comment form below to report.
