You cannot turn off Windows updates completely: Microsoft states directly that, with any settings, updates will still have to be downloaded and installed in the end. But you can pause them for up to 35 days: in Windows 11, open Settings → Windows Update and, next to “Pause updates,” choose a date; in Windows 10, go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → Pause updates for 7 days.
Besides pausing, there are three built-in ways to make updates less intrusive: a metered connection, active hours and optional updates on demand. All steps were checked against Microsoft’s help as of October 18, 2026. Methods such as stopping a service or editing the registry are not described by Microsoft for regular users, so they are not included here.
How to turn off updates in Windows 11
Open Windows Update
Click Start → Settings → Windows Update. Here you see the update status and all the settings discussed below.
Result: The Windows Update section is open.
Pause updates
Next to “Pause updates,” choose the date when the pause ends: in the latest versions of Windows 11, click “Select date” and pick a day on the calendar; in earlier versions, choose the duration from the drop-down list.
- You can pause for up to 35 days from the current date: the calendar does not allow a later date.
- Updates that may require a restart are not downloaded or installed, and the device does not restart on its own until the pause ends. If updates were in progress at the moment of pausing, they are canceled.
- You can extend the pause: select a new date within 35 days of the current one (previously paused time is not added). You can resume updates manually at any time.
- When the pause ends, Windows will check for, download and install the latest updates on its own. If the pause limit has been used up, you must first install the latest updates, and only then pause again.
Result: Downloading and installing updates is paused until the selected date.
Set active hours and restart times
The most annoying part is usually not the installation itself but a restart at an inconvenient moment. Set the times when you work at the computer:
- Open Start → Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Active hours.
- In the drop-down list, select “Automatically” (Windows will adjust to your activity) or “Manually,” and set the start and end hours.
- To choose a specific time, go back to Windows Update and click “Schedule restart.”
Result: Automatic restarts do not interfere with work.
Turn off receiving optional updates “as soon as they are available”
In the Windows Update section, find the switch “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” and set it to “Off.” Microsoft clarifies: regardless of this switch, security updates are installed as usual. It only affects how quickly updates that are not related to security arrive: fixes, improvements and new components.
Result: Optional updates are not pushed earlier than necessary.
If your data is limited, set a metered connection
A metered connection is designed for plans that charge for data, but it also limits updates: according to Microsoft’s help, Windows Update will only download priority updates, and some updates will not be installed automatically.
- Open Settings → Network & internet.
- Select “Wi-Fi” (or “Ethernet”), then the network you are connected to.
- Turn on “Set as metered connection.”
This is not a pause: priority updates will still be downloaded. If you want the rest not to come over the metered network, do not turn on “Download updates over metered connections” under Windows Update → Advanced options.
Result: Downloading updates over this network is limited.
How to turn off updates in Windows 10
The menu names in Windows 10 are different, but the options are the same as those described in Microsoft’s single help page for Windows 11 and Windows 10. A reminder: there are no more free security updates for Windows 10 (see above), so a pause only delays what Windows Update offers you. If your computer is eligible for Windows 11, the free upgrade is described in this guide: how to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Pause updates
Open Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update. Click “Pause updates for 7 days,” or open “Advanced options” and, in the “Pause updates” section, choose a resume date from the drop-down menu. According to Microsoft’s help, while the pause is in effect, Windows does not download or install new updates, postpones those that require a restart, and does not restart the device on its own. Once the pause limit is reached, you will need to install the latest updates before pausing again.
Result: Updates are paused and postponed.
Change active hours
In the same section, click “Change active hours.” You can turn on “Automatically change active hours for this device based on activity,” or click “Change” next to the current period, choose the start and end times and save. A restart can be scheduled with the “Schedule restart” button.
Result: Restarts happen at a convenient time.
Set a metered connection
Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → your network → “Set as metered connection.” For Ethernet, the path is similar: Network & internet → Ethernet → network. The same limitation applies: priority updates are downloaded in any case.
Result: The network is marked as metered.
What each method does
| Method | What it does | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Pause | Postpones downloading and installing | Up to 35 days, then updates must be installed |
| Active hours | Keeps restarts from catching you mid-work | Does not turn off installation |
| Metered connection | Limits downloads: priority updates only | Does not block security updates |
| Optional updates switch | Postpones updates that are not related to security | Available in Windows 11; security updates keep arriving as usual |
One restart per month in Windows 11
For Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2 and 26H1, Microsoft has combined updates that require a restart: starting with updates released on July 28, 2026, driver, .NET and built-in firmware updates wait for the monthly security update and are installed together with it, so a restart is needed once a month. Where possible, the device restarts outside active hours. The feature is rolling out gradually and is not available on all devices; some updates, such as Defender signatures and emergency fixes, are installed immediately. We covered what changed in recent builds in our news on the Windows 11 update, and out-of-band fixes in an article about updates that fix Remote Desktop and audio crashes.
If it didn’t work
- Pause is unavailable or cannot be extended. The pause limit has been reached: Microsoft requires you to install the latest updates first, and then pause again. Check the end date: the calendar only shows days within 35 days.
- The metered connection switch is grayed out. Remove the data limit (Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Data usage → Remove limit), make sure you are signed in with an administrator account, or contact an IT specialist: the setting may be managed by your organization.
- Updates still download over the metered network. These are priority updates: Microsoft says a metered connection does not block them.
- Windows restarted overnight. Set active hours and schedule the restart manually. Without this, Windows will choose a time when the device is not in use on its own.
- You need to remove an installed update. Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates. Microsoft does not recommend doing this without good reason, and not all updates can be uninstalled.
Sources and methodology
Analysis of public sourcesChecked 18 October 2026
- Microsoft — Windows Update: questions and answers support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft — Pausing updates in Windows support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft — Metered connections in Windows support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft — Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025 support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft — Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) microsoft.com
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn off Windows updates completely?
No. According to Microsoft’s help, updates keep the device secure and reliable, so with any settings they will still have to be downloaded and installed in the end. Only a pause of up to 35 days is available.
How long can I pause updates?
Up to 35 days from the current date. You can extend the pause, but the new end date also cannot be more than 35 days from the current one. Once the limit is reached, you must install the latest updates and only then pause them again.
Will a metered connection stop updates?
Partly. On a metered connection, Windows Update downloads only priority updates, and some updates are not installed automatically. A metered connection does not fully stop updates.
Does Windows 10 still get updates after October 2025?
Microsoft no longer releases free security updates. The Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 version 22H2 can protect the device until October 12, 2027. Alternatively, you can upgrade to Windows 11 if the computer is eligible.
How do I stop Windows from restarting while I work?
Set active hours in Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options and, if needed, schedule a restart manually. On Windows 11 with the one-restart-per-month feature, restarts are less frequent.
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