Question How can I stop Windows from restarting to update?

[Dimitri001]

Is there some simple way that doesn't require me editing registry entries or something like that to stop Windows from automatically restarting or scheduling restarts to update itself?

 

[SkyNetRising]

You can pause updates for up to several weeks.
But after that updates will resume automatically.

 

[Tac 25]

Windows updates are important. You should not be avoiding them.

 

[Dimitri001]

Windows updates are important. You should not be avoiding them.

I am not avoiding updates, I simply don't want Windows to restart the computer when I don't want it restarted.

 

[Dimitri001]

You can pause updates for up to several weeks.
But after that updates will resume automatically.

I have no problem with updates, I just don't want Windows to restart the computer when I don't want it to.

 

[USAFRet]

I have no problem with updates, I just don't want Windows to restart the computer when I don't want it to.

So then YOU take control, and do the update on your schedule.

A reboot after a big update is inevitable. It HAS to do it.
So just do it on your schedule.

 

[Dimitri001]

So then YOU take control, and do the update on your schedule.

A reboot after a big update is inevitable. It HAS to do it.
So just do it on your schedule.

Windows downloads an update in the background, without you knowing it. You leave the house, leaving the computer on because you'll go back to work when you return, while you're out of the house, Windows restarts. It's not a matter of scheduling.

 

[USAFRet]

Windows downloads an update in the background, without you knowing it. You leave the house, leaving the computer on because you'll go back to work when you return, while you're out of the house, Windows restarts. It's not a matter of scheduling.

It does not reboot immediately after the update.

It will generally sit for several days. Little orange icon on the taskbar, notifying you that it needs to reboot.

Also, this:

 

[kerberos_20]

Windows downloads an update in the background, without you knowing it. You leave the house, leaving the computer on because you'll go back to work when you return, while you're out of the house, Windows restarts. It's not a matter of scheduling.

its matter of how you set it up

im not getting any notifications about restart is needed, windows wont restart on itw own,
since i got win 11, i had zero ( 0 ) restarts by windows updates

the only indication that some update needs restart is this

and this

 

[Bob.B]

Windows downloads an update in the background, without you knowing it. You leave the house, leaving the computer on because you'll go back to work when you return, while you're out of the house, Windows restarts. It's not a matter of scheduling.

If you pause updates windows won't update in the background.

 

[USAFRet]

Bottom line - A reboot after a major update is often required.
You can take control over when that update and/or reboot happens.

 

[hotaru.hino]

You can also set on your calendar of the second Tuesday of each month to warn you that an update is coming. Microsoft regularly schedules major security updates on those Tuesdays. Then just plan around this so whatever it is you're doing isn't going to be lost.

 

[Colif]

the reboot is necessary to update files that are essential for windows to run. They can't be updated while in use. I can see that causing problems more than solving the never shutting down issue.