How to Prevent Automatic Restarts After Windows Updates
Introduction
Windows updates are essential for maintaining system security and performance, but unexpected automatic restarts can be problematic. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent these interruptions and take control of when your system restarts.
Methods to prevent automatic restarts
There are several methods to prevent automatic restarts after Windows updates. Here are some effective ways to manage this issue:
Windows Settings
You can adjust settings related to update notifications and restarts. You can also set active hours to avoid restarts during your working hours.
Got to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Notify me when a restart is required.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Change Active Hours.
Use Group Policy Editor
For Windows Pro and Enterprise users, the Group Policy Editor provides a way to disable automatic restarts:
- Press Win + R, type
gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. - Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience.
- Enable the policy Configure Automatic Updates.
- Choose the option 2 - Notify for download and notify for install. This setting will notify you about updates but won’t install them automatically.
Modify the Registry
If you’re using Windows Home, you can achieve similar results by editing the registry:
- Press Win + R, type
regedit, and hit Enter. - Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU. - Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named
AUOptionsand set its value to decimal3.
Pause Updates
You can temporarily pause updates to prevent automatic restarts:
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Pause Updates.
- Select the duration for which you want to pause updates (up to 5 weeks).
Disable Update Services
For advanced users, disabling the Windows Update service can prevent automatic restarts:
- Press Win + R, type
services.msc, and hit Enter. - Locate Windows Update, right-click, and select Stop.
- Set the startup type to Disabled to prevent the service from running.
Third-Party Tools
There are tools like StopUpdates10 [3] or Windows Update Blocker [4] that can help manage updates and prevent automatic restarts.
Conclusion
You can prevent automatic restarts using various methods including built-in settings, group policies, registry edits, or third-party tools. By implementing these methods, you can ensure that Windows updates don’t interrupt your work.