Microsoft is rolling out changes to Windows Update that will allow users to delay automatic updates indefinitely, pausing them in 35-day increments with no limit on how many times the pause can be extended. The updates are currently available to users on the Dev and Experimental Windows Insider channels, with the announcement made on Friday, April 25, 2026.
Under the new system, users can “extend the pause end date as many times as you need,” according to Microsoft. If a user does not re-pause updates at the end of a 35-day window, updates will proceed as normal.
The changes come after Microsoft announced last month a set of planned improvements to Windows 11 aimed at addressing common user complaints, with reducing update disruptions listed as a priority.
Beyond the pause feature, Microsoft is also making several other adjustments to the update experience. Driver update listings will now include more descriptive titles identifying the device class they apply to, such as display, audio, or battery. The Windows 11 power menu will now always offer options to restart or shut down without installing updates. Users setting up a new Windows device will also have the option to skip updates during the setup process.
Microsoft is additionally consolidating how updates are delivered, grouping them together so that fewer restarts are required. Updates will download in the background and then wait for a coordinated installation and restart, rather than interrupting users at unpredictable times.
Source: The Verge