You can pause Windows updates for up to 35 days, but you cannot cancel them permanently
Windows updates will eventually install on your machine — Microsoft does not offer a way to refuse them entirely. What you can do is delay them. On Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can pause updates for up to 35 days, giving you time to back up files, test software compatibility, or wait for reports of problems before the update reaches your computer.
If you stop pausing before those 35 days are up, the update installs when ready. If you reach day 35, Windows will install the update whether you are ready or not. This is by design: Microsoft uses mandatory updates to close security gaps that affect millions of machines.
The steps to pause updates differ slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, and your edition of Windows (Home, Pro, or Enterprise) affects what options you have.
Key Takeaways
- Windows Home edition lets you pause updates for up to 35 days through Settings, but does not let you delay them further after that period ends.
- Windows Pro and Enterprise editions can use Group Policy Editor to set longer delays or control update timing more precisely, but this requires navigating technical settings.
- Pausing updates protects you from when ready problems with a new version, but leaves your computer without security patches during the pause period.
- The Windows Update Medic Service will restart your computer to install updates if you do not do it yourself, even if you have paused them.
How to pause updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11 Home
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select the Settings app. Go to Update & Security (Windows 10) or System > Windows Update (Windows 11). Click or tap Pause updates for 7 days. You can repeat this up to five times to reach the 35-day maximum.
Each time you click pause, the counter resets to 7 days from that moment. If you pause on Monday and then pause again on Thursday, your pause period extends to 7 days from Thursday, not 7 days from Monday. This means you can stretch a pause to 35 days by clicking the button roughly every week, but you cannot set a single pause for the full 35 days at once.
When your pause period ends, Windows will read and install the update automatically. You will see a notification before the installation begins, usually giving you a few hours to save your work. If you ignore the notification, Windows will restart your computer on its own schedule, typically during off-hours.
Using Group Policy Editor for more control (Windows Pro and Enterprise only)
Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions can use Group Policy Editor to set longer delays between updates. This tool is not available in Home edition. To open it, press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update. Look for a policy called Defer Feature Updates by (days) or Defer Quality Updates by (days). You can set these to delay updates by up to 365 days. Feature updates are major version changes (like moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11); quality updates are smaller security and stability patches.
This method gives you more control than the Settings pause button, but changes take effect only after Windows checks for updates, which can take several hours. If you set a delay and then manually check for updates in Settings, the delay does not explore to that manual check — you will see the update when ready.
What happens during a pause period
While updates are paused, your computer does not receive security patches. This is the trade-off: you avoid potential problems from a new update, but you also remain exposed to known security vulnerabilities that the update would have fixed. The longer you pause, the larger this gap becomes.
Microsoft releases security patches on the second Tuesday of each month (called Patch Tuesday). If a critical vulnerability is discovered in between, Microsoft may release an emergency patch outside this schedule. These emergency patches cannot be paused — they install regardless of your pause settings.
During a pause, Windows will still read the update in the background. You will see it listed in Settings as ready to install, but it will not run until your pause period ends or you manually trigger it.
Restarting your computer to install updates
You can control when the restart happens by going to Settings and clicking Restart now before your pause period ends. This lets you choose a time when you are not working, rather than letting Windows pick a time for you.
If you do not restart manually, the Windows Update Medic Service will force a restart after a certain number of days. You will receive notifications before this happens, but the restart will occur even if you close the notifications. Restarting during a pause period does not prevent the update from installing — it just triggers the installation sooner.
Why you cannot permanently cancel Windows updates
Turning off Windows Update entirely requires disabling the Windows Update service, which is possible but creates serious security risks. Each month, Microsoft patches vulnerabilities that attackers actively exploit. Staying unpatched for months or years means your computer becomes an easier target for malware, ransomware, and data theft.
If you disable Windows Update, you also lose access to driver updates and firmware patches, which can affect hardware performance and stability. Microsoft designed mandatory updates specifically to prevent large populations of computers from running outdated, vulnerable software.
If you have a specific reason to avoid an update — a program that breaks, a hardware conflict, or a known bug — the pause method gives you time to test the update on another machine, check online forums for reported problems, or contact the software vendor for a workaround.
Checking what is in an update before it installs
Before you pause or delay an update, you can see what it contains. In Settings, go to Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history (Windows 10) or System > Windows Update > Update history (Windows 11). This shows you the KB number (Knowledge Base number) for each update.
Search for that KB number on Microsoft's support website to read the official description of what the update fixes or changes. Tech forums and Windows news sites often discuss major updates within hours of release, so you can also search for the KB number plus "problems" or "issues" to see if other users have reported trouble.
If you find a reported problem that affects you, pausing gives you time to wait for Microsoft to release a fix. If the update is purely a security patch with no reported issues, pausing is less necessary — the security benefit usually outweighs the risk of waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I uninstall an update after it installs?
Yes. Go to Settings > System > Recovery (Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Recovery (Windows 10), then select Go back or Uninstall updates. You have up to 10 days after an update installs to roll back to the previous version. After 10 days, the option disappears and you cannot uninstall it.
What if I disable the Windows Update service?
You can disable it through Services (press Windows key + R, type services.msc), but Microsoft will re-enable it automatically during the next major update or system restart. Keeping it disabled leaves your computer without security patches and is not recommended for any extended period.
Do I have to restart my computer when ready when an update is ready?
No. You can delay the restart by clicking Remind me later on the notification, but Windows will ask again after a few hours. Eventually, after several days, it will force a restart without asking. Restarting manually during a pause period does not prevent the update from installing.
Will pausing updates affect my antivirus or security software?
Pausing Windows updates does not pause antivirus updates, which come from your antivirus vendor separately. However, pausing Windows security patches does leave your operating system more vulnerable, which can make antivirus software less effective at protecting you overall.
Can I pause updates on Windows 11 Home the same way as Windows 10?
The process is similar but the menu location changed. In Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Windows Update instead of Settings > Update & Security. The pause button works the same way — you can pause for 7 days and repeat up to five times for a 35-day maximum.