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To reduce inconvenient Windows Update restarts in Windows 11, set Active hours and schedule a restart when Windows offers that option. Windows’ Do Not Disturb setting can hide general notification banners, but Microsoft does not document it as a switch for disabling Windows Update restart notices. Updates can be paused temporarily, not stopped permanently through the consumer controls covered here.
Set Active hours to avoid inconvenient automatic restarts
Active hours tell Windows when you usually use your PC, helping it avoid restarting at those times. Microsoft’s documented path is Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Active hours. Microsoft’s Active hours guidance offers two modes:
- Automatically: Windows adjusts the hours based on device activity. This suits a routine that varies or when you prefer not to set a schedule yourself.
- Manually: Choose the start and end times that cover your usual PC use. This gives you more predictable control when your schedule is consistent.
Active hours reduce the chance of an inconvenient automatic restart; they do not disable updates or guarantee that Windows will never need to restart.
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Active hours set your regular usage window. Scheduling is a separate choice for an update that already needs a restart. Open Settings > Windows Update and select Schedule the restart if Windows displays that option, then choose a convenient time. Microsoft says Windows tries to restart when the device is not in use and asks you to schedule a suitable time if it cannot do so. See Microsoft’s Windows Update FAQ.
Use Do Not Disturb for general notification banners
To reduce general pop-up banners, go to Settings > System > Notifications and configure Do Not Disturb. It can route notifications to Notification Center instead of showing banners. Microsoft’s guidance covers Windows notifications generally, not a dedicated control for Windows Update restart notices; don’t rely on Do Not Disturb to turn those notices off. Microsoft explains Notifications and Do Not Disturb.
What the 2026 restart change does—and does not do
In guidance published August 14, 2026, Microsoft says that, starting with Windows updates released on or after July 28, 2026, some restart-requiring driver, .NET, and firmware updates are being brought together with the monthly security update so they share a restart. The feature is rolling out gradually, so it may not be available on every device. Read Microsoft’s explanation of the restart change.
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Microsoft lists updates that may still install as soon as they are available: Defender security intelligence updates, AI component updates, critical or expedited driver updates, and emergency or out-of-band updates. The change therefore does not mean every device will have only one restart or that all restart notices will disappear.
Pause updates temporarily, not permanently
Microsoft says Windows updates cannot be stopped entirely through the documented consumer controls because they help keep devices safe and secure. You can pause updates temporarily in Windows Update, but Windows requires you to install the latest updates before pausing again after reaching the pause limit. In the restart-change guidance published August 14, 2026, Microsoft describes a pause of up to 35 days for the update experience covered there; after the pause, Windows checks for and installs the latest updates. The exact pause experience may depend on the device and update experience. Microsoft’s FAQ covers pausing, and its 2026 guidance explains the 35-day limit.
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Why some PCs update without restarting
Some eligible Windows 11 devices may receive hotpatch security updates that take effect without a restart. Eligibility is limited; for a managed work device, an organization’s IT department normally decides whether it is enrolled. Hotpatching is not a general user setting for disabling restart notices. Microsoft describes hotpatch updates and eligibility.
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