Microsoft lets users pause updates
- Microsoft said on April 24 it is testing new Windows Update controls that let Windows 11 users keep extending update pauses, skip setup-time updates, and shut down or restart without installing pending patches. - The changes are rolling out first to Windows Insiders, and Microsoft said they follow review of 7,621 user comments complaining about badly timed updates and too little control over restarts. - Microsoft is also bundling more update types into one monthly restart, a shift from the older forced-update model that drew years of complaints. (bleepingcomputer.com)
Microsoft is testing a new Windows Update system that gives Windows 11 users more control over when updates install and when PCs restart. (bleepingcomputer.com) The changes began rolling out to Windows Insiders on April 24, and Microsoft said they were driven by two repeated complaints: updates interrupt work, and users lack control over timing. (bleepingcomputer.com) Aria Hanson of Microsoft said she reviewed 7,621 direct user comments before the company made the change. Microsoft is also adding an option during Windows 11 setup to skip updates and reach the desktop first. (bleepingcomputer.com) The biggest shift is how pauses work. Users can choose a date to pause updates for up to 35 days, then keep extending that pause again without a fixed overall limit. (bleepingcomputer.com) Microsoft is also splitting normal power commands from update actions. When updates are waiting, the Power menu will still show plain “Restart” and “Shut down,” instead of forcing “Update and restart” or “Update and shut down.” (bleepingcomputer.com) Another change is aimed at reducing repeat restarts. Microsoft said driver,.NET, and firmware updates will be coordinated with the monthly cumulative update so they can install in a single planned reboot. (bleepingcomputer.com) The company is also changing how update listings look. Windows Update will show the device type in driver titles, such as display, audio, or battery, so users can tell what hardware an update affects. (bleepingcomputer.com) Microsoft’s public support page still says standard pause periods in Windows must end with installation of the latest updates, which shows the broader policy change is still moving through testing before general release. (support.microsoft.com)
