Disable Windows 10 automatic restart after updates

Incredible.. I've been using windows all my life, and I've always been annoyed by the auto-restart.

But can't take it any more - when your workload is the worst, that's when you got most apps open with some WIP. I do save and have auto-save work enabled everywhere, but I'm tired of opening my laptop the next day just to realise my work is gone.

I have win pro and did set up the group policy as per the second comment in this thread, but either I missed some setting somewhere or an update decided to change it back for me, but I got no strength to fight it any more, won't even bother looking.

By not addressing this issue for years, MS is showing us they obviously have no intention in changing this policy. This means windows can not be used for work, it's just not fit to be used in a professional setting for me.

So after years of using windows at home, in my business, promoting it to others, I give up. I'm switching to Linux.. such a shame

Hours of softwares, reference pages, and documentation open to track and fix an issue in the code but then, Windows restart out of nowhere purging all the workplace I had set up for the third time in few weeks.

Auto-update during start or shut-down is an outdated practice so now it must be done while people are using it! That's modern UX design for you.

"Show a notification when your PC requires a restart to finish updating" doesn't help. I had it enabled and it just auto restarted again. I hope one of the hacky solutions posted here works for me.

I don't get why an absurd feature such as automatic restarts passed. I'm sure even casual users find it annoying. I guess Windows is no longer suitable for complex work or any other lengthy activity.

So the best "official" solution appears to be this:

1. Use (or upgrade to) Windows 10 Pro.
2. Set the group policy settings, per the second comment in this thread.

The rest of us who are stuck with Windows 10 Home must try the various workaround solutions provided in this thread.

Setting your operating hours is a worthless solution, and the person who suggested that should hang their head in shame and never again post in this group. That might work for a corporate PC, but I use my PC at all times of the day with no regular pattern. Plus, you're only allowed to block off a maximum of 18 hours, which is unrealistic.

As far as I can tell, the only official solution is to enable the "Show a notification when your PC requires a restart to finish updating" in the advanced settings. But for some reason this option was disabled for me. I know for certain that I never disabled it, so Windows must have done that.

Alternatively, if you know you're going to be doing something that cannot be interrupted, you can pause updates for up to 35 days. This is not, however, a viable permanent solution.

And finally, I remember reading somewhere that Windows would not automatically restart if you were busy using the computer. This appears to no longer be the case. I was playing an online game the other day, when Windows decided to do an automatic restart. I had no warning. One moment I'm playing my game, the next I see a screen with "Restarting" in the middle.

I find it somewhat mind boggling that Microsoft decided to implement automatic restarts the way it has. Someone, somewhere, thinks this is a good idea. Whoever you are, know that you've made life more difficult for a lot of people.

Hello my name is Bradford and I'm an Independent Advisor for the Microsoft Community and I will try to resolve your problem.

1. Click on the “Start” button and type

gpedit.msc

press Enter.

2. In the Local Group Policy Editor, go to

Computer Configuration ->

->Administrative Templates->

-> Windows Components->

-> Windows Update

3. Double-click on “No auto-restart with automatic installations of scheduled updates”.
4. Select "Enabled", and then click "OK".
5. Close the local group policy editor.

If the above steps don't have the effect you desired please let me know!

Note that this solution only works with Windows 10 Pro. It does not work for Windows 10 Home.

Got anything for W10 Home?

Is there any REAL way to disable this cancer feature?

Yes, of course. Setup active hours.

Start menu -- Settings app -- Update and Security -- Windows Update -- Change active hours

Wow. What an incredibly useless answer. This person should not be posting answers on this site.

I, for one, do not keep a regular schedule. And the hours that you are allowed to specify are limited to 18 hours.

Useful answers only, please.