Running this as admin in powershell will create a ps1 script that cancels pending restarts (with logging), and schedule it as a task.

Microsoft, don't be Apple. This also is not an effective way to get me to PAY for pro, if that's your game.

Create the script to cancel pending restarts with logging

$scriptContent = @"

`$logPath = "C:\Scripts\CancelRestartLog.txt"

function Log-Message {

param([string]`$message) 

`$timestamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss" 

"`$timestamp - `$message" | Out-File -FilePath `$logPath -Append 

}

Log-Message "Script execution started"

$restartCancelled = $false

if (Get-ChildItem "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\RebootPending" -EA Ignore) {

shutdown /a 

`$restartCancelled = `$true 

}

if (Get-ChildItem "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\RebootRequired" -EA Ignore) {

shutdown /a 

`$restartCancelled = `$true 

}

if (Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\RebootPending" -EA Ignore) {

shutdown /a 

`$restartCancelled = `$true 

}

if (Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\RebootRequired" -EA Ignore) {

shutdown /a 

`$restartCancelled = `$true 

}

if (Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager" -Name PendingFileRenameOperations -EA Ignore) {

shutdown /a 

`$restartCancelled = `$true 

}

if (`$restartCancelled) {

Log-Message "Restart cancelled successfully" 

} else {

Log-Message "No pending restart detected" 

}

Log-Message "Script execution completed"

"@

Save the script to a file

$scriptPath = "C:\Scripts\CancelRestart.ps1"

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path (Split-Path $scriptPath)

Set-Content -Path $scriptPath -Value $scriptContent

Create a scheduled task

$taskAction = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "PowerShell.exe" -Argument "-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$scriptPath""

$taskTrigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Once -At (Get-Date) -RepetitionInterval (New-TimeSpan -Minutes 15)

$taskSettings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -AllowStartIfOnBatteries -DontStopIfGoingOnBatteries -ExecutionTimeLimit (New-TimeSpan -Minutes 5)

$taskPrincipal = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal -UserId "SYSTEM" -LogonType ServiceAccount -RunLevel Highest

Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName "CancelWindowsRestart" -Action $taskAction -Trigger $taskTrigger -Settings $taskSettings -Principal $taskPrincipal -Force

Write-Host "Script created and scheduled task set up successfully. Logs will be written to C:\Scripts\CancelRestartLog.txt"

I think you set the repeat time wrong. go to tasks and edit it in order to run every 1 hour.

Another issue happen to me. sometimes the batch windows does not close, waiting to a response in a prompt. A Yes or No prompt and I every time press Y. No all the time the window stops asking for the answer, but, still less annoying than the restart without asking issue.

Hi Mauro,

This seems to stop the update, but, the command prompt window opens repeatedly (like every 10 minutes) to run this code and the window opens over the top of what ever I am doing at the time. I then have to wait 5 or so seconds for it to finish and self-close or I have to minimize it. Is there a way to stop this from happening?

Thank you for the help!

Josh

thank you for saying this! I have been struggling with windows 11 reboots have tried 5 different things that dont work at all.

I made the batch file shorter (BTW: I am the the original author of this fix. I can't get into my old username )

for /f %%i in ('powershell "((get-date).Hour+18) %% 24"') do set startHour=%%i
for /f %%i in ('powershell "((get-date).Hour+12) %% 24"') do set endHour=%%i
 
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings /v ActiveHoursStart /t REG_DWORD /d %startHour% /f 
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings /v ActiveHoursEnd /t REG_DWORD /d %endHour% /f