How to disable Windows 11 automatic reboots?

Anonymous

Hi,

I have browsed this forum but found so far no real solution:

It has happened to my now several times that I was running tasks over extended periods of time only to come back to my PC the next morning to find Windows 11 had done an automatic reboot! So not only the tasks weren't finished, worse, lots of preparatory work was lost!

I don't want Windows to ever automatically reboot after an update. Never. Ever. Period. I want to be informed about updates, that's fine, and I keep Windows 11 up to date, but under no circumstances ever is it acceptable that Windows just shovels an update on my PC and disrupts overnight tasks and REBOOTS(!) my PC all by itself.

So it would be very helpful if somebody could tell me how to disable these automatic update reboots once and for all. I don't want to "pause" Updates (I absolutely want updates, I just want to control myself when the updates are done) and resetting "work hours" is of no use unless I can set it to 24 hours.

Best regards

Nick

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

84 answers

Anonymous

2024-06-01T10:15:00+00:00
It was pointed out that the code I wrote doesn't always work in every locale depending on how your time is reported so I improved it. It'a still a command line cmd batch file:
```
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 
```
Again, save this code as a batch file and use Task Scheduler to run it every couple of hours to update your working hours.
Was this answer helpful?

5 people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2024-05-30T20:56:32+00:00

Interesting. The original works for me but so does your change. Thanks.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2024-05-30T15:06:58+00:00

Thank you again and FYI: I had to change these lines to remove the double quotes (highlighted in green bold).

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
Was this answer helpful?

4 people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2024-05-30T11:16:23+00:00

Freegin' Genius! This is the stuff that makes me happy! Simple yet effective!
Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2024-05-30T06:12:41+00:00
Make a batch command file eg. disablereboot.bat, i.e. Open notepad and paste the code below:
```
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 
```
Save the file anywhere on your computer like C:\MyStuff\disablereboot.bat

Then use Task Scheduler:

Press the windows key + R at the same time and in the prompt type:

taskschd.msc

and configure to run the code Daily and repeat every hour for 1 day, i.e.:

in the right panel click Create task

name it whatever way you want in the General tab

In the Triggers tab create a new one with the contents below:

Daily, repeat task every 1 hour for duration at: 1 day

in Actions click in new with the action Start a program and in the browse locate your previous saved bat file, in this example, C:\MyStuff\disablereboot.bat.

This will keep changing your working hours so that it is never not a working hour. This way you will never get an auto reboot and you can choose yourself when to reboot.
Was this answer helpful?

60+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments