Microsoft pushes out security and non-security updates (called quality updates) periodically. In addition to these quality updates, driver and Microsoft product updates (for other products from Microsoft, such as Office) are also released regularly.
Typically, Windows 10/11 automatically downloads and installs update in the background. That said, some updates require a system restart to complete the installation.
When you are in a hurry or do not wish to install the downloaded updates immediately, there are ways to restart or shut down the PC without installing updates.
Following are the four easy methods to shut down or restart Windows 10/11 PC without installing updates.
Method 1 of 4
Restart Windows 10/11 without installing updates
Step 1: Right-click the Start button and select Shut down or sign out to see various power options.
Step 2: Here, as you can see, Windows 10/11 shows the Update and restart option. However, in addition to that, it also shows the standard Restart option. So, you need to click on the Restart option to restart Windows 10/11 without installing updates. To shut down, click the Shut down option.
If the power menu does not show the Restart option and instead shows Update and restart option, refer to the directions in Method 2 or 3(scroll down to see).
Method 2 of 4
Set active hours to avoid automatic restarts to install updates
Both Windows 10 and 11 offer a feature called Active Hours designed to prevent Windows 10/11 from automatically restarting the PC. Windows 10/11 will not automatically restart during Active Hours. For instance, if you set Active Hours from 6 AM to 11 PM, Windows 10/11 will not automatically restart during these hours to install updates.
On Windows 10 PC, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update page and then click the Turn on link under Adjust active hours to reduce disruptions to set it up.
On Windows 11 PC, Settings > Windows Update page, click Advanced options, and then click Active hours to set up Active Hours.
Method 3 of 4
Restart Windows 10/11 without updating via Command Prompt
The classic Command Prompt can be used to bypass update installation during a reboot. However, this might not work all the time!
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt using search.
Step 2: At the Command Prompt window, type the command given below and then hit the Enter key.
shutdown -s -t 0
Please note that the last character is zero and not the letter “O”.
Step 3: The above command will restart your PC immediately. So, save your work and close the running applications before executing the command.
Method 4 of 4
Another way to reboot Windows 10/11 PC without installing updates
Windows 10/11 saves all downloaded updates in a folder called SoftwareDistribution. If you delete the downloaded update files from the folder, Windows 10/11 cannot install them.
Refer to our how to delete downloaded Windows Update files guide for step-by-step directions.
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