How to delay Windows updates and tell Microsoft to leave it alone

Windows updates are important to keep your PC secure and up to date, but they can also be annoying and disruptive. Sometimes, you simply want to put them off until you have more time or bandwidth, or you want to avoid potential bugs and crashes. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to delay Windows updates and tell Microsoft to leave you alone.

There are two types of Windows updates: feature updates and quality updates. Feature updates are major updates that add new features and functionality to Windows 10. They are released twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. Quality updates are minor patches that fix bugs and security issues. They are released monthly, usually on the second Tuesday of each month.

You can delay both types of updates, but the process is different depending on whether you have Windows 10 Home or Pro edition. Here’s how:

Windows 10 startup

If you have Windows 10 Home edition, you have less control over when updates are installed. You cannot pause feature updates, but you can postpone them for up to 35 days. To do this, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Advanced options. Under Choose when updates are installed, select the number of days you want to delay feature updates.

You can also pause quality updates for up to seven days. To do this, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Under Pause updates, turn on the switch. You can extend the pause another seven days up to five times, for a total of 35 days.

Windows 10 Pro

If you have Windows 10 Pro edition, you have more options to delay updates. You can pause feature and quality updates for up to 35 days. To do this, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Advanced options. Under Pause updates, toggle the switch and select the date until which you want to pause updates.

You can also postpone feature updates for up to 365 days and quality updates for up to 30 days. To do this, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options. Under Choose when updates are installed, select the number of days you want to delay feature and quality updates.

Please note that delaying updates may prevent you from getting the latest security patches and bug fixes, so it is not recommended to do so for a long time. Also, some updates may be mandatory and cannot be delayed or paused, such as those that fix critical vulnerabilities or improve system stability.

If you want to tell Microsoft to leave you alone and stop bothering you with updates, you can also turn off update notifications. To do this, go to Settings > System > Notifications and actions. Under Receive notifications from these senders, turn off Windows Update.

By following these steps, you can delay Windows updates and tell Microsoft to leave you alone. However, remember that updates are important to keep your PC running smoothly and securely, so don’t ignore them forever.

Microsoft releases periodic updates and security patches for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. (You can find the release information for Windows 10 and Windows 11 here). These updates provide new features and functionality, as well as improve the security and performance of your computer.

However, sometimes these updates can also cause problems. For example, a Windows 11 update released in August 2023 caused many users to experience a blue screen of death. A July 2022 security patch affected the functionality of many printers. A Windows 10 patch from April 2021 caused performance issues for PC gamers until it was fixed.

In the past, Microsoft forced you to install these updates, regardless of whether you wanted them or not. As of 2019, this policy has changed. Instead of automatically installing important feature updates, you will see an option in the Windows Update settings to download and install the update when you are ready.

This gives you more control over when and how you update your computer. If you prefer to wait until new features have been tested or bugs have been resolved, you can delay pending updates. The length of time you can postpone the upgrade depends on the version of Windows you are using. However, keep in mind that once the version of the operating system you are using reaches end of support, you will need to upgrade to a newer version.