Sometimes when you’re working on your Windows 10 PC, you may need to restart your system but don’t want it to automatically install updates. Windows 10 has a feature where it tries to update the system every time you restart, but there are ways to bypass this and restart without initiating any updates.
In this guide, we’ll show you the steps to restart Windows 10 without triggering updates, allowing you to get back to work without waiting for updates to install.
Why Would You Want to Restart Without Updates?
- Time-Sensitive Tasks: You may be in the middle of important work and don’t want to waste time waiting for updates.
- Interruptions: Sometimes updates cause disruptions or affect system performance, and you prefer to delay them until a later time.
- Preventing Automatic Restarts: Windows 10 can sometimes restart automatically after updates, which can be inconvenient.
Regardless of your reason, you can follow these methods to restart your PC without initiating the update process.
Method 1: Using the “Shutdown” Command (Bypass Updates)
Windows 10 sometimes forces updates to install during a restart. However, using the Shutdown command can allow you to restart your computer without triggering updates.
Steps to Restart Without Updates Using the Shutdown Command:
- Open the Run Dialog:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Enter the Shutdown Command:
- Type the following command and press Enter:
shutdown /r /f /t 0 - This command will force the system to restart without waiting for updates or any scheduled tasks.
- Explanation of the command:
- /r: Restarts the computer.
- /f: Forces running applications to close (important if you’re trying to bypass updates).
- /t 0: Sets the time delay to zero, meaning it will restart immediately.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
Method 2: Disable Windows Update Temporarily
If you prefer a longer-term solution to prevent updates from installing automatically, you can temporarily disable Windows Update services. This method works well when you don’t want to be interrupted by updates during a restart.
Steps to Disable Windows Update Temporarily:
- Open Services:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type services.msc and press Enter to open the Services window.
- Locate Windows Update:
- In the Services window, scroll down to find Windows Update.
- Stop the Service:
- Right-click Windows Update and select Stop to temporarily disable the update process.
- With the update service disabled, you can restart your PC without it attempting to install any updates.
- Restart the Computer:
- Restart your PC as you normally would. Windows should restart without applying updates.
- Re-enable Windows Update:
- After restarting, return to the Services window and right-click Windows Update again.
- Select Start to re-enable the update service.
Note: Disabling Windows Update can prevent updates from installing. Be sure to turn it back on later to receive important security patches and updates.
Method 3: Use the “Active Hours” Feature to Prevent Updates During Certain Times
Windows 10 allows you to define Active Hours, which sets specific times when your PC should not restart to install updates. This method won’t let you bypass updates entirely but can prevent updates from happening during a restart in a specified time frame.
Steps to Set Active Hours:
- Open Settings:
- Click on the Start menu and go to Settings (the gear icon).
- Alternatively, press Win + I to open Settings.
- Go to Update & Security:
- In the Settings window, click on Update & Security.
- Click on “Change Active Hours”:
- Under the Windows Update section, click on Change active hours.
- Set Active Hours:
- Set the start and end time of when you typically use your PC. Windows will then avoid restarting the system during this period to apply updates.
- Save Changes:
- Click Save to apply your changes.
When you restart your computer during your active hours, Windows will avoid applying updates. This method helps ensure that updates don’t interrupt your workflow during critical hours.
Method 4: Postpone Updates (Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise)
If you’re using Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, you can delay updates for up to 35 days. This option can prevent updates from being installed immediately after restarting your system.
Steps to Postpone Updates:
- Open Settings:
- Press Win + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Update & Security:
- Click on Update & Security.
- Advanced Options:
- In the Windows Update section, click on Advanced options.
- Postpone Updates:
- Under the Pause updates section, select a date to delay updates. You can pause updates for up to 35 days.
- Once you pause updates, you can restart your PC without having updates installed. After the 35-day pause period expires, updates will begin installing again.
Method 5: Restart in Safe Mode
If you’re troubleshooting an issue and need to restart without updates, you can restart in Safe Mode, which prevents updates and only loads essential system files.
Steps to Restart in Safe Mode:
- Open Settings:
- Click the Start button and go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Advanced Startup:
- Under the Advanced startup section, click Restart now.
- Boot into Safe Mode:
- After the restart, your PC will boot into the Choose an option screen. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After your PC restarts, you will see a list of startup settings. Press 4 or F4 to enable Safe Mode.
- Restart Without Updates:
- Once in Safe Mode, restart your system as you normally would. Updates will be prevented from being applied.
Conclusion
While Windows 10 automatically installs updates upon restart, there are several methods to bypass this process. Whether you choose to use the shutdown command, temporarily disable Windows Update, set Active Hours, or postpone updates, these solutions give you the flexibility to restart your computer without worrying about updates interrupting your work.
Make sure to re-enable Windows Update or apply updates at a convenient time to ensure your system stays up-to-date and secure.