Microsoft is giving Windows users the power to delay updates indefinitely — in 35-day chunks — marking a significant shift in how the company balances user control with system security.
The change, now rolling out to Windows Insiders on the Dev and Experimental channels, allows users to extend pause periods as many times as needed, with no upper limit on how often they can reset the clock. This means a user could, in theory, keep Windows Update paused for months or even years by repeatedly renewing the 35-day window.
The move comes after months of user feedback highlighting two persistent frustrations: updates interrupting work or play at inconvenient times, and a lack of meaningful control over when those updates occur. Microsoft’s internal review of over 7,600 direct comments confirmed these themes as dominant across its Insider community.
Beyond pause controls, the update introduces several related changes. Users will now see more descriptive labels on driver updates — specifying whether they apply to display, audio, or battery components — making it easier to understand what’s being installed. The power menu will consistently offer options to shut down or restart without triggering updates, a little but meaningful shift in user autonomy.
Perhaps most notably for new installations, Windows 11 setup now includes a clear “Update Later” option during the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE). This lets users bypass the traditional post-installation update process and reach the desktop immediately — a welcome relief for anyone who’s ever waited through lengthy setup cycles on a new machine.
However, that convenience comes with a trade-off. Skipping updates during OOBE leaves the system exposed to known vulnerabilities until the user manually installs them later. Microsoft acknowledges this risk but frames the change as a response to user demand for a less intrusive setup process, especially after its September 2025 decision to make post-installation updates mandatory and unskippable.
The company is also working to reduce reboot frequency by “unifying the update experience.” Instead of triggering multiple restarts, updates will now download in the background and wait for a coordinated installation and restart cycle — a behind-the-scenes adjustment that could significantly reduce disruption for users who exit their machines on overnight.
These changes reflect a broader evolution in Microsoft’s approach to Windows: less paternalistic, more responsive to user behavior, and increasingly tuned to real-world usage patterns rather than idealized update schedules. It’s a tacit admission that even the most secure system fails if users identify ways to bypass or delay it out of frustration.
For now, the features remain limited to Insider builds, with no firm timeline for broad consumer rollout. But the direction is clear: Windows is learning to bend — just not break — under the weight of user expectations.
Will these changes apply to Windows 10 as well?
The updates described are specific to Windows 11 and are currently being tested in Insider channels. There is no indication in the sources that similar changes are planned for Windows 10, which is in its final phase of support.
Is it safe to skip updates during setup?
Skipping updates during the Out-of-Box Experience leaves the system vulnerable to known security flaws until the user manually installs them later. Microsoft advises against delaying those updates for extended periods.
How does the new update bundling reduce reboots?
Instead of triggering multiple restarts for separate updates, Windows will now download updates in the background and wait for a coordinated installation and restart, minimizing the number of times users need to reboot.