Web Analytics


Windows update is an excellent way to keep your computer up to date and protected from the latest vulnerabilities. Sometimes, Windows update will apply a patch that requires your computer to be restarted. Many times, this restart comes at an inopportune time as you may have a lot to get done that day. Windows Vista does not bug you as much as Windows XP, because you can change the interval at which Windows to remind you to restart your computer. Regardless of your operating system, you may just want to stop the notifications entirely and restart your computer the end of the day. Why do not recommend this, I often find myself delaying the restart process. In this guide, you’ll learn how to stop Windows update notifying you until the next time you restart your PC.

To turn off will Windows Update notifications, do the following:

  1. Press WINKEY+R, type cmd, and hit enterStop Update prompts 1
  2. In Vista/7, type net stop “windows update” and hit enter
    In XP, type net stop “Automatic updates” and hit enterStop Update prompts 2

This stops the Windows update service until the next time you restart your computer. Now you will no longer be pestered to restart your computer. Please remember: there is a reason your computer needs to be restarted; you should restart your computer at your earliest convenience.



About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix them.

Free PC tips by email

Search Windows Guides




Comments

21 thoughts on “Stop Windows Update Restart Now Prompts”

  1. rsvr85 says:

    Nice tip Rich :)
    Does the service start automatically after a reboot or does one have to manually start it again?

  2. RSVR85 says:

    Nice tip Rich :)
    Does the service start automatically after a reboot or does one have to manually start it again?

    1. Rich says:

      Yes it will start again after a reboot.

      You would have to go into services and set the startup type to “Manual” from “Automatic” to permanently stop the prompts; however, this would also stop you receiving updates, which is obviously not advisable and not you were asking with your question anyway.

  3. rsvr85 says:

    Nice tip Rich :)
    Does the service start automatically after a reboot or does one have to manually start it again?

    1. Rich says:

      Yes it will start again after a reboot.

      You would have to go into services and set the startup type to “Manual” from “Automatic” to permanently stop the prompts; however, this would also stop you receiving updates, which is obviously not advisable and not you were asking with your question anyway.

  4. Rich says:

    Yes it will start again after a reboot.

    You would have to go into services and set the startup type to “Manual” from “Automatic” to permanently stop the prompts; however, this would also stop you receiving updates, which is obviously not advisable and not you were asking with your question anyway.

  5. Best Windows Freebies and Guid says:

    […] Stop Windows Update Restart Now Prompts […]

  6. [Windows] Detener los reinicio says:

    […] Fuente. Average: 0 ‹ [Guias-Windows] Eliminar automáticamente los archivos temporales de Windows 7. arriba [Windows] Instalar actualizaciones de Windows manualmente. › 208 lecturas […]

  7. Pingback: [Windows] Detener los reinicios automáticos causados por Windows Update. | subinet.es beta información tecnológica y de actualidad.
  8. vigge_sWe says:

    lolz

    Well, you could set it to remind again in 4 hours, I would think you would be done doing important stuff by then lol

  9. vigge_sWe says:

    lolz

    Well, you could set it to remind again in 4 hours, I would think you would be done doing important stuff by then lol

  10. vigge_sWe says:

    lolz

    Well, you could set it to remind again in 4 hours, I would think you would be done doing important stuff by then lol

  11. pau fexas says:

    Thank you so much. I hate that prompt.

  12. pau fexas says:

    Thank you so much. I hate that prompt.

  13. pau fexas says:

    Thank you so much. I hate that prompt.

  14. John Schuepbach says:

    Can’t you just modify the registry so that it will never restart until you tell it to, for every instance of when Windows has updates installed (all future instances)?

    Simply add this key to the registry (create it if it does not exist): [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdateAU]
    “NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers”=dword:00000001

  15. John Schuepbach says:

    Can’t you just modify the registry so that it will never restart until you tell it to, for every instance of when Windows has updates installed (all future instances)?

    Simply add this key to the registry (create it if it does not exist): [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdateAU]
    “NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers”=dword:00000001

  16. John Schuepbach says:

    Can’t you just modify the registry so that it will never restart until you tell it to, for every instance of when Windows has updates installed (all future instances)?

    Simply add this key to the registry (create it if it does not exist): [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdateAU]
    “NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers”=dword:00000001

  17. Rich says:

    Thanks for the tip John

  18. Rich says:

    Thanks for the tip John

  19. Rich says:

    Thanks for the tip John

Comments are closed.


Computer tips in your inbox
Sign up for the Windows Guides newsletter to get PC tips and access to free Windows books (More details)

Subscribe now
Popular Guides

See which sites have been visited on your PC (even if private browsing mode is used)

Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc

Best Free Anti-malware

Hibernate vs. Sleep vs. Shut-Down

i3, i5, and i7; Dual, Quad, Hexa Core Processors. How to they Differ?

Intel's Ivy Bridge Processor: new Features

Submit Your Tip
Submit your computer tip to us; receive full credit for all published tips

Windows Guides on Facebook