Stop Windows 10 Automatic Restart After Update

Some years ago, we shared this guide to disable automatic updates in Windows. That guide was shared with steps illustrated on Windows 8. However, we found that the method shared in that article doesn’t works on Windows 10. Hence, we’re back with this article in which we’ll share a working method for Windows 10.

We all know that a reboot is always necessary to finish installation of update(s). But many of you want to have this reboot with your permissions. You may not want your Windows 10 to reboot itself without your permissions and disturbing your work.

So here is how you can stop your Windows 10 from rebooting automatically, post installation of update.

Stop Windows 10 Automatic Restart After Update

Method 1 – Using File Explorer

1. Press  + R to open Run.

2. Then type following or simply paste this location and click OK.

%windir%\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\UpdateOrchestrator

3. In the UpdateOrchestrator folder, look for file named as Reboot. Note that the file does not have any extension. Right click on the file and select Rename.

4. Rename this Reboot file to Reboot.old.

5. Now right-click inside UpdateOrchestrator folder, select New > Folder.

6. Name the newly created folder as Reboot and restart your machine.

So now onwards, your system won’t reboot automatically after updates. When you reboot yourself, the system will proceed to finish updates installation.

To restore the default behaviour later, simply delete ‘Reboot folder and rename Reboot.old back to Reboot.

Method 2 – Change Active Hours

If Method 1 doesn’t works for you, use the Active hours feature instead. This native feature in Windows 10 is designed to prevent restart of your system during your work hours.

You can refer this guide to configure this feature and read more:

How To Configure Active Hours Setting In Windows 10

After configuring Active hours, your machine will not interrupt you to restart for finishing updates while you’re working on it.

That’s it!

Related: Turn off automatic updates in Windows 10.