Particle.news

Microsoft Hands Windows 11 Users Real Control Over Updates

The rollout starts with Windows Insider testers before reaching all users.

Overview

  • Microsoft detailed the changes in a company blog and enabled them for Windows Insider builds, with a broader release planned on an upcoming Patch Tuesday.
  • A new calendar lets people choose an exact date within the next 35 days to install updates, and they can keep extending the pause in 35‑day blocks with no stated limit.
  • The power menu will now keep plain Shut down and Restart options that truly skip installation when updates are pending, alongside Update and shut down and Update and restart.
  • To cut interruptions, Microsoft plans to bundle more items with the monthly Windows quality update so most users face about one restart per month instead of several.
  • Update packages will get smaller to download and install faster, which should shorten downtime on slower connections and older hardware.