Microsoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause them indefinitely | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Microsoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause them indefinitelyComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsDesktopsCloseDesktopsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All DesktopsMicrosoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause them indefinitelyIt’s all part of Microsoft’s initiative to rebuild trust in Windows.It’s all part of Microsoft’s initiative to rebuild trust in Windows.by Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean HollisterMar 20, 2026, 7:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftIllustration by Alex Castro / The VergeSean HollisterCloseSean HollisterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean Hollister is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.In 2015, Microsoft decided that you shouldn’t be in control of updating your PC anymore. At first, it seemed like a good idea to keep malware at bay — but soon, users discovered their computers were automatically shutting down and erasing work in the middle of the day. Then, Microsoft abused its power to install shovelware apps and force-feed us a new web browser.Now, each new update might add unwanted Copilot AI buttons or prevent our PCs from properly booting. My colleague Tom Warren wrote about Microsoft’s many buggy Windows updates in this story.But today, as Microsoft commits to fix Windows 11, it’s also signaling that our long Windows Update nightmare is finally over.While Microsoft isn’t doing away with automatic updates entirely, Windows boss Pavan Davuluri is promising that in future, you’ll be able to pause them “for as long as you need.” You’ll be able to reboot or shut down your computer “without being forced to install them.” To be fair to Microsoft, I’ve seen an option to reboot or shutdown without updating for a while now.RelatedThis is Microsoft’s plan to fix Windows 11Windows 11 is finally getting a movable taskbarMicrosoft is working to rebuild trust in WindowsEven if you fail to pause them, you’ll only have to reboot your computer once a month, Microsoft promises — though its says you’ll be able to get updates faster if you wish. If you’re the kind of user who wants new features so quickly that you’re part of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft says it’ll make that easier and make it clearer what you’ll get.And as part of those updates, Microsoft says that this year, it will improve performance, responsiveness and stability, reduce memory consumption, make File Explorer and other apps launch and run faster, reduce crashes, improve drivers, make devices wake up more reliably, and much, much more.It feels like Microsoft has also taken our feedback about the recent ridiculous hour-plus setup process for some Windows handhelds and laptops to heart. Davuluri writes that we’ll have “the ability to skip updates during device setup to get to the desktop faster.” And even if you sit through, there should be “fewer pages and reboots to getting started is simpler.” Plus, Microsoft will finally let you use gamepad controls to create your PIN during setup, instead of making you smudge the touchscreen.Setup took well over an hour when I reviewed the Xbox Ally — progress indicator after progress indicator, reboot after reboot, multiple messages promising me the wait was nearly over.Bravo, Microsoft, if this is all true, and if you can implement it in a reasonable length of time.Davuluri writes that his team has spent months analyzing the feedback of Windows users, and “What came through was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better.”I don’t know if that means Microsoft has truly turned over a new leaf, because the company is not committing today to end its campaign of pulling cheap tricks to make you use Microsoft Edge instead of Google Chrome.But my fond hope is that it’s no longer listening to the “voice of people” who see Windows only as a vehicle for selling Microsoft’s other products. If Windows does away with forced updates and “unnecessary” Copilot buttons in its apps, as Davuluri’s now promising to do, that’s a great start.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean HollisterDesktopsCloseDesktopsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All DesktopsGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsLaptopsCloseLaptopsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All LaptopsMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechWindowsCloseWindowsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All WindowsMost PopularMost PopularMarc Andreessen is a philosophical zombieValve’s huge SteamOS 3.8 update adds long-awaited features — and supports Steam MachineBelkin’s wireless HDMI adapter freed me from a long annoying cable when I travelGoogle Search is now using AI to replace headlinesA rogue AI led to a serious security incident at MetaThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Microsoft is undertaking a significant shift in its Windows Update strategy, aiming to dismantle what has become widely perceived as a problematic and disruptive process. This initiative, spearheaded by Pavan Davuluri, the head of Windows, represents an attempt to rebuild user trust following a series of contentious updates that have alienated a considerable segment of the PC user base. The core of the change lies in granting users greater control over when and how updates are installed, specifically allowing them to pause automatic updates indefinitely. Previously, Microsoft enforced automatic updates regardless of user preference, leading to instances of forced shutdowns and data loss, along with the imposition of unwanted software, often termed “shovelware.”

The new approach acknowledges user feedback gathered over months of analysis, with Davuluri highlighting the voice of “people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better.” A key commitment is a reduction in mandatory reboot cycles to once per month, though users seeking the latest features can opt into the Windows Insider Program for faster updates and a clearer understanding of forthcoming additions. Microsoft intends to enhance performance, responsiveness, and stability, with specific goals including reducing memory consumption, accelerating File Explorer and app launch times, and minimizing crashes. Furthermore, the company is addressing practical concerns voiced by users, such as the excessively lengthy setup process for devices like the Xbox Ally, aiming for a simplified experience with fewer pages and reboots. Notably, Microsoft is also permitting the use of gamepad controls during the PIN creation process, a change intended to alleviate the frustrations associated with touchscreen usability.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that while Microsoft is addressing the immediate issues surrounding update frequency and control, the company hasn't definitively abandoned its broader strategy of encouraging the adoption of Microsoft Edge. While Davuluri has indicated a move away from "unnecessary" Copilot buttons and potentially other tactics to promote Edge usage, the fundamental goal of integrating Microsoft services remains a persistent element of the Windows ecosystem. Ultimately, this represents a deliberate effort to reframe the Windows Update experience, reducing the imposition of updates and giving users direct control over the timing and scope of changes.