To cancel a Windows 11 update that’s downloading or installing, go to Settings > Windows Update and pause updates. Microsoft says pausing cancels any update that’s in progress, and nothing installs again until the date you pick.
This works on all supported versions of Windows 11, including version 26H2, on Home and Pro. Once the update has moved to the “Working on updates” screen during a restart, it can no longer be canceled safely, so this guide also covers what to do then. On a work or school PC, your organization may control updates.
First, Check How Far the Update Has Gone
Open Settings > Windows Update and look at the status next to the update:
| What you see | Can you cancel it? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Downloading, or Installing with a percentage | Yes | Pause updates (steps below) |
| Pending restart, or Restart required | Usually | Pause updates and don’t pick an Update option in the power menu |
| “Working on updates” or “Don’t turn off your PC” on a blue or black screen | No | Let it finish (see below) |
How to Cancel an Update in Progress
- Click Start > Settings, or press Windows key + I.
- Click Windows Update at the bottom of the left menu. The page shows the update’s status.
- Next to Pause updates, click Pick a date and choose the day updates should start again. On some PCs this control is a Pause for 1 week button or a list of weeks instead.
- Check the top of the page. The download or install progress is gone, the page says updates are paused, and a Resume updates button appears.
Any update that was downloading or installing is canceled. Until the pause ends:
- Updates that might need a restart won’t download or install.
- Your PC won’t restart automatically to finish installing updates.
- After the pause ends, Windows checks for, downloads and installs the latest updates.
Pausing doesn’t turn off automatic updates for good. It only delays them until the date you choose. These steps follow Microsoft’s pause updates guide and Windows Update FAQ.
If the Update Is Waiting for a Restart
When an update has finished downloading and preparing, the Start menu’s power button may show Update and shut down and Update and restart. Choosing either one installs the update during the restart.
- Pause updates using the steps above.
- Open Start and select the power button. If you still see Update and shut down or Update and restart, the update is already staged and will finish the next time the PC restarts.
- To control when that happens, go to Settings > Windows Update and select Schedule the restart, then pick a time when you won’t need the PC.
If the Update Is Already on the Restart Screen
If you see “Working on updates,” “Configuring updates,” or “Don’t turn off your PC” on a blue or black screen, Windows is replacing system files. You can’t reach Settings from that screen, and there’s no cancel button. Let it finish:
- Plug in a laptop so the battery doesn’t run out partway through.
- Give it time. Large updates can take an hour or more, and the percentage can sit still for a while. Microsoft says the time depends on your connection speed, network settings and the size of the update.
- Let a rollback finish. If you see “Undoing changes made to your computer” or “We couldn’t complete the updates,” Windows is removing the failed update on its own. Leave it alone until you reach the sign-in screen.
Don’t hold the power button or unplug the PC to stop an update. Cutting power while Windows is writing system files can leave it unable to start. Only consider a forced shutdown if the screen and drive activity light haven’t changed for several hours, and treat it as a last resort, not a way to cancel.
If Windows won’t start normally after a failed update, it usually opens the recovery screen on its own after two failed starts. From there, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options and choose Uninstall Updates or System Restore. See how to boot into recovery mode in Windows 11 for each way in. Have your BitLocker recovery key handy, because recovery tools may ask for it.
Extend or Resume the Pause
To get more time, go back to Settings > Windows Update and pick a new end date on the Pause updates calendar. The new end date can be up to 35 days from today, and time you’ve already paused isn’t added on. The calendar won’t let you pick dates past that limit.
To resume early, go to Settings > Windows Update and click Resume updates. Windows checks for updates right away and may need to download and install them again.
If you do nothing, updates resume automatically when the pause expires. Once you reach the pause limit, Microsoft says you have to install the latest updates before you can pause again.
Other Ways to Control Updates
If the problem is when updates install rather than whether they install, these settings help:
- Schedule the restart: Windows tries to restart when you’re not using your PC. To pick a time yourself, go to Settings > Windows Update and select Schedule the restart.
- Set active hours: go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Active hours. Choose Automatically to let Windows learn when you use your PC, or Manually to set the hours yourself. Active hours keep Windows from restarting while you’re working.
- Use a metered connection: Microsoft says some Windows updates won’t install automatically on a metered connection. For Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi, select your network, and turn on Metered connection. Cellular connections are metered by default. If the switch is grayed out, your organization may control it.
For longer-term options, including Group Policy on Windows 11 Pro, see how to stop automatic updates in Windows 11.
Methods We Don’t Recommend
Some guides suggest other ways to stop an update. Pausing does the same job with less risk.
- Stopping the Windows Update service in Services: this only stops the service for now. Windows can start it again, and it doesn’t set a date for updates to resume.
- Ending tasks in Task Manager: ending Windows Installer or update processes mid-install can leave an update half applied.
- Deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder: this is a repair step for updates that keep failing, not a way to cancel one. It’s only safe with the Windows Update service stopped first.
- Turning off Microsoft Defender: this has no effect on Windows Update and leaves your PC unprotected.
Remove an Update That Already Installed
Microsoft doesn’t recommend removing installed updates, and not all of them can be removed. If you must:
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
- Under Related settings, select Uninstall updates.
- Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.
The update is removed after a restart. Windows may offer it again later, so pause updates if you need time before it reinstalls. Microsoft’s uninstall a Windows update guide has the full steps, and our guide to rolling back a Windows 11 update covers going back to a previous version. You can also use System Restore to return to an earlier point.
If an update failed to install instead, see how to remove failed updates in Windows 11 and retry it.
Troubleshooting
Pause updates is missing or grayed out
If the Windows Update page says some settings are managed by your organization, a work or school policy controls updates and you’ll need to ask your IT department. If the page asks you to install updates before pausing again, you’ve reached the pause limit.
The update started again after I paused
The pause either ended or someone selected Resume updates. Pick a new date under Pause updates, up to 35 days from today.
The update keeps failing
Run the Windows Update troubleshooter in the Get Help app, which Microsoft recommends as the first step on Windows 11. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guide also notes that upgrading a 64-bit version of Windows needs at least 20 GB of free space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop Windows 11 updates forever?
No. Microsoft says you can’t stop updates entirely, because they help keep your device secure. Pausing only delays them, up to 35 days at a time.
Will canceled updates download again?
Yes. When the pause ends or you resume updates, Windows checks again and may need to re-download and reinstall them.
Is it safe to turn off my PC while it says “Working on updates”?
No. Wait for it to finish. Turning it off can leave Windows unable to start, which then needs the recovery tools to fix.
What if I don’t have enough disk space for an update?
Microsoft suggests deleting files you don’t need, uninstalling apps you don’t use, or moving files to an external drive or OneDrive.
Should I keep updates paused?
Only for a short time. Updates include security fixes. When you’re ready, see how to update Windows 11.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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