If you have upgraded to Windows 10 there’s something you might want to consider adjusting right away to avoid potential problems and reboots at inappropriate times. There are three settings all in the same place which you want to make as per the image below.
- Change the first option from “Automatic (Recommended)” to “Notify to schedule restart”
- Put a check mark on “Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows.
- Put a check mark on “Defer upgrades”
The reason behind this is as follows:
- Changing to “Notify to schedule restart” is giving you more control over when to restart the computer rather than let Windows determine when it will restart by itself which might run while you’re not at the computer but the computer has stuff you left open.
- The second option isn’t critical but it’s good to get all updates when you can.
- The third option to “Defer upgrades” is critical! I’ve had several clients call me about major problems with Windows 10 after updates installed and rebooted. Two of them called me at the exact same time with the exact same issue. An update crashed the network access so they had no Internet and no local network access to the server. Deferring upgrades doesn’t mean you will never get these updates, it simply means you do not want to be Microsoft’s Guinea pig and be one of the first thousand people getting the update. You will get the update after about 6 months. The link Microsoft provides about “Defer upgrades” says the following: Some Windows 10 editions let you defer upgrades to your PC. When you defer upgrades, new Windows features won’t be downloaded or installed for several months. Deferring upgrades doesn’t affect security updates. Note that deferring upgrades will prevent you from getting the latest Windows features as soon as they’re available.
*NOTE: There are no “Save” or “OK” buttons incase you are looking for them to save your changes. Just close out of the Windows and you can go back in there to ensure the changes are made.
Here’s how to access those changes:
- Click your Start button
- Click “Settings”
- Click “Update & Security”
- Click “Advanced Options”
- Make your adjustments
- Close the Window.
- Now rest easy knowing you have more breathing room.
Don’t see the option to “Defer upgrades”?
According to Microsoft staff on a Microsoft Forum here…
- Windows 10 Home edition doesn’t’ include this option
- If you have Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise, or education, you can try upgrading your drivers
- You can also try running SFC /scannow from an elevated command prompt.