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Microsoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause them indefinitely

The Verge / 3/21/2026

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Key Points

  • Microsoft announced it will end forced Windows updates and allow users to pause updates indefinitely, giving users control over when updates are installed.
  • The change addresses years of user frustration with automatic restarts, intrusive updates, and bundled software like Edge.
  • Microsoft ties the policy shift to a broader effort to fix Windows 11 quality and reliability in updates.
  • The Verge notes that upcoming updates could still include features like Copilot UI elements, but the emphasis remains on stability and user choice.

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 Win …

Read the full story at The Verge.