How to Disable or Stop Update Notifications on Windows

Windows loves to remind you about updates—at the worst possible times. Whether you’re presenting, gaming, or just working in peace, those pop-ups can break your focus. The good news? You can turn them off. Here’s how to stop Windows update notifications without breaking your system.

Why You’re Seeing These Notifications

Windows Update is built to keep your PC secure and running smoothly. But its notifications often come off more nagging than helpful. They’re triggered by:

• Available updates not yet installed
• Pending restarts after updates
• Active hours being ignored
• Optional updates waiting

Let’s walk through how to silence them.

1. Turn Off Notifications via Settings

This is the quickest method and works well for most users.

Steps:

1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Notifications.
2. Scroll down to “Notifications from apps and other senders.”
3. Find “Windows Update” in the list.
4. Toggle it Off.

That’ll stop the pop-ups without disabling updates entirely.

2. Use Group Policy Editor (Windows 10/11 Pro)

If you’re on a Pro version of Windows, you can suppress notifications using the Group Policy Editor.

Steps:

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience
3. Double-click “Display options for update notifications”.
4. Set it to Enabled, then choose “Turn off all notifications” from the dropdown.
5. Click Apply and OK.

This disables all user-facing update alerts.

3. Disable Update Orchestrator Reboot Notifications (Advanced)

This is more technical, but effective if restart nags are your issue.

Steps:

1. Open Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc from Run dialog).
2. Navigate to:
   Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > UpdateOrchestrator
3. Find the task called “Reboot”.
4. Right-click and choose Disable.

This blocks Windows from scheduling forced restarts with notifications.

4. Use Registry Editor (Back Up First)

For users comfortable editing the registry, this is a surgical strike.

Steps:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
3. If the key doesn’t exist, create it.
4. Inside the AU key, right-click and create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named:
   NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers
5. Set its value to 1.

This disables automatic restarts and the related warnings when someone’s logged in.

A Word of Caution

Disabling update notifications doesn’t stop Windows from updating in the background. If you want to pause or defer updates completely, that’s a different setting—but it comes with risks. You’ll miss critical security patches, which can leave your PC vulnerable.

Final Thoughts

If update notifications are ruining your workflow, now you’ve got a few solid ways to shut them down. Use the method that fits your skill level and Windows edition. Just remember to keep your system updated on your terms.

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Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!