Windows 11 Updates Without Stress: Active Hours, Pause, and Errors

Updates patch holes through which hackers and viruses can infiltrate. They can be configured to avoid interruptions.

Step by Step

1. Check for updates. Click Start › Settings (Ustawienia) › Windows Update and select Check for updates (Sprawdź aktualizacje).
2. Set working hours. Go to Windows Update › Advanced options (Opcje zaawansowane) › Active hours (Godziny aktywnego użytkowania). Choose Automatically (Automatycznie) or Manually (Ręcznie) and specify when you usually use your computer. During this time, Windows will not restart on its own.
3. Schedule a restart. When an update is waiting for a restart, in Windows Update select Schedule the restart (Zaplanuj ponowne uruchomienie) and provide a convenient time.
4. Pause for a trip. In Windows Update under Pause updates (Wstrzymaj aktualizacje), click Pick a date (Wybierz datę). The pause can last up to 35 days from today. After this period, updates will resume automatically.
5. Optional updates. In Advanced options › Optional updates (Aktualizacje opcjonalne), you will mainly find drivers that Windows does not install automatically. Check there if a device, such as a camera, has stopped working. Select the driver, choose Download and install (Pobierz i zainstaluj), then restart your computer.
6. No rush for new features. The switch Get the latest updates as soon as they're available (Otrzymuj najnowsze aktualizacje, gdy tylko będą dostępne) pertains to new features and non-security fixes. It can be turned off: security updates will still come.

Starting July 28, 2026, Microsoft will gradually implement a one-restart-per-month policy for home computers running Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, 26H1, 26H2). Drivers and some other updates will wait for the monthly security update (usually the second Tuesday of the month) and will install together with it. Updates for Microsoft Defender and emergency fixes will still arrive immediately.

How long is my version supported?

You can check your version in Settings › System › About (Informacje), under Windows specifications (Specyfikacje systemu Windows). A major Windows 11 update is released once a year, and Home and Pro versions receive fixes for 24 months.

As the version approaches the end of support, Windows Update will automatically suggest and install a newer version. Version 26H1 is only for new computers from 2026 and will not be available for older ones.

If an update fails to install

1. Open the Get Help (Uzyskaj pomoc) app and run the Windows Update troubleshooter. Alternatively: Settings › System › Troubleshoot (Rozwiązywanie problemów) › Other troubleshooters (Inne narzędzia do rozwiązywania problemów), click Run (Uruchom) next to Windows Update.
2. Back up important files. Check your internet connection, and plug your laptop into a charger.
3. Disconnect unnecessary devices: USB drives, docking stations.
4. In Settings › Time & language (Czas i język) › Date & time (Data i godzina), enable automatic time and time zone settings.
5. Free up disk space. A major update for a 64-bit system requires at least 20 GB of free space.
6. Restart: Start › Power (Zasilanie) › Update and restart (Aktualizuj i uruchom ponownie), then check for updates again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off updates permanently?

No. Windows only allows you to pause them. After the pause, you must install the pending updates before you can pause them again.

Can I uninstall an update that caused something to stop working?

Yes, in Windows Update › Update history (Historia aktualizacji) › Uninstall updates (Odinstaluj aktualizacje), although Microsoft does not recommend this and not every update can be removed.

Sources

Status as of October 24, 2026. Menu names may vary depending on the version of Windows and system language. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace the manufacturer's technical support.