Restart: How to Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update

This updated guide examines Restart: How to Disable Automatic Reboot After Windows Update and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 3:

Using a Third-Party Program

1. Download Find and Run Robot (FARR).
2. Download the Service Control plugin for it locatedhere.
3. Type in "sctrl autom". ^[1]Windows Update will stop nagging you until the next reboot.

Method 2of 3:

Editing the Registry

1. Back up your registry.
2. Open regedit by typing "regedit" into the Start > Run dialog.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Policies Microsoft Windows WindowsUpdateAU.
4. Create or change the DWord value NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers to 1.
5. Exit and reboot.

Method 3of 3:

Using XP Pro

1. Enter gpedit.msc into the Start > Run dialog.
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Template > Windows Components > Windows Update.
3. Right click on No auto-restart for scheduled Automatic Updates installations . Enable it.
4. Exit the Group Policy editor and reboot.
   • Note that using the "No Auto-Restart" feature does not achieve the goal that you want. It will stop the auto-restart but you will continue to get pop-ups asking for a restart until you do. To prevent this, you need to enable "Re-prompt for restart with scheduled installations", found in the same section, and set the interval for reprompts to the max allowed which is 1440. That's 24 hours. You will probably turn off or restart your computer normally during that time. With this option set, you will be asked only once to restart now or later. After you click later, you will not be asked again until the next day if you have left your PC on for 24 hours.