Disable Windows Update Auto Restart Using Regedit

This guide explains how to prevent Windows from automatically restarting your computer after installing scheduled updates by configuring the Windows Registry. By adding a specific registry key, you can ensure that Windows waits for you to manually restart the system, preventing unexpected reboots and potential data loss while you are logged in.

Step-by-Step Guide to Disabling Auto-Restart

Before making changes, note that modifying the Windows Registry requires administrative privileges.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
  3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow access.

Step 2: Navigate to the Windows Update Key

In the Registry Editor address bar, paste the following path and press Enter:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Note: If the WindowsUpdate or AU keys do not exist: 1. Right-click the Windows folder, select New > Key, and name it WindowsUpdate. 2. Right-click WindowsUpdate, select New > Key, and name it AU.

Step 3: Create the DWORD Value

  1. With the AU key selected on the left sidebar, right-click any empty space in the right pane.
  2. Select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  3. Name the new value: NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers

Step 4: Set the Value Data

  1. Double-click the newly created NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers entry.
  2. In the Value data field, change the value from 0 to 1.
  3. Ensure the Base is set to Hexadecimal.
  4. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 5: Apply the Changes

Close the Registry Editor. For the changes to take effect immediately, restart your computer or restart the Windows Update service:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
  2. Go to the Services tab.
  3. Locate wuauserv (Windows Update), right-click it, and select Restart.

Once applied, Windows will notify you that a restart is required after updates are installed, but it will not automatically force a reboot while any user is logged into the system.