How to shut down without installing updates on Windows 10
Microsoft changed how updates were delivered when it released Windows 10. The updates were initially forced onto users and systems restarted with little to no warning. The forced restart has since been abandoned. Windows 10 now installs updates outside of active hours i.e., when it knows you aren’t using the system. Of course, when you shut down the system, it will first install updates and then shut down.
Windows 7 had an option to shut down the system without installing updates. It allowed users to forgo installing updates until users were ready since the updates sometimes finish installing on the next reboot.
Shut down without installing updates on Windows 10
Windows 10 removed the option to shut down the system without installing updates. It was missed and was added back in the Windows 10 May 2020 update. If you’re running Windows 10 version 2004, you will be able to shut down without installing updates.
Check Windows version
Check your Windows version by following these steps;
- Tap the Win+R keyboard shortcuts to open the run box.
- In the run box, enter ‘winver‘, and tap Enter.
- In the About Windows window, check the version number.
1. Power button
You can shut down the system without installing updates from the Power button.
- Open the Start Menu.
- Click the Power button.
- The options will have a ‘Shut Down’ option that doesn’t mention updates. Select it and the system will shut down without installing updates.
2. Alt + F4
You can shut down the system without installing updates from the shut down prompt.
- Go to your desktop.
- Make sure all the windows are closed or minimized.
- Tap the Alt+F4 keyboard shortcut.
- Open the dropdown on the Shut Down Windows window.
- Select Shut Down.
Deferring Updates
Updates on Windows 10 can be deferred for a long time now but up until the May 2020 update, an update that had been downloaded would be installed when users shut their system down. The only way around it was to let the system go to sleep instead of shutting it down. This will help users defer updates that have been downloaded which they tend to do in the background.
Conclusion
Updates don’t always finish installing when the system shuts down. Sometimes the installation needs to complete when you next boot back to the desktop. Not only does this mean shutting down takes more time, it means that you may have to wait longer before you can use the desktop. It’s why the option to shut down the system without installing updates was missed.
