Shutting down a PC when the Windows 10/11 update is under progress

Users have varying opinions about Windows 10 updates. Some hate them and don’t download them, while others install every released update.

The former misses crucial updates responsible for fixing bugs in the operating system. The latter is usually on the safer side but also risks issues such as buggy updates.

If you often update Windows, then you have probably encountered unnecessarily long installation processes.

Sometimes, this happens when you are busy with the computer and just feel like immediately turning it off to disrupt the process. However, you’re stopped by the uncertainty of what might happen if you do so.

If that has been your fear, then this post is for you. We’ll show you what happens if you stop the update process and how to do so safely on Windows 10.

Is it Possible to Stop a Windows 10/11 Computer in the Middle of an Update?

Well, it is definitely possible, but you must know what you are doing. You need to understand what happens when you stop updates during the download and installation stages.

Indeed, you’re going to miss the updates. However, interfering with their installation may be risky. We will discuss more about that later in this article.

One of the errors that can occur if you force shutdown your PC during the update process is: “We Couldn’t Complete the Updates. Undoing Changes. Don’t Turn Off Your Computer”

Why Do Windows Updates Take Too Long to Complete?

The exact amount of time it takes to download and install Windows updates depends on these factors:

• The size of the update
• The number of updates
• Your computer’s condition

Some updates are usually large and, therefore, take longer to download and install. The same applies to installing two or more updates since that gives Windows plenty of work to do. You should also expect a bigger delay if your PC is usually slow or doesn’t have much disk space.

The installation process normally takes about five minutes. However, this may escalate up to two hours depending on the aforementioned factors.

If your computer is taking too long to finish the installation but is showing progress on the screen, be patient.

Sometimes, the installation percentage may get stuck at one number before speeding through the remaining part. So, always give the process some time before concluding that it’s stuck.

However, if the device is stuck on the same loop or percentage for several hours, then that’s a problem.

Related: How to Fix Windows Update Error 80004002?

What Happens If You Turn Computer Off During Update?

If you switch off your device while it’s downloading updates, the process immediately stops but can be resumed later. However, if the abrupt shutdown corrupts the already downloaded files, you will have to restart the process.

There are two stages of updating Windows 10/11:

• The first is the downloading stage which brings in new software updates. When you shut down your computer at this stage, you don’t have to worry about any harm since the new files may be backed up.

The system will automatically resume the downloads when your computer is back on. However, sometimes, the files or data may be lost or corrupted, and you will have to restart the download.

• When your PC shuts down during the second stage (installation stage), the process will stop and resume when your computer is back on. Apart from a few glitches, it will not do any damage to your PC. After downloading the updates, you always have the option to schedule a computer restart or restart immediately to incorporate the updates. So, you can always restart the updates if your PC shuts down.

You should note that Microsoft nowadays uses Component-Bases Servicing (CBS), which ensures a device can successfully boot up after being randomly shut down during the installation process.

So, switching off your device during this stage might not harm your computer. However, there are still chances that it may still damage crucial data or, even worse, render your machine unbootable.

Also Read: [FIXED] Potential Windows Update Database Error Detected

How to Stop Windows 10/11 Updates in Progress

Microsoft recommends that you don’t turn off your computer during the installation phase to prevent damage. However, the updates might get stuck, leaving you no choice but to perform a hard shutdown.

To do so, long-press the power button for about ten seconds. Then, wait for another 10-30 seconds and turn on the device.

To troubleshoot the problem, use startup repair in Advanced Startup Options. These steps will guide you through the process:

• Press Windows + I to open the Settings menu.
• Click Update & Security.

• Navigate to Recovery.

• Click Restart now.

• Choose Troubleshoot.

• Click on Advanced options.

• Select Startup Repair.

• Then, wait for the process to complete.

This will fix any issue that was causing the device to get stuck on the blue screen.

How to Stop Ongoing Windows 10/11 Update

When your update is stuck on a loop, it is advisable to wait a little longer. However, if the process stagnates longer than expected, you should safely shut down your computer. Here is a simple approach to guide you:

• On your keyboard, press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete combination.
• The screen will turn blue and display several options.
• Click on the power button in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
• Next, choose either the Shut down or the Restart button.

Alternatively, you can follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows Key + D combo to access your PC’s desktop.
2. Then, press the Alt + F4 keys at once.
3. The shutdown menu will pop up on your screen. Click on the Shut down option, then hit Enter. Your Windows 11 PC will turn off without any issues.

If you are having trouble booting your device, you may consider starting a Windows recovery process to repair your computer.

When Is It Safe to Restart Your Computer When Updating Windows

Windows 10/11 updates allow you to restart your PC after installing the program updates. Therefore, it is vital to restart your PC once all the updates have been installed.

That is, after the download and installation process to prevent interrupting the ongoing updates.

In addition to saving your computer from damage, restarting when all the updates are ready helps you save time, as you won’t have to restart after every download.

How to Stop Windows Updates from Downloading

The following guides will help you permanently disable Windows updates on your computer. Note that using these procedures will also stop any updates downloads in progress and prevent the downloaded ones from being installed.

Method 1: Stop the Windows update service

The Windows Update service is usually responsible for downloading and installing the latest Windows updates on your computer. Disabling it would prevent your machine from downloading any updates.

To stop the service, follow these instructions:

• Press the Windows logo key + R combination to open the Run dialog box.
• Type in services.msc and then click OK.

• When the services window opens, scroll down the list to locate Windows Update.

• Right-click on it and choose Stop.

• Wait for the process to complete, and then close the window.

Related: Ultimate Guide: How to Manually Check and Install Windows Updates

Method 2: Stop automatic maintenance

Automatic maintenance is a feature that conducts security scanning and software updates. Stopping it helps block Windows updates from downloading or installing on your machine.

You can disable Automatic maintenance by using this guide:

• Use the Window + S key combo to bring up the Windows search bar

• Type in the control panel and then click Open on the right menu pane.

• Click System and Security.

• On the new window, choose Maintenance on the right pane.

• Now, select Stop Maintenance.

How to stop automatic maintenance on Windows 10 Professional 

If you use Windows 10 Professional and want to stop an update download in progress, you can do so via the Group Policy Editor. Here is how to go about it:

• Press the Windows logo + X keyboard combo to open the Power User menu and choose Run.
• Type in gpedit.msc and hit Enter.

• Go to Computer Configuration and choose Administrative Templates.

• Click on Windows Components and then select Windows Update.

• Locate the Configure Automatic Updates option and double-click on it.

• Choose Disabled under the Configure Automatic Updates section.

• Click on the Apply button and then select OK to save the modifications.

Also Read: How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80070057

How to Pause Windows 10/11 Update

Windows 10/11 updates ensure your operating system is working optimally by fixing bugs and introducing new efficient features. However, some errors have been noticed with incoming updates.

So, if you prefer to delay the updates for a week or two to confirm if they are safe, you will have to deactivate automatic updates. You can follow these simple steps to pause all updates:

• Open your device settings by clicking the Windows icon on your taskbar, then the Settings application.
• Navigate to the Windows Update option on the left menu pane and open it.

• If there are any pending updates, they will be listed at the top of your screen. Otherwise, clicking the Check for updates button will show any awaiting updates. If not, you will see the You’re up to date text.

• Below this information, you will notice a Pause updates option. On its right, there is a button labeled Pause for 1 week. Clicking the Pause updates option will pause the updates for a week. If you want to delay for longer than one week, click on Pause for 1 week to allow you to choose the duration you prefer.
• To resume updates, you need to click on the Resume updates button that replaces the Check for updates button.

Further Reading: Windows Update Troubleshooter: Easily Fixing Windows Update Issues

Bonus Tip: Update Your Device Drivers

If you think long Windows updates are annoying, you have clearly not encountered system crashes caused by outdated drivers. Your operating system relies on drivers to communicate with the hardware to ensure excellent performance.

When these drivers become outdated or corrupted, they stop working correctly, triggering freezing and crashing problems on your PC. This gets worse if there are several obsolete drivers on your machine.

Also read: How to Check if My Drivers Are Up to Date on Windows 10 PC?

To prevent this, you should regularly update your device drivers, either manually or automatically. Experts recommend the latter as it’s much easier and more reliable, but we will show you how to do both.

To manually update a driver, follow this procedure:

• Go to the Windows search box and type in device manager.
• Click on Device Manager.
• When a new window appears, double-click on a section. Then, right-click on a device

• Choose Update driver.

• Next, click on the Search automatically for drivers link

Then, wait for the driver to be brought up to date. Once done, reboot your machine.

Automatically update your drivers using Auslogics Driver Updater

For the automatic approach, you will require an automatic driver updater such as Auslogics Driver Updater. This simple tool quickly scans your Windows PC and then provides a report of all the corrupted, missing, and outdated drivers it finds.

Updating drivers using Auslogics Driver Updater

With this report, you can easily select several drivers and update them all in one click. Additionally, Driver Updater backs up drivers before updating them.

This enables you to easily revert a driver to its previous version whenever you want to. Lastly, the program updates drivers to their manufacturer-recommended versions, so you never have to worry about compatibility issues.

Conclusion

If you are here, you have probably been wondering, “What happens if I interrupt a Windows update?” Hopefully, you got all the answers you needed today. However, if you have more questions regarding today’s topic, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below. You can also find more Windows 10 guides like this one on our blog.

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