Maximize update pause duration
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: High
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: High
This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script.
- Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This script maximizes the pause duration for system updates via the settings interface. It postpones both feature and quality updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11. This is particularly useful for those preferring fewer interruptions from regular updates.
By default, the following registry keys are absent in Windows 10 and Windows 11 and are added only when updates are paused through the user interface 1:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseFeatureUpdatesStartTime
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseFeatureUpdatesEndTime
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseQualityUpdatesStartTime
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseQualityUpdatesEndTime
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseUpdatesStartTime
(set only in Windows 11 22H2 and later)HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseUpdatesExpiryTime
This method has been tested and verified on Windows 10 from version 22H2 and Windows 11 from version 23H2 onwards. To ensure functional integrity, all these keys must be added together.
While beneficial for Windows Home users 1, note that Group Policy Object (GPO) settings might override these changes.
This script postpones critical security updates, increasing potential security risks for your computer.
- Not Advised
This script should only be used by advanced users.
This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.
Consider creating a system restore point before doing any changes.
- Security Trade-off
This action prioritizes privacy over certain security features. It's not recommended and should only be used by advanced users after understanding its implications.
Increased Privacy
Enhanced privacy through reduced data collection and trackingDecreased Security
Some security features will be disabled or limitedThis script can be reversed, this action allows you to can restore the system security.
Sources
- [BUG]: Windows automatically re-enables Update after 4-5 days · Issue #272 · undergroundwires/privacy.sexy. github.com/undergroundwires. (2024).
Original: https://github.com/undergroundwires/privacy.sexy/issues/272
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240828090748/https://github.com/undergroundwires/privacy.sexy/issues/272#issuecomment-1772602388
Apply Now
Choose one of three ways to apply:
Download script
Download and run the script directly- No app needed
- Offline usage
- Easy-to-apply
- Free
- Open-source
Help
How to apply or restore "Maximize update pause duration" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Apply with privacy.sexy
Guided, automated application with safety checks- Recommended for most users
- Includes safety checks
- Free
- Open-source
- Popular
- Offline/Online usage
Help
How to apply or restore "Maximize update pause duration" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Maximize update pause duration
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
- Apply
- Revert
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseFeatureUpdatesStartTime"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings'; $data = '(Get-Date).ToString('yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ')'; $data = $((Get-Date).ToString('yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ')); reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings' /v 'PauseFeatureUpdatesStartTime' /t 'REG_SZ' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseFeatureUpdatesEndTime"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings'; $data = '2963-01-17T00:00:00Z'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings' /v 'PauseFeatureUpdatesEndTime' /t 'REG_SZ' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseQualityUpdatesStartTime"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings'; $data = '(Get-Date).ToString('yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ')'; $data = $((Get-Date).ToString('yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ')); reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings' /v 'PauseQualityUpdatesStartTime' /t 'REG_SZ' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseQualityUpdatesEndTime"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings'; $data = '2963-01-17T00:00:00Z'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings' /v 'PauseQualityUpdatesEndTime' /t 'REG_SZ' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseUpdatesStartTime"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings'; $data = '(Get-Date).ToString('yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ')'; $data = $((Get-Date).ToString('yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ')); reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings' /v 'PauseUpdatesStartTime' /t 'REG_SZ' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
:: Set the registry value: "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings!PauseUpdatesExpiryTime"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$registryPath = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings'; $data = '2963-01-17T00:00:00Z'; reg add 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings' /v 'PauseUpdatesExpiryTime' /t 'REG_SZ' /d "^""$data"^"" /f"
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
Help
How to apply or restore "Maximize update pause duration" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Command Prompt
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as Administrator. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
Similar Guides
Wider Goal
Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
- Maximize auto-update duration
- Disable automatic updates
- Privacy over security
This category includes scripts designed to extend the intervals between automatic updates. These scripts provide users with greater control over the timing of syst...
Disabling automatic updates is often considered counterintuitive when it comes to securing your system. However, there are substantial arguments to consider this o...
Steps to privacy over security on your Windows machine to enhance data privacy protection. Together with that, this feature walks through the procedure to undo the...
Same Goal
Other guides in Maximize auto-update durationSee settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.