Pause Windows Updates Longer Than 5 Weeks (Up to 20 Years)

Last Updated on April 22, 2026

As you probably know, Microsoft Windows will update your computer on a regular basis with updates such as security patches, device drivers, feature updates and so on. Back in the old days, we could turn off or disable Windows Update but now we can only pause updates for up to 5 weeks. Then after that, they will continue whether you like it or not.

Many people like to configure their computer a certain way and then do not want any updates applied that would make any changes. Other people may worry that Windows updates will break something on their computer, especially if going from a major release such as 23H2 to 24H2. In this article, we will be showing you how to pause Windows Updates for longer than 5 weeks and up to 20 years.

Why Does Microsoft Limit the Pause to 5 Weeks?

Since the introduction of Windows 10, Microsoft has moved to a “Windows as a Service” model. This means they prioritize keeping all computers on a similar update schedule to ensure critical security patches are universally applied. Limiting the pause feature to 35 days prevents users from permanently ignoring updates.

However, for specialized machines, like audio production rigs, computers running legacy enterprise software, or users with strict data caps forced updates can cause massive disruptions. Modifying the registry as shown below bypasses this artificial cap, giving you total control over your system’s stability without breaking the update engine.

As you can see in the image below, when you go to the Windows settings and then to Windows Update, you can pause updates from 1 to 5 weeks.

Important: Create a Registry Backup First

Because this fix requires making changes to the Windows Registry (the core database of your operating system), it is highly recommended to create a quick backup before proceeding.

1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and hit Enter.
3. Click on File in the top menu, select Export, choose “All” for the export range, and save the file to your desktop.

If you make a mistake, you can simply double-click this backup file to restore your original settings

To extend the time that we are able to pause Windows updates, we will be performing, and simple registry edit. You can either manually edit the registry yourself or download the registry file here and then import it into your computer.

Here is what is contained within the registry file from the download link.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]

“FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays”=dword:00001c84

To import the information from the file into your registry, you will need to unzip the zip file and then double click on the block-updates.reg file to begin the process.

For the first window that asks you if you are sure if you want to run this software, simply click on the Run button.

You will then see a UAC (User Account Control) prompt and you will need to click on the Yes button to continue. By the way, your account will need to be a local administrator on the computer, or you will need to know the username and password for an administrative account to continue.

The next window simply asks you to confirm that you want to add the information from the registry file into the Windows registry. You can click the Yes button to continue.

You will then receive a confirmation telling you that the information from the registry file has been added to the Windows registry and you can then click the OK button to finish the process.

Now when you go back to the Windows settings and to the Windows Update section, you will see that you can pause Windows updates for up to 1042 weeks which equals 20 years. You can also choose a more reasonable number such as 10 or 15 weeks as well.

Method 2: How to Manually Create the Registry Key

If you prefer not to download the pre-made .reg file, you can easily create the required entry yourself. This is completely safe and only takes a minute:

1. Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit into your Windows search bar.
2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings
3. Right-click on an empty space in the right-hand pane, select New, and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name this new value exactly: FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays
5. Double-click the new value. Change the “Base” on the right side to Decimal.
6. In the “Value data” box, type the number of days you want to be able to pause. For example, entering 7300 will give you roughly 20 years. Click OK and restart your computer.

If you want to remove the ability to pause Windows Updates longer than 5 weeks, you will need to manually edit the registry to do this. To open the Windows Registry Editor, type in regedit in the Windows taskbar search box and choose the Registry Editor option.

You will then need to navigate to the following registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings

You can also copy the text above and paste it into the address bar of the registry editor.

Then you will need to find the DWORD value called FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays and right click on it and choose Delete.

Once you do that, you will have the default option of pausing Windows updates up to 5 weeks.

Windows Update Pause FAQ

Does pausing updates stop Windows Defender?
No. Even if you pause major feature and cumulative updates for 20 years, Windows Security (Defender) will still continue to download critical virus definitions in the background to keep you safe from malware.

Will this work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes! The UX\Settings registry path and the FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays DWORD function exactly the same on both operating systems, including the latest 23H2 and 24H2 builds.

Can I still force an update if I want to?
Absolutely. Even with the pause active, you can go into your Windows Update settings at any time and click the “Resume updates” or “Check for updates” button to override the pause and download the latest patches immediately.

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