How to Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours in Windows 10


Windows Update keeps Windows 10 updated by downloading and installing the latest updates, drivers, and hotfixes released by Microsoft.

Starting with Windows 10 build 14316, you can now set the time in which you are most active on your device by changing active hours. Active hours lets Windows know when you usually use this device. When a restart is necessary to finish installing an update, Windows won't automatically restart your device during active hours.

When a restart is scheduled, you can use a custom restart time to temporarily override active hours and schedule a custom time to finish installing the current update(s). When your computer restarts on the scheduled custom time, custom restart time will automatically be turned off, and Windows Update will only restart outside of active hours again. You can also manually turn off custom restart time at anytime if you change your mind.

Starting with Windows 10 build 18282, Windows can automatically adjust active hours for you based on your device activity.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off letting Windows automatically adjust active hours for you based on your daily usage to avoid rebooting your Windows 10 PC to finish installing a Windows Update.

The Intelligent Active Hours setting will affect all users on the computer.


 CONTENTS:

  • Option One: Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours for All Users in Settings
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours for All Users using a REG file





OPTION ONE

Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours for All Users in Settings


1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Update & Security icon.

2. Click/tap on Windows Update on the left side, and click/tap on Change active hours on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours in Windows 10-active_hours.jpg

3. Turn on or off (default) Automatically adjust active hours for me based on my daily usage for what you want. (see screenshots below)

Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours in Windows 10-turn_on_auto_adjust_active_hours.jpg Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours in Windows 10-turn_off_auto_adjust_active_hours.jpg

4. You can now close Settings if you like.






OPTION TWO

Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours for All Users using a REG file



You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings

SmartActiveHoursState DWORD

1 = On
2 = Off


1. Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.


 2. To Turn On Automatically Adjust Active Hours for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_on_Auto_adjust_active_hours.reg

Download


 3. To Turn Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours for All Users

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Turn_off_Auto_adjust_active_hours.reg

Download

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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