Where did the settings go?

Marie SWE said:

I remember under updates and advanced settings you could pause ... security updates up to 15 or 30days.

So the short question is..... where have they hidden that setting now?

Settings, Update & security, Pause updates for 7 days (repeat up to five times for up to 35 days).
OR
Settings, Update & security, Advanced options, Pause until, Select date (up to 35 days).

How to Pause Updates or Resume Updates for Windows Update in Windows 10

NMI said:

Settings, Update & security, Pause updates for 7 days (repeat up to five times for up to 35 days).
OR
Settings, Update & security, Advanced options, Pause until, Select date (up to 35 days).

How to Pause Updates or Resume Updates for Windows Update in Windows 10

35days.. It was around 7years ago, so my memory is a bit vague on the details.

Marie SWE said:

35days.. It was around 7years ago, so my memory is a bit vague on the details.

It was 30 days back then (and defer, not pause):

You can prevent cumulative updates from being installed on your device for up to 30 days, and here's how to do it.

March 22, 2017

How to defer cumulative updates on Windows 10

NMI said:

It was 30 days back then (and defer, not pause):

I plan to disable all non security only updates.. I hate rolling release OS's. so that's why i plan to stop them... as it will take a while before i can get hold on LTSC keys, so i will modify pro to an LTSC version by remove, store, cortana, camera and all that unnecessary bloat. :)

If you wanted to pause updates until Jan. 2026 (when W10 support ends), you can use this reg file. Unlike the UI, the reg can set a specified end date longer than 30 days.

Credit to @Hellbovine

Code:

; Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options > Pause updates > Up to 4 years
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]
"FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays"=dword:000005b4

; Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update  > Advanced options > Pause updates > Until January 1st, 2026
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]
"PauseFeatureUpdatesStartTime"="2023-03-11T08:00:00Z"
"PauseQualityUpdatesStartTime"="2023-03-11T08:00:00Z"
"PauseFeatureUpdatesEndTime"="2026-01-01T08:00:00Z"
"PauseQualityUpdatesEndTime"="2026-01-01T08:00:00Z"
"PauseUpdatesExpiryTime"="2026-01-01T00:08:00Z"

garlin said:

If you wanted to pause updates until Jan. 2026 (when W10 support ends), you can use this reg file. Unlike the UI, the reg can set a specified end date longer than 30 days.

Credit to @Hellbovine

Code:

; Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options > Pause updates > Up to 4 years
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]
"FlightSettingsMaxPauseDays"=dword:000005b4

; Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update  > Advanced options > Pause updates > Until January 1st, 2026
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]
"PauseFeatureUpdatesStartTime"="2023-03-11T08:00:00Z"
"PauseQualityUpdatesStartTime"="2023-03-11T08:00:00Z"
"PauseFeatureUpdatesEndTime"="2026-01-01T08:00:00Z"
"PauseQualityUpdatesEndTime"="2026-01-01T08:00:00Z"
"PauseUpdatesExpiryTime"="2026-01-01T00:08:00Z"

I did not know those keys... interesting
I will have a look at it next time i start the VM.. Now it is 01:45 here, so i will mostly just be social the rest of the evening/night as i ave a tendensy to be irritated working with installs. *LOL*

You can confirm the results in VM, by shifting the clock. Hellbovine examined the reg changes after using the UI on a clean image, and inferring that you could extend the end date longer than Windows allows.

garlin said:

You can confirm the results in VM, by shifting the clock. Hellbovine examined the reg changes after using the UI on a clean image, and inferring that you could extend the end date longer than Windows allows.

I will also check so it does let security updates in, and keep the crap out.
I usually uses gpedit for changes if I'm on pro.
But tweaking with the registry now and then is healthy to keep it up.. and i am a bit rusty as i have not done a serious windows7+8.1 install for almost 7years... ripping apart win11 in 2021 don't really count. *LOL*