Education

HOW TO SET ACTIVE HOURS ON WINDOWS 11 AND CHANGE WINDOWS UPDATE TIME

Have you ever been in the middle of working on an important document when suddenly, your computer lags or hangs? It’s incredibly frustrating. Well, the good news is that you can prevent it from happening in the future. If you’ve just upgraded to Windows 11, one of the first steps is to set Active Hours and change your Windows Update Time.
This will help ensure that your system remains up-to-date and running smoothly. Plus, it can help you avoid those pesky automated updates that happen at the most inconvenient times.

How set active(windows 11)? In this article, I’ll walk you through how to configure Active Hours on Win 11 and how to change Windows Update Time. You’ll have your system running optimally in no time!

Introduction to Windows 11 Active Hours

Are you using Windows 11 on your PC? If so, you should know about the Active Working Hours feature. This allows you to specify a period that Windows Update can not run automatically. That means you can ensure that while you’re busy working, your computer won’t be interrupted by a Windows Update taking up all its resources. Here’s what you need to know about setting it up.

First and foremost, Active Hours is limited to a maximum of 12 hours. This ensures that Windows Update runs at least once daily and offers enough flexibility for most users. You can set any start and end time within the 12-hour window, allowing for precise control over when updates will not run. You can also easily adjust these times from the Settings page whenever needed.

How to Set Active Hours in Windows 11

It can be frustrating when your computer restarts itself during a substantial project you’re working on. Fortunately, Windows 11’s Active Hours feature allows you to schedule times when your computer won’t restart automatically when updates come up.

Setting up Active Hours is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is:

  1. Go to the Windows Settings page
  2. Click Update & Security
  3. Select “Change Active Hours”
  4. Choose the start and end times when you don’t want your computer to restart for updates.

Once you set up Active Hours, Windows will know not to restart during those hours, giving you peace of mind that your computer won’t reboot in the middle of an important task or presentation. Of course, if an urgent update does happen and it can’t wait until after your active hours are over, Windows will still override those settings and restart anyway—but at least with this feature, it should happen less often than before.

Pros and Cons of Setting Active Hours

Before setting active hours on Windows 11, knowing the pros and cons is essential. While scheduling specific periods during which your computer will automatically install updates can be helpful, there could also be downsides.

Pros:

  • Having active hours set means you don’t have to worry about your PC restarting randomly. You’ll know when updates will happen and can plan accordingly.
  • You’ll also be able to control which of the updates are installed. This way, your computer is free of unnecessary updates, and you can ensure only the ones needed are installed.

Cons:

  • By setting active hours, you won’t get any critical security patches during that period, which could make your computer vulnerable.
  • If you have a project that needs to be done asap and it’s scheduled within your active hours, then you might find yourself in a bind since Windows won’t allow any changes until the busy hours period is over.

Enabling Restarts for Updates in Windows 11

Now that you’ve set your Active Hours, it’s time to give Windows 11 permission to restart the PC during those active hours for installing updates. To do this, go to the Windows Update Settings page and make sure the following settings are enabled:

Automatically download and install updates

The first setting that must be enabled is “Automatically download and install updates.” This setting will let Windows 11 download and install available updates automatically, as long as they don’t need a system restart.

Restart this device As Soon As Possible when a restart is required

The second setting you’ll need to enable is “Restart this device As Soon As Possible when a restart is required to finish installing an update.” This setting will allow Windows 11 to contact your PC at any time if it needs to finish an installation process by rebooting.

Once both settings have been enabled, you can rest assured that only necessary PC resets will occur while Active Hours are in effect. Those resets will happen during the designated times you previously set up.

How to Change the Timing for Windows 11 Updates?

Setting Active Hours is a great way to control when Windows 11 updates are installed. Let’s talk about how to change the timing for updates.

Adjust Active Hours

Go to the Settings app, then select Update & Security > Change active hours. Here you can set the period (up to 12 hours) when you don’t want Windows 11 to install updates automatically.

Using this Active Hours setting, you can ensure your PC isn’t restarted for downloads and installs when you’re using it or sleeping. You can also set up a different restart schedule after installing an update (under Advanced options).

If you wish to keep Active Hours and restart times outside the standard schedules, don’t worry—you have options. Under Automatic update settings, select Customize and choose automatic restart times outside of regular working and sleeping hours.

So if you’re trying to get more out of Windows 11 without interruption from automatic updates, knowing how to adjust Active Hours is your best bet. Set them once, and enjoy uninterrupted work or playtime—Windows 11 will know not to bother you until your scheduled restart time arrives!

FAQs About Setting Active Hours and Windows Update Time

If you have questions about setting Active Hours and Windows Update time, let’s review some of the most common queries.

What Are Active Hours?

Active Hours is a built-in Windows 11 feature that helps you avoid unexpected reboots due to automatic updates. It sets the hours when the system can install updates, so if you don’t want your computer to restart while using it suddenly, this is a great way to go.

How Do I Set Active Hours?

Setting Active Hours is super easy. All you need to do is open Settings, click Update & Security, and then select “Change active hours.” From there, you can choose your active hours’ start and end times, during which Windows won’t install any updates. You can also select an additional time for when it should check for updates, with options ranging from one hour to 23 hours after your active hours period ends.

Can I Change Windows Update Time?

Yes! You can change when the updates are installed and checked for. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and select “Advanced options.” The first heading will ask if you want to check or install updates at a specific time—make sure it’s outside your active hours’ range—and how frequently it should be checked (daily/weekly). Once you’ve set it up, click “Save changes” at the bottom of the page, and you’re ready!

Conclusion

Setting Active Hours on Windows 11 and changing your Windows Update timing is relatively straightforward. So if you’re the type of person who wants control over when their system gets updated, go ahead and set your active hours. That way, you can enjoy more convenience and peace of mind knowing that your system’s update timing won’t interfere with your work.

Muhammad Fahad

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