Not all updates for the Windows operating system require restarting your PC. Some updates, particularly security and feature updates, generally require a restart.
Why is a reboot required to install a Windows update in Windows 11?
Unlike before, most Windows updates are installed without a restart. That said, Windows 11 asks you to restart your computer to install some updates.
Windows 11 asks you to restart your computer when it needs to update a DLL file, executable, device driver, or registry. A DLL file, executable file, or device driver currently running and being used by the Windows operating system cannot be updated unless the process using the system file is stopped. The process cannot be stopped while Windows is running. In short, Windows updates that are meant to update system files prompt you to restart your computer.
If Windows 11 has downloaded some updates automatically and prompting you to reboot to install updates, you do not need to restart your PC immediately. Instead, you can schedule a restart so that Windows 11 will automatically restart your PC to install updates.
This guide shows the two easy ways to schedule a restart to install updates in Windows 11.
Method 1 of 2
Schedule a restart from the Windows Update page on Windows 11
Step 1: Open the Windows 11 Settings app. Go to the Windows Update page.
Step 2: On the right side, a Restart now button should be visible. Click the down arrow icon next to the Restart now button and then click the Schedule restart option.
Step 3: Clicking the Schedule restart option will bring up the Schedule restart dialog. Here, select a day and time when you would like to restart your Windows 11 PC to install updates.
Click the Schedule restart button to save it.
Method 2 of 2
Schedule a restart from the taskbar in Windows 11
Step 1: Perform a right-click on the Windows Update icon in the taskbar system tray and then click the Schedule restart option. If the Windows Update icon is missing, click the small up arrow icon in the system tray to see the hidden icons.
Step 2: Select a day/date and time that is convenient for you and then click the Schedule restart button.
NOTE 1: When you schedule a restart to install Windows 11 updates, your PC will be automatically rebooted at the scheduled time to install pending updates. If the PC is not available at the scheduled time, for instance, it’s turned off during the scheduled time, Windows 11 will automatically find another time to restart and install updates.
NOTE 2: As you can see in the picture below, Windows 11 shows a flyout notification about the scheduled restart five minutes before the scheduled restart time so that you can save your work. The notification also offers an option to reschedule the scheduled restart time (useful if you need your PC).
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