How to shut down without updating in Windows 11 and 10

Applies to: Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs that are not managed by a work or school IT department. On managed PCs, update and restart rules can be set by the organization.

Why Windows wants to update when you shut down

Windows downloads most updates in the background, but some can only finish while Windows isn’t running. When one is ready, the Power menu offers Update and shut down and Update and restart. Choosing either one installs the update on the way down, which can take a few minutes or longer.

Skipping the update for now is fine when you’re in a hurry, on battery, or about to pack the laptop. The update isn’t cancelled; it simply waits. Updates fix security problems, so plan to install them soon, for example at the end of the day.

Method 1: Use plain Shut down in the Power menu

1. Select Start (or press the Windows key).
2. Select the Power icon.
3. Choose Shut down, not Update and shut down.

On current versions of Windows 11 and Windows 10, the plain Shut down and Restart options usually appear next to the update options. If your menu shows only the update options, use Method 2 or Method 3.

The same choices appear when you press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select the power icon at the bottom right of the screen.

Method 2: Use the Alt + F4 shutdown dialog

1. Close or minimize your open windows so you’re on the desktop. Select an empty part of the desktop.
2. Press Alt + F4. The Shut Down Windows box opens.
3. Open the drop-down list and choose Shut down.
4. Select OK.

If you press Alt + F4 while an app is selected, it closes that app instead, so make sure the desktop is selected first.

Method 3: Shut down with a command

Press Windows + R, type the command below, and press Enter. It also works in Command Prompt or Terminal.

shutdown /s /t 0

/s means shut down and /t 0 means do it now. This command doesn’t ask Windows to install updates, so pending updates normally wait for the next restart. If Windows has already started installing an update, it may still finish it. Use shutdown /r /t 0 to restart instead.

To make this one click, right-click the desktop, choose New > Shortcut, enter shutdown /s /t 0 as the location, and name it Shut down. For more update commands, see our guide to running Windows Update from the command line.

Method 4: Sleep or hibernate instead

If you’ll be back soon, Start > Power > Sleep keeps your apps open and doesn’t install anything. Waking the PC takes a second or two.

Hibernate saves your session to the disk and turns the PC fully off, so it’s better for a laptop you’re packing away. If it’s not in the Power menu, add it: open Control Panel, go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do, select Change settings that are currently unavailable, tick Hibernate and select Save changes.

Method 5: Pause updates for a while

Pausing stops Windows from downloading or installing updates that need a restart until the date you choose, and it won’t restart the PC by itself to finish them.

1. Open Start > Settings > Windows Update.
2. Next to Pause updates, choose how long to pause, or pick an end date.

Microsoft says you can pause for up to 35 days. When the pause ends, Windows starts installing the waiting updates, so use it to pick a better time, not to avoid updates for good. An update that is already waiting for a restart may still show the update options in the Power menu; use Methods 1 to 3 to shut down without it.

Stop surprise restarts with active hours

Windows avoids restarting for updates during your active hours. Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Active hours and either let Windows set them based on how you use the PC or set your usual working hours yourself.

On Windows 11 version 24H2 and later, Microsoft is rolling out a change for home and small business PCs that groups updates needing a restart (such as driver, .NET and firmware updates) with the monthly security update, so most PCs need only one update restart a month. Emergency fixes and Microsoft Defender updates can still install between those.

What not to do

Once the screen says Working on updates or Getting Windows ready, don’t hold the power button or unplug the PC. Cutting power while an update is being installed can leave Windows unable to start. Let it finish; if it seems stuck, see Getting Windows ready, don’t turn off your computer for what to do.

Also avoid tools that switch off the Windows Update service completely. They leave the PC without security fixes and can cause errors such as We couldn’t connect to the update service later.

Related guides

• Getting Windows ready, don’t turn off your computer: what to do
• How to run Windows Update from the command line
• How to disable Fast Startup in Windows
• We couldn’t connect to the update service: how to fix it

Official sources: for more detail, see these Microsoft pages:

• Microsoft Support: Pause updates in Windows
• Microsoft Learn: shutdown command reference
• Microsoft Support: One restart a month for Windows updates

Frequently asked questions

Does choosing Shut down cancel the update?

No. The update stays downloaded and waits. Windows offers it again the next time you shut down or restart, and may schedule a restart outside your active hours.

Is it safe to shut down without updating?

Yes, as long as the update hasn’t started installing. Skipping it once is fine, but install updates within a few days because many of them fix security problems.

Why is there no plain Shut down option?

Some versions and settings show only the update options when an update is waiting. Use the Alt + F4 dialog or the shutdown /s /t 0 command, which let you shut down without choosing an update option.

Can I close the laptop lid instead?

Closing the lid usually puts the PC to sleep, which doesn’t install updates. You can change what the lid does in Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what closing the lid does.