Microsoft is giving Windows 11 users more control over updates. The company announced that users can now pause Windows updates indefinitely, resetting the 35-day pause limit as many times as they want. Previously, users were limited to a single 35-day pause period before updates would automatically resume.

The change stems from user feedback that consistently cited disruption caused by untimely updates and not enough control over when updates happen, according to Microsoft's Aria Hanson. Beyond pause functionality, users can now shut down or restart their devices without triggering an update. This builds on a recent feature allowing users to skip updates during new device setup.

The updates are currently rolling out to Windows Insider participants in the Dev and Experimental Channels. While Microsoft notes that most updates include critical security patches, the company is now letting users decide when to install them rather than forcing automatic installation.