Microsoft is giving users more control over Windows 11 updates in the latest Windows Insider preview. Users can now skip updates entirely during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) menu, allowing PC setup without applying updates first. Previously, new configurations months behind on updates were forced to apply them immediately, leading to prolonged setup times and user frustration.

Additionally, users can pause updates for up to 35 days through a dedicated calendar in settings. The 35-day mark isn't a hard stop—users can reset the pause date repeatedly, essentially allowing indefinite postponement. This helps when waiting to see if new updates cause issues like the recent BitLocker trigger in the April update.

Microsoft also ensured regular "Shutdown" and "Restart" options are always visible in the power menu, removing mandatory "Update and restart" or "Update and shut down" prompts. The company is also promising more transparency around driver updates, which often arrive with minimal information about what actually changes.