Windows 10: Installing Updates and Restarting During my Active Hours?

I have Active hours listed as 9 am to 8 pm. Why is Microsoft installing updates and restarting my laptop at 2:39 PM?

:)

 

Windows update and restart during active hours

Hi susanahlburg,

There will be situations when Windows Update can override the set active hours due to a bug. As a workaround, I suggest that you set your connection as metered to control when updates are installed.

To set a Wi-Fi network connection as metered:

• Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet >
  Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
• Select the Wi-Fi network > Properties > turn on Set as metered connection.

In addition, if you are experienced in modifying group policies and registry keys, you can configure a forced restart after a specified installation time, and then turn off auto-restart for updates during active hours. Should you choose to proceed with modifying
group policies and registry keys, I suggest that you seek assistance from an IT professional or technician to avoid further issues with the system. Here is an
article on how to manage device restarts after updates. Refer to
Schedule update installation and Delay automatic reboot.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

Restart immediately after installing Windows updates, regardless of active hours

Almost.

See the Microsoft Docs: "Manage device restarts after updates":

What do I mean by "almost"?, if it's active hours and an update has been installed the computer might want to wait and warn you before rebooting out from under you. That's the "almost" part, during active hours it needs to wait, offer a warning, then if you don't cancel it will reboot - there's not a 'constantly detect if I'm away during active hours' unless you set a very short scheduling delay (which would catch you if you were using the computer and got called away).

Read on at that link (which is on the Microsoft website, so it should remain up to date and redirect if moved; alternatively there's WayBack):

There is additional information about: "Always automatically restart at the scheduled time", "Engaged restart", "Scheduled auto-restart warnings", etc. simply find a combination of settings that works for you without causing too long a wait while unattended (even during active hours) nor commits you to reboot without the opportunity to abort for a period of time.

Maybe a 10 minute warning and a two hour schedule will work for you, a setting to 'download and immediately reboot while I'm away' wouldn't work for the incessant interruptions, a half hour schedule might work if you are anxious to apply updates over any annoyance from being pestered to allow a reboot.

 

Specify Max Active Hours Range in Local Group Policy Editor

How to Specify Max Active Hours Range for Auto-restarts in Windows 10


Active hours identify the period of time when you expect the device to be in use. Automatic restarts after an update will occur outside of the active hours.

By default, active hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM. Users can change the active hours manually with a max active hours range of 18 hours by default.

Starting with Windows 10 version 1703, administrators can specify the max active hours range users can set. This option gives you additional flexibility to leave some of the decision for active hours on the user's side, while making sure you allow enough time for updating. The specified range will be counted from the active hours start time.

This tutorial will show you how to specify the maximum number of hours from the start time that users can set their active hours for Windows Update auto-restarts in Windows 10.

*Warning You must be signed in as an administrator to specify the max active hours range.


CONTENTS:

• Option One: Specify Max Active Hours Range in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: Specify Max Active Hours Range using a REG file

EXAMPLE: When max active hours range has been specified










OPTION ONE

Specify Max Active Hours Range in Local Group Policy Editor

*note The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
*Arrow Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update




3. In the right pane of Windows Update in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Specify active hours range for auto-restarts policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 (default) or step 6 (specify) below for what you would like to do.


5. To Use Default Max Active Hours Range
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

*note Not Configured is the default setting.

6. To Specify Max Active Hours Range
A) Select (dot) Enabled, select a Max range of 8 to 18 hours in the drop menu you want, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)




7. When finished, close the Local Group Policy Editor.

8. Restart the computer to apply.







OPTION TWO

Specify Max Active Hours Range using a REG file

*note The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD values in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

SetActiveHoursMaxRange DWORD

(delete) = Default
1 = Specify

ActiveHoursMaxRange DWORD

(delete) = Default
8 (decimal) = 8 hours
9 (decimal) = 9 hours
10 (decimal) = 10 hours
11 (decimal) = 11 hours
12 (decimal) = 12 hours
13 (decimal) = 13 hours
14 (decimal) = 14 hours
15 (decimal) = 15 hours
16 (decimal) = 16 hours
17 (decimal) = 17 hours
18 (decimal) = 18 hours


1. Do step 2 (default), step 3 (8), step 4 (9), step 5 (10), step 6 (11), step 7 (12), step 8 (13), step 9 (14), step 10 (15), step 11 (16), step 12 (17), or step 13 (18) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Use Default Max Active Hours Range
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Default_active_hours_range.reg





3. To Specify 8 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_8_hours.reg





4. To Specify 9 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_9_hours.reg





5. To Specify 10 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_10_hours.reg





6. To Specify 11 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_11_hours.reg





7. To Specify 12 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_12_hours.reg





8. To Specify 13 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_13_hours.reg





9. To Specify 14 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_14_hours.reg





10. To Specify 15 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_15_hours.reg





11. To Specify 16 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_16_hours.reg





12. To Specify 17 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_17_hours.reg





13. To Specify 18 Hours as Max Active Hours Range
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 14 below.

Set_max_active_hours_range_to_18_hours.reg




14. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

15. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

16. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

17. Restart the computer to apply.

18. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Change Active Hours for Windows Update in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours in Windows 10
• How to Enable or Disable Windows Update Active Hours in Windows 10
• How to Schedule a Restart Time for Windows Update in Windows 10
• How to Configure Auto-restart Required Notification for Updates in Windows 10
• How to Configure Auto-restart Reminder Notifications for Updates in Windows 10
• How to Configure Auto-restart Warning Notifications Schedule for Updates in Windows 10
• How to Specify Deadlines for Automatic Updates and Restarts in Windows 10