5 ways your Windows updates are about to get a lot less painful

['Earlier this year, Microsoft vowed to address the "pain points" in Windows 11, and the first changes are now emerging, focusing on one of the most frustrating issues: Windows Update. For years, Windows users have struggled with updates that insist on installing at inopportune moments, such as during an important online meeting or presentation.', 'The latest improvements, announced in a blog post titled "Your Windows update experience just got updated," aim to eliminate those annoying moments. However, these changes need to go through a full round of testing in the Windows Insider program before they reach the general public.

I\'ve enabled the new Windows Update experience on a test PC running the latest build from the Windows Insider Experimental channel, and I can confirm that at least one option is working now.', "One of the significant changes is the ability to pause updates for a specific date, rather than just a set number of weeks. The new interface allows users to choose a date from a calendar control on the Windows Update page, up to 35 days in advance. Additionally, users can extend the pause period indefinitely, re-pausing for up to 35 days at a time with no limits on how many times they can reset the pause end date.

Microsoft's Windows Insider Program is no longer a confusing mess, and this new feature is a welcome change.", 'Another useful feature is the option to choose when to install updates. On the Power menu, users will find the regular Shut Down and Restart options alongside "Update and shut down" and "Update and restart" choices. This allows users to control when the update is installed, rather than having it forced upon them.

Microsoft account vs. local account: How to choose and set up your pick in Windows 11 is another important consideration for users.', 'Microsoft is also consolidating updates to reduce the number of reboots required. The company is coordinating driver, .NET, and firmware updates to align with the monthly quality update, resulting in a single monthly restart.

Updates will download in the background and wait for a coordinated installation and restart, which will align with the next Windows quality update or other update that the user manually approves.', 'Finally, Microsoft is providing more detailed information about updates, especially driver updates, which often have similar titles. The company is adding the device class to the driver title, ensuring that pending or installed driver updates clarify whether they apply to display, audio, battery, extension, HDC, or other applicable driver update classes. The new controls are expected to appear in Beta builds in the next month or two, with public updates potentially available as early as September.']