Microsoft has oft been criticized for its automatic Windows 10 updates, which often catch users off guard and have caused lost work and PC problems. On the enterprise side of the Windows equation, Microsoft has a feature that allows users to delay an update. However, for consumers that ability has not been available.
It seems Microsoft is preparing to change that with a Windows 10 Home feature that lets users pause updates for 35 days. At the moment, users on Home are limited to putting an update on snooze and being constantly reminded about it.
A Redditor spotted the feature on the latest Windows 10 19H1 preview build (18356), but it seems it is only available through a clean Windows install.
Importantly, it means with the launch of Windows 10 April 2019 Update (version 1903), Microsoft is giving Home users an option to delay updates by over a month. This is arguably a vital feature. When new Windows updates are released, they can sometimes be unstable. In fact, any software update can be buggy at launch.
Being able to delay an update by over a month will appeal to many users. We just have to look at the last two Windows 10 updates to understand why. Microsoft launched the April 2018 Update just one day before May 2018 after delaying it for three weeks due to software problems. The October 2018 Update was even worse as Microsoft recalled the update for over a month to fix a list of problems.
Month Pause
Sure, we can easily say Microsoft should never sent out the October 2018 Update in the first place, considering the state of it. However, with an ability to delay updates users could avoid these early software teething problems.
In a message to ZDNet, Microsoft did not confirm the feature:
“The Windows Insider Program was created to enable Microsoft to test different features and functionality, which will influence future versions of Windows. Microsoft regularly test new features and changes to existing features to see what resonates well with fans.”
