Microsoft is making it easy to stop Windows 10 rebooting your PC randomly for updates

Microsoft is unveiling some changes to the way Windows Updates are applied to Windows 10 PCs with the upcoming Creators Update. The software giant has long been criticized by Windows 10 users for its aggressive approach to applying updates, and it’s introducing some new options to prevent annoying reboots. “What we heard back most explicitly was that you want more control over when Windows 10 installs updates,” admits John Cable, Microsoft’s Windows director of program management. “We also heard that unexpected reboots are disruptive if they happen at the wrong time.”

To stop these random reboots, Microsoft is adding a new snooze option that appears in a new prompt to let you know there’s a Windows 10 update available. Snooze will stop an update installing for three days, and give you time to save any crucial work. Alongside snooze, you can also pick a time to schedule a restart for a more convenient time. Microsoft has been testing these changes with Windows Insiders, and says the feedback has been positive.

Alongside the Windows Update changes, Microsoft is also making some privacy tweaks to Windows 10 with the Creators Update. While EU regulators revealed last month that they’re still concerned over Windows 10 privacy settings, Microsoft is pushing ahead with some changes to simplify privacy settings. A new privacy panel is being introduced that will let Windows 10 users quickly disable features like location, speech recognition, relevant ads, and telemetry data.

The user interface for these privacy options looks a lot easier to understand, but EU regulators still want Microsoft to explain what types of personal data are processed when using Windows 10 features. Microsoft hasn’t publicly responded to EU regulators, but this new privacy panel will be tested with Windows Insiders before it’s rolled out as part of the Creators Update.