How to adjust active hours to avoid random restarts on Windows 11

On Windows 11, you can adjust the settings for “active hours” to specify a custom time range to prevent the system from restarting automatically while you are actively using the computer, and in this guide, you will learn how.

When the system downloads and installs updates, Windows 11 usually requires a restart to apply the changes. The problem with this approach is that the restart could happen at any time, regardless of whether you are using the device.

Although updates are important to keep your computer secure and with the latest improvements, random system reboots created a lot of complaints for Microsoft. “Active hours” is a feature that the company created back on Windows 10 to mitigate this problem. The feature allows setting a time range (up to 18 hours) that will indicate when you will be actively using the computer to prevent the system from restarting automatically. On Windows 11, active hours works automatically, but you can change the settings to block the system from restarting at a custom time range.

This guide will teach you the steps to configure active hours on Windows 11.

• Change active hours to manually on Windows 11
• Change active hours to automatic on Windows 11

Change active hours to manually on Windows 11

To adjust active hours manually on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

2. Click on Windows Update.

3. Click the Advanced options tab.

   

4. Click the “Active hours” setting and select the Manually option.

5. Specify when the active hours should start to prevent Windows 11 from restarting automatically.

   

6. Specify when the active hours should end to allow the system to restart automatically if necessary.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will not try to restart automatically to apply updates during the time range you specified. 

Change active hours to automatic on Windows 11

To set active hours automatically on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Windows Update.

3. Click the Advanced options tab.

   

4. Click the “Active hours” setting and select the Automatic option.

   

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will adjust the “active hours” settings automatically depending on your behavior using the computer.