I need the ability to postpone an automated Microsoft 365 update when I am using a 365 product. How do I do that?

Question

I need the ability to postpone an automated Microsoft 365 update when I am using a 365 product. How do I do that?

Jeff R. Hawkins 20

Invariably, I am deep in multiple Word documents and one or more Excel workbooks when the automated Microsoft 365 Update system launches during my morning work routines. If it happens while I am in a meeting with the client, I don't have time to close my applications and wait for the system to finish the updates. Therefore, I need a button with a time field that allows me to postpone an update until a later time that I can select when the update will be less disruptive.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

1 additional answer

Your answer

Answer 1

Hello @Jeff R. Hawkins,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A Forum.

I just want to confirm whether you are referring to Windows updates or Microsoft Office updates, as the steps differ for each.

If your question is about Windows updates, you can pause them by opening Settings, selecting “Windows Update”, and then choosing “Pause updates”. From there, you can select the duration that works best for you. This will temporarily stop Windows from installing updates until you resume them.

User's image

If your concern is about Office updates (for applications like Word or Excel), you can manage this directly within the Office app. Open any Office application, go to File > Account, and under Office Updates, click “Update Options”. From the menu, select “Disable Updates". This will stop Office from updating until you turn updates back on at a convenient time.

User's image

Please let me know which type of update you are referring to so I can provide more tailored guidance. If you need any further assistance or step-by-step instructions, just let me know, I’ll be happy to help.

Best regards,

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accepted" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Jeff R. Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-01-15T14:41:31.4766667+00:00

Demi-N, my concern is about Office updates. I suppose I knew it was possible to turn off the notifications, but ADHD makes it challenging to remember to run manual updates. So, I was hoping to find an intermediate solution. Thanks for the reminder of the manual approach.
Demi-N 15,570 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-01-16T10:29:40.55+00:00

Hi @Jeff R. Hawkins,

Thank you for your feedback. I'm glad to hear that my answer was helpful to you.

If you need any further assistance, please feel free to reach out to our forum anytime.

Wishing you a great day!

Answer 2

To postpone an automated Microsoft 365 update while using applications like Word or Excel, you can utilize the built-in options provided by Microsoft AutoUpdate. When an update is prompted, you have the ability to postpone the installation of updates up to three times for two hours each. If you need more time, you can choose to postpone the update installation when prompted. However, once the deadline is reached, the applications will be closed, and the updates will be applied automatically.

Additionally, if you set a specific deadline for updates, you can configure how many days in advance the Automatic Download and Install mode begins, allowing you to manage when updates are applied more effectively. This way, you can plan your work around the update schedule.

For more control, consider setting a preference for the deadline timer, which can give you more grace time before the updates are applied.

References:

Share via

I need the ability to postpone an automated Microsoft 365 update when I am using a 365 product. How do I do that?

1 additional answer

Your answer