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How to Enable or Disable Windows 11 Update Restart Notifications

Richard
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Richard
Feb 3, 2026 Updated Jul 13, 2026 3 min read
How to Enable or Disable Windows 11 Update Restart Notifications
How to Enable or Disable Windows 11 Update Restart Notifications

Windows 11 update restart notifications are pop-up messages that tell you when your PC needs to restart to finish installing updates.

These notifications help Windows make sure important security patches get applied by reminding you before an automatic restart.

You can control how these messages appear and when they trigger restarts on your Windows 11 PC. This lets you avoid unexpected shutdowns during your work.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Settings, navigate to Windows Update > Advanced options, and toggle “Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating.” You can also use the Registry Editor for advanced control.

How to Turn On or Off Restart Notifications Using Windows Settings

You can turn Windows 11 restart notifications on or off using the built-in Settings app.

  1. Open the Windows Settings app. You can do this by clicking the Start button and selecting the gear icon, or by pressing the Windows key + I.
  2. On the left side, click Windows Update.
  3. On the right side, click the Advanced options tile to open more settings.
  4. Find the option called Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating.
  5. Toggle the switch to On if you want to get notifications, or Off if you want to stop them.
  6. When done, simply close the Settings window.
Windows Update Advanced options tile
Windows Update Advanced options tile

Toggle notify when restart is required
Toggle notify when restart is required

Once finished, close the Settings window. Your Windows system will then either start or stop sending these restart notifications. The change will be visible the next time Windows installs an update and affects all such notifications.

How to Turn On or Off Restart Notifications Using the Registry Editor (For Advanced Users)

Advanced users can control Windows 11 restart notifications by editing the Windows Registry.

Here’s how:

  1. ⚠️ Admin privileges required — Open the Windows Registry Editor by typing regedit in the search box and pressing Enter.
  2. Navigate to this folder path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Update\UX\Settings
  3. Look for an entry named RestartNotificationsAllowed2 on the right side.
  4. If it exists, double-click it and:
    • Set the value to 1 to enable restart notifications.
    • Set the value to 0 to disable them.
  5. If it doesn’t exist:
    • Right-click in the blank area and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
    • Name it RestartNotificationsAllowed2.
    • Double-click it and set the value to 1 or 0 as above.
  6. Close the Registry Editor.
  7. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Registry Editor showing RestartNotificationsAllowed2
Registry Editor showing RestartNotificationsAllowed2

⚠️Warning
Editing your registry can be risky. Please make sure to back up your system or create a restore point before you proceed.

Choose a Time to Restart After Updates

Windows 11 also lets you pick a convenient time to restart your computer after updates. This way, you won’t be interrupted unexpectedly.

Windows 11 pick a time to restart after update
windows pick a time to restart after update

Summary

  • You can easily turn Windows Update restart notifications on or off using the Settings app.
  • Advanced users can also manage these notifications by editing the Windows Registry.
  • Always be careful when changing registry settings and back up your system first.
  • Restart your computer after making changes to make sure they take effect.
  • By managing these notifications, you can control when and how your PC restarts after updates.

You can manage Windows 11 restart notifications through the Settings app or by editing the registry.

How to see reasons for Windows restart?

To discover why your PC unexpectedly rebooted, you can filter the system event logs. Event IDs 12, 13, 6005, and 6009 can reveal your computer’s reboot history and how often it restarts. Keep in mind that Event ID numbers can be linked to various sources, so be sure to filter for those specifically related to reboots.

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Tags: #Windows 11
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Richard

About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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