Windows 11 can install updates to keep your computer safe and running well. Sometimes, updates need your PC to restart, but you don’t want that to happen when you are working.

To help with this, Windows lets you set Active Hours — the times you usually use your computer. During these hours, Windows will avoid restarting your PC automatically.

If you don’t want to pick active hours yourself, Windows can automatically adjust active hours based on when you use your PC. This means Windows will learn your schedule and avoid restarting during those times.

This guide will show you simple steps to turn on or off Automatically Adjust Active Hours on your Windows 11 computer.

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How to Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours Using Settings

Follow these easy steps:

1. Open Windows Settings: Click the Start menu button (the Windows icon on the bottom-left corner), then click Settings.
   
   
   Or, press Windows key + I on your keyboard to open Settings quickly.
2. In the Settings window, click Windows Update on the left side menu.
3. On the right side, click Advanced options.
4. Find the section called Active hours and click it to open.
5. Look for the option that says Automatically adjust active hours for this device based on activity.
   
   Use the dropdown menu to select On if you want Windows to automatically set your active hours, or Off if you want to set them yourself.

After you select your choice, you can close the Settings app. Your computer will now use this setting when installing updates.

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How to Turn On or Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours Using Registry Editor (Advanced)

If you feel comfortable making changes inside Windows, you can also turn this setting on or off using the Registry Editor.

Important: Editing the registry can affect your computer. Please follow these steps carefully and consider backing up your registry first.

1. Open the Registry Editor:
   • Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
   • Type regedit and press Enter.
   • If a User Account Control window pops up, click Yes to allow.
2. Navigate to this key path:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Update\UX\Settings
3. If the Settings folder is missing inside UX, right-click UX, choose New > Key, and name it Settings.
4. Now, inside the Settings folder, right-click on the right side and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the new DWORD value: SmartActiveHoursState
6. Double-click SmartActiveHoursState and set the Base to Decimal.
   
   Then, enter the value:
   • 1 to turn On Automatically Adjust Active Hours
   • 0 to turn Off Automatically Adjust Active Hours
7. Click OK to save.
8. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the change to take effect.

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Summary

• Automatically Adjust Active Hours helps Windows choose when to avoid restarting your PC during times you use it most.
• You can turn this feature on or off in Windows Settings or by using the Registry Editor if you prefer.
• Using this feature helps keep your computer updated without interrupting your work.
• Follow the simple steps above to control how Windows handles your update restarts.

If you want to learn more about managing Windows Updates, check this helpful guide:

How to Manually Download Updates for Windows 11.