When your Windows 11 computer installs updates, it sometimes needs to restart to finish. Windows will show a message to remind you to restart your PC so the update can complete.

This reminder is called a restart notification. It usually appears as a pop-up or a message in the Action Center (the notifications area on your screen).

If you want, you can turn these restart notifications on or off. This guide will show you two easy ways to do it.

How to Turn On or Off Restart Notifications Using Windows Settings

Follow these simple steps to manage restart notifications:

1. 
   Open the Windows Settings app.
   
   You can do this by clicking the Start button and selecting the gear icon, or by pressing 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.

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

If you feel comfortable making changes inside Windows, you can use the Registry Editor to control restart notifications. But be careful! Making wrong changes can cause problems. Always back up your registry before you start.

Here’s how:

1. Open the Windows Registry Editor by typing regedit in the search box and pressing Enter.
2. Navigate to this folder path:
   
   ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsUpdateUXSettings
   
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, 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.

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.

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.

That’s it! Now you know how to control Windows 11 update restart notifications so they work the way you want.