Select when Quality Updates are received

Policy ID: DeferQualityUpdates
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016 or Windows 10
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Windows Update › Manage updates offered from Windows Update

Description

Enable this policy to specify when to receive quality updates.

You can defer receiving quality updates for up to 30 days.

To prevent quality updates from being received on their scheduled time, you can temporarily pause quality updates. The pause will remain in effect for 35 days or until you clear the start date field.

To resume receiving Quality Updates which are paused, clear the start date field.

If you disable or do not configure this policy, Windows Update will not alter its behavior.

Options

After a quality update is released, defer receiving it for this many days:
Pause Quality Updates starting
(format yyyy-mm-dd example: 2016-10-30)

Registry

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate View registry values

DeferQualityUpdatesREG_DWORD
DeferQualityUpdatesPeriodInDaysREG_DWORD
PauseQualityUpdatesStartTimeREG_SZ

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