When Microsoft rolls out the Windows 10 Creators Update in 2017, users will finally be able to do something they’ve been wanting to do since they originally upgraded to Windows 10, pause system updates.

The small, yet important feature, is currently available to try for Windows Insiders who have updated their hardware to Windows 10 build 14997. Insiders can find the option to pause updates within the ‘Windows Update’ page of ‘Settings’ in the ‘Advanced settings’ menu. Once in the ‘Advanced settings’, Windows 10 updates can be paused simply by clicking on the button slider under ‘Pause Updates’.

Once activated, all main Windows 10 updates will remain paused for a maximum of 35 days but important security-related updates, such as Windows Defender definition updates, will continue to download. These are usually fairly small though and shouldn’t be much of a problem for most users.

The automatic downloading of updates in Windows 10 is something that sounds good in theory as it means all users will consistently have the most up-to-date operating system. Where this concept fails though is when a Windows 10 device tries to download updates, which can be quite significant in size, when using cellular data or a limited internet connection.

Windows 10 did offer a metered connection option which could prevent updates and downloads from activating when connected to specific WiFi hotspot but, as I discovered during my recent trip to Tokyo, Japan, that setting never really worked correctly and few people were even aware of its existence in the first place.

Since then, Microsoft has seemingly removed the metered connection setting from Windows 10 devices, possibly in preparation for this upcoming, easier to use, alternative.

Have you been wanting an option to pause updates on your Windows 10 device? Let us know in the comments below.

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