Microsoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause it indefinitely

Although Microsoft isn’t getting rid of automatic updates completely, Windows chief Pavan Davuluri promises that in the future you’ll be able to pause them “for as long as you need.” You will be able to restart or shut down your computer without having to install them. To be fair to Microsoft, I’ve seen the option to restart or shut down without updating for a while now.

Even if you fail to pause it, you’ll only have to restart your computer once a month, Microsoft promises — though it says you’ll be able to get updates faster if you want. If you’re the type of person who wants new features so quickly that you become part of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft says it will make that easier and explain what you’ll get.

As part of these updates, Microsoft says this year it will improve performance, responsiveness and stability, reduce memory consumption, make File Explorer and other applications launch and run faster, reduce crashes, improve drivers, make devices wake up more reliably, and Much more.

It’s as if Microsoft has taken our feedback too The last ridiculous setup process is over an hour For some Windows mobile devices and laptops. Davuluri writes that we will have “the ability to skip updates while setting up the device for faster desktop access.” And even if you sit down, there should be “fewer pages and restarts to get started easier.” Additionally, Microsoft will finally let you use gamepad controls to generate your PIN during setup, instead of making you smudge the touchscreen.

Bravo Microsoft, if all this is true, and if you can implement it in a reasonable amount of time.

His team spent months analyzing Windows user feedback, and “what came back was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better,” Davuluri writes.