Everyday IT fixes
Windows updates: why we push them and how to control the restart
How patching works on managed devices and how to schedule the restart around your day.
Last reviewed 20 August 2026
Managed devices are patched automatically. Most security incidents we see involve a machine that missed updates for months, so this isn't optional — but the timing usually is.
- 1Open Settings > Windows Update.
- 2Use 'Schedule the restart' to pick a time outside your working hours.
- 3Set your active hours so restarts never land mid-meeting.
- 4Leave the machine powered on and connected overnight once a week — that's when most patching completes cleanly.
Closing the lid isn't the same as restarting. A machine can go months without a true reboot, and pending updates stack up until something breaks.
If an update fails repeatedly or a machine keeps prompting after restarting, raise a ticket with the update's KB number.
Still stuck?
Log it with the helpdesk and a real engineer will pick it up — or book a call if you'd rather talk it through.