Windows Components › Windows Update › Manage end user experience
Configure the maximum number of days that updates can be paused
Supported on At least Windows 11 Version 24H2
What it does
This policy controls the maximum number of days that end users can pause updates. Supported values are 1-35. The default value is 35 (days). When the policy is configured, users can only pause updates up until the end of the time period specified by the policy. Once the configured limit is reached, users can no longer extend the pause. If the policy is disabled or not configured, the default pause behavior applies - enabling users to continuously pause updates for up to 35 days at a time. This policy does not disable the Pause updates entirely. To remove access to Pause updates, use the "Remove access to 'Pause updates' feature" policy.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate- Value name
MaxPauseDaysEnabled- When enabled
- DWORD 1
- When disabled
- DWORD 0
In Intune
No native CSP; import the ADMX (Intune-ready).
From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 9 Nov 2026.
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max pause daysRequiredDefault: 35 | Number (decimal) | SetMaxPauseDays |
1 to 35 |
Configure and deploy
Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.
Enabled · Computer · template defaults
Registry file (.reg)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"MaxPauseDaysEnabled"=dword:00000001
"SetMaxPauseDays"=dword:00000023
PowerShell
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Configure the maximum number of days that updates can be paused
# Name: MaxPauseDays
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: WindowsUpdate.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'MaxPauseDaysEnabled' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'SetMaxPauseDays' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 35
- The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
- Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsUpdate/MaxPauseDaysADMX SyncML candidate
<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
<SyncBody>
<Replace>
<CmdID>1</CmdID>
<Item>
<Meta>
<Format>chr</Format>
<Type>text/plain</Type>
</Meta>
<Target>
<LocURI>./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_WindowsUpdate/MaxPauseDays</LocURI>
</Target>
<Data><enabled/>
<data id="SetMaxPauseDays" value="35"/></Data>
</Item>
</Replace>
<Final/>
</SyncBody>
</SyncML>Intune remediation scripts
Detection
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()
function Test-RegistryValueExists {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}
function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return $false
}
$valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
return $false
}
$actual = $valueObject.$Name
switch ($Kind) {
'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
'QWord' {
$actualBits = if ($actual -is [uint64]) { $actual } else { [BitConverter]::ToUInt64([BitConverter]::GetBytes([int64]$actual), 0) }
$expectedBits = if ($Expected -is [uint64]) { $Expected } else { [BitConverter]::ToUInt64([BitConverter]::GetBytes([int64]$Expected), 0) }
return $actualBits -eq $expectedBits
}
'MultiString' {
$actualArray = @($actual)
$expectedArray = @($Expected)
if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
'Binary' {
$actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
$expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
}
}
# Policy: Configure the maximum number of days that updates can be paused
# Name: MaxPauseDays
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: WindowsUpdate.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'MaxPauseDaysEnabled' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\MaxPauseDaysEnabled') | Out-Null
}
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'SetMaxPauseDays' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 35
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\SetMaxPauseDays') | Out-Null
}
if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1
Remediation
$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
function Set-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
}
New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}
function Remove-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
)
if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
)
if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
return
}
foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Configure the maximum number of days that updates can be paused
# Name: MaxPauseDays
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: WindowsUpdate.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'MaxPauseDaysEnabled' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'SetMaxPauseDays' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 35
History 6 retained releases
- 26H2 · 1.029 Sep 2026Registry key:
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate· Value name:MaxPauseDaysEnabled- Added in this release.
Template
- Internal name
MaxPauseDays- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate- Template file
WindowsUpdate.admx- Release
- Windows 11 26H2 · 1.0 · file set
d777fedd6ae12a6d…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.MaxPauseDays_Title)" explainText="$(string.MaxPauseDays_Help)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" name="MaxPauseDays" presentation="$(presentation.MaxPauseDays_Title)" valueName="MaxPauseDaysEnabled" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WindowsUpdateExperience" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WU_SUPPORTED_Win11_24H2" />
<enabledValue>
<decimal value="1" />
</enabledValue>
<disabledValue>
<decimal value="0" />
</disabledValue>
<elements>
<decimal id="SetMaxPauseDays" maxValue="35" minValue="1" required="true" valueName="SetMaxPauseDays" />
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="MaxPauseDays_Title" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<text>Specify how many days users can pause updates for:</text>
<decimalTextBox defaultValue="35" noSort="true" refId="SetMaxPauseDays">Max pause days: </decimalTextBox>
</presentation>Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:category:WindowsUpdateCat
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsUpdateCat)" name="WindowsUpdateCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:category:WindowsUpdateExperience
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsUpdateExperience)" name="WindowsUpdateExperience" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WindowsUpdateCat" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:definition:WU_SUPPORTED_Win11_24H2
<definition displayName="$(string.WU_SUPPORTED_Win11_24H2)" name="WU_SUPPORTED_Win11_24H2" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="13" ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows" />
</or>
</definition>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:unresolved:unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows
<unresolved reference="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:category:WindowsUpdateCat
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsUpdateCat)" name="WindowsUpdateCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WindowsUpdateCat">Windows Update</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:category:WindowsUpdateExperience
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsUpdateExperience)" name="WindowsUpdateExperience" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WindowsUpdateCat" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WindowsUpdateExperience">Manage end user experience</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:definition:WU_SUPPORTED_Win11_24H2
<definition displayName="$(string.WU_SUPPORTED_Win11_24H2)" name="WU_SUPPORTED_Win11_24H2" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<or>
<range minVersionIndex="13" ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows" />
</or>
</definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WU_SUPPORTED_Win11_24H2">At least Windows 11 Version 24H2</string></strings>