Stop the Windows 11 Nag

Stop the Windows 11 Nag: a reader asks…

I read your Windows 11 Now or later article and am putting off upgrading my PC for now. The only problem is that I keep getting these popups saying to install Windows 11. Is there an easy way to stop those popups?

Yes! Microsoft isn’t exactly subtle when they want you to upgrade to the latest version of Windows. Not all PCs in use today are eligible for the upgrade, but if you’ve been nagged to upgrade to Windows 11, your computer has already passed the initial automatic screening done by Windows. Microsoft will keep nagging you to update to Windows 11 unless you tell Windows you want to wait. Here’s how:

Visit Windows Update by clicking the Start button (4 white-paned windows at the bottom-left of your PC screen), then click the gear icon to open the Settings Window. Click the Update & Security menu item.

On the Windows Update page you’ll see a “Stay on Windows 10 for now” link underneath the blue Download and Install button. Click that, and you’ll stop being nagged all the time to upgrade to Windows 11.

Advertisement

At least for now. I don’t know how long this delaying tactic will work, Microsoft will continue to push eligible PC users to Windows 11. So some future update to Windows 10 might re-start the nagging “feature”. If that happens, repeat the above simple step to give yourself another break.

I can’t guarantee that Microsoft won’t change things further to make it harder to stop the nagging, nor if at some point Microsoft will make it so easy to upgrade to Windows 11 that users will find they inadvertently didn’t click something (or did click something) that kicked off the upgrade.

At some point between now and 2025 (when Windows 10 stops getting updates), you may decide to upgrade your PC to Windows 11. At that point, simply run Windows Update again, and look for the link at the right-side under the Windows 11 notice: “See if it’s ready to install”. Click that to start the process of upgrading to Windows 11.

As I mentioned in my previous article, my recommendation is that most users delay upgrading their eligible Windows PCs for at least 3-4 months. Early adopters who do the upgrade now will enjoy the numerous buggy apps and operations, reporting such to Microsoft to fix. I’d say by Spring 2022 you should be safe to upgrade your PC to Windows 11, although there’s no strict requirement. Windows 10 will continue to be supported until October 14th, 2025.


This website runs on a patronage model. If you find my answers of value, please consider supporting me by sending any dollar amount via Click or tap to open a new browser tab or your Venmo app and send money via Venmo to @positek (send to @PosiTek), Click or tap to open a new browser tab or your Paypal app to send money via your Paypal account to support@positek.net (send to Support@PosiTek.net), Click or tap to open a new browser tab or your Paypal app to send money using your credit card to support@positek.net (no Paypal account required) using any credit card (no Paypal account required), using Zelle, Apple Pay or Google Pay, or by mailing a check or cash to PosiTek.net LLC 1934 Old Gallows Road, Suite 350, Tysons Corner VA 22182. I am not a non-profit, but your support helps me to continue delivering advice and consumer technology support to the public. Thank you!

Go to Top of Page

One Comment

  1. Thanks a lot for sharing this post as it has been very helpful.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.