Should you skip your Windows 11 updates? Experts weigh in on Microsoft's recent change

Aria Hanson, strategic innovator at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post: We are continually reading the feedback submitted about the Windows update experience. Personally, I've had the opportunity to read over 7,621 direct verbatim over the last few months.Across this feedback, there are two key themes that persistently pop out: disruption caused by untimely updates and not enough control over when updates happen. The changes we’re rolling out today are focused on giving Windows users more control over their PC experience, while keeping devices secure by design and by default.You can now pause updates for 35 days at a time, and there's no limit on how many times you can extend that pause. This means if you prefer to delay the updates indefinitely, then you just have to hit pause again every 35 days.But experts are saying that delaying these installs could end up doing more harm than good. Alex Thompson, Tech Expert and Windows Specialist at The Computer Portal told GB News: Microsoft is essentially handing users a 'snooze button' that they can hit indefinitely, which creates some serious security blind spots.Security risks of indefinite delays. When users postpone updates for months, they are essentially running Windows with known vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are already exploiting. The average time between a security patch release and active exploitation is now just 14 days. A user who delays updates for 6 months could be running software with 12+ unpatched security holes that hackers have detailed maps for. There are several different types of updates that Microsoft pushes out, too: Security Updates – Critical patches that fix vulnerabilities hackers could exploit. These are typically released monthly and should be installed as soon as possible.Feature Updates – Larger updates that introduce new tools, design changes, and system improvements. Usually rolled out once a year.Quality Updates (Cumulative Updates) – Regular maintenance updates that fix bugs, improve performance, and bundle previous fixes into one install.Driver Updates – Updates that improve communication between Windows and hardware like graphics cards, printers, and peripherals.Optional Updates – Non-essential updates, including preview fixes or additional drivers, that you can choose whether or not to install.Out-of-Band Updates – Urgent fixes released outside the normal update schedule to address unexpected or critical issues.Zero-Day Updates – Emergency patches for vulnerabilities already being actively exploited or publicly exposed. Zero-day updates are the most time-sensitive and should be installed immediately.Kevin Marriott, Director of Cyber Content Strategy and IP at Immersive, told GB News: “The moment a patch is released, the vulnerability is no longer a 'Zero-Day' (unknown); it becomes a 'N-Day' (known). Often, threat actors then analyse the patch to reverse engineer it and see exactly what code was changed.As a result, Windows users essentially leave an 'attack here’ sign for attackers. In 2026, the time-to-exploit has shrunk, and often, functional malware for a new patch is circulating on dark web forums within hours of the update's release.”LATEST DEVELOPMENTSRoku hits record-breaking new milestone, and Fire TV just can't competeBritish brand launches long-awaited Sky Q rival to watch, pause, and record tellyBest VPN dealsPopular messaging app discontinued on Galaxy phonesShark launches £130 handheld fan that promises to 'instantly cool' skinMicrosoft has released a few emergency fixes recently. The US tech firm rushed out an update for a frustrating false sign-in glitch on their PCs. Andy Ward, SVP International at Absolute Security, told GB News: Delaying Windows 11 updates creates a serious cyber resilience risk because patching is no longer technical housekeeping; it is one of the most important ways to prevent serious cyber incidents and operational downtime.Our latest report found that critical OS patching across PCs running Windows 10 and 11 is already behind by an average of 256 days, a sharp increase from just 56 days the year before. This means many organisations are already operating with a significant vulnerability window, leaving devices exposed to zero-day attacks, ransomware, credential theft, even without the risk of a user’s ability to delay updates even further.How to install Windows 11 updatesIf you do have a pending Windows 11 update that you'd like installed, follow these steps:Click the Start menu (Windows icon).Open Settings.Go to Windows Update (bottom of the sidebar).Click Check for updates.If updates are available: Click Download install.Restart your PC if prompted. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter