Windows 11 will tell you how long it will take to install updates

Ashwin
Jul 1, 2021
Windows
|
27

Ever wondered how long it takes for a Windows Update to install? Well, you don't have to guess because Windows 11 will give you an estimate.

ETA to install Windows 11 Updates

I enrolled in to the Insider Preview Program to install the first official build that was released yesterday. I have been using it extensively, and noticed an icon appear on the taskbar.

Windows 11 Update ready to install

It had a yellow dot on it (a badge) to indicate something's new, the tooltip said that the device needs to be restarted to install Updates. I clicked the icon, and it switched to the Windows Update screen, which had a cool new feature, it had an ETA for the update to be installed. It told me that this update would take 5 minutes to be installed.

But, instead of clicking the Restart Now option, I chose to go the manual route, aka Start > Power button. The Power button had the dot too, and clicking it showed a similar ETA for the Update and Shutdown, & Update and Restart options. That's nice, but is it accurate?

Windows 11 will tell you how long it will take to install Windows updates

I used a stopwatch to time the installation, and it only took about a minute and ten seconds for the update to install, and boot to the home screen. I think that's very impressive. Sure, the ETA of 5 minutes was wrong. But that's fine, it's probably a maximum (or average) that Microsoft estimates, that the computer needs to install the update.

In case you missed it, during the Windows 11 launch stream, Panos Panay mentioned that Windows updates are 40% smaller to download (compared to Windows 10), and install faster in the new OS. While that may seem trivial for those with high speed networks, it's actually quite important. Windows Updates are infamously slow to download even on fast connections, and often takes ages to complete downloading. The installation process is quite slow as well. It's good to see that Microsoft has improved in this area, though we'll need to see how it performs after millions of users have upgraded to Windows 11.

Windows 11 Update History

As for the Windows Update settings in Windows 11, not a lot has changed here. The main options page is a little different compared to Windows 10's. You may pause updates for 1 week, while on the Insider Preview Program. Delivery Optimization, aka Downloads from other PCs, is enabled by default, and you can toggle this from the Advanced Options page.

Windows 11 Update Advanced Options

The ETA for Windows 11 Updates is a welcome addition that will be appreciated by users who want to shut down or restart their computer, without being worried about huge delays. I still wish it had an Update Later option, that can be useful if the laptop's battery is running low, or if you don't have time waiting for the update to finish.

If you haven't taken part in the Insider Preview Program, read our previous article to know how to enroll, and get the Windows 11 Preview from the Developer Channel. Microsoft has confirmed, in a developer video, that the Windows 11 Insider Program's Beta Channel will start next week, and while it may not have as many features as the Developer Build does, the Beta is likely to have lesser bugs too.

Summary
Windows 11 will tell you how long it will take to install updates
Article Name
Windows 11 will tell you how long it will take to install updates
Description
Windows Updates on Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system include an estimate now that reveals how long it will take to install updates on the machine.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Jaykar Umang said on September 15, 2021 at 6:52 pm
    Reply

    Bro my laptop (mi notebook pro) is stuck on restarting before 1 hr, when i update Windows 11

  2. Software tester said on July 5, 2021 at 2:31 pm
    Reply

    There is no TPM 2.0 Requirement ,I have installed Windows 11 more than 5 Pc (older than 10 years and non of then had tpm) and don’t used any tool or registry tweak, I don’t understnad how people achieve Not installing windows 11 Normally , is this TPM requirement a JOKE ?

  3. Anonymous said on July 4, 2021 at 11:46 am
    Reply

    This windows 11 start menu is disqusting and for 10 year old girls. no organisation of our software to folders, categories whatever. And that disqusting recommended thing that takes half of the space…. it’s our pc msft not yours and we know what we have installed or want to install, we don’t need your ads, promotions or recommendations.

    1. Anonymous said on July 9, 2021 at 6:30 am
      Reply

      10 year old girls. Thats exactly who is designing these idiotic changes. See Jen Gentleman at msft. Emoji’s and dumb down interfaces. She ignores the true feedback and only respond the positive ones that don’t make Windows any better.

  4. greg said on July 2, 2021 at 11:13 pm
    Reply

    Windows 11 is at the very top of my “Things that can wait list” lol! I’m going to let all the early adopters have at it and read their experiences in a year or so.. Maybe. What a circus, lol.

    Some of you judge me — that’s fine. As for me, I have avoided at least 3 unfavorable Windows versions/releases via this patience.

    1. Trent said on July 4, 2021 at 1:18 am
      Reply

      Why judge? That’s a perfectly rational approach to take. Nobody is forcing anyone to become an Insider and Beta Tester; that’s something best left to those who ideally have a secondary test system, and most importantly who know what a Beta version actually means.

  5. Mystique said on July 2, 2021 at 2:25 pm
    Reply

    “From the same people that brought you Windows 10”
    *VOMIT!!

    1. Trent said on July 4, 2021 at 1:14 am
      Reply

      Is this news to you?

      *Even bigger vomit on reading the many useless comments from people who clearly lack even a basic understanding of the OS’ features.*

  6. WIN_faIL said on July 2, 2021 at 7:46 am
    Reply

    USELESS!!!!

  7. Richard Steven Hack said on July 2, 2021 at 2:06 am
    Reply

    God, I love Linux. Updates happen almost daily, fully automatic, no restart required unless the kernel is being updated, completed in usually a couple minutes. Only occasionally does a repository hiccup when checking for updates and that’s usually resolved with no intervention required, unless it’s a third-party repository that’s changed its address.

    1. Trent said on July 4, 2021 at 1:12 am
      Reply

      Great, so why bother commenting here when this OS is not even relevant to you? Proselytising? Nobody cares.

      1. Ark said on July 10, 2021 at 7:43 am
        Reply

        Why would you bother replying to his comment if you can’t understand the simple fact that he wants to share the joy of having ACTUAL AUTOMATIC SYSTEM UPDATE that’s MS seems to have such a hard time implementing even after 10,000 years of customer whining and with 2 trillion worth of resource. So stop meat shielding for Microsoft. If you don’t like what you read, ignore. If you have something better and constructive to say, out with it. Don’t be a b!tch.

  8. Anonymous said on July 2, 2021 at 1:02 am
    Reply

    Term paper’s due in 20 mins. PC freezes up, have to restart. “Working on Updates” for 45 mins. Fix this kind of scenario that happens ALL THE FRIGGIN TIME. MS and its BS way of forcing updates without any interaction. How long its going to take, well lets just say I don’t see this being all that accurate.

    1. Adam Smith said on July 2, 2021 at 10:52 am
      Reply

      This has been my concern from the beginning, have my computer locked for hours just before I am about to make an online presentation to cuatomers – incredibly disruptive

      Computer users can consider downloading one of the many free utilities that block Windows Updates – albeit accepting missing security updates

      1. Trent said on July 4, 2021 at 1:09 am
        Reply

        You can set Windows to restart and update only outside of Active Hours, that you can define. This feature’s been available for ages now. Learn how to actually use what’s provided properly before whining unnecessarily.

  9. Anonymous said on July 1, 2021 at 7:45 pm
    Reply

    Doesn’t matter when our taskbar and file manager has been destroyed.

  10. jan said on July 1, 2021 at 6:07 pm
    Reply

    Windows 11 will tell you how long it will take to install updates

    That is really a cure looking for a desease.
    What a “great” feature; sickening!

  11. ULBoom said on July 1, 2021 at 4:51 pm
    Reply

    5 min
    6 min
    2 min
    8 min
    15 min
    40 min
    2 hrs 37 min
    Same as most downloads, hare to tortoise effect.

  12. common sense computing said on July 1, 2021 at 2:53 pm
    Reply

    15 minutes for a forced Downdate, several hours to days to fix or rollback the poorly coded garbage FUBARing your install.

    1. Trent said on July 4, 2021 at 1:05 am
      Reply

      If your install is getting FUBARed that often, you clearly do not know how to maintain/administer your system.

  13. Adam Smith said on July 1, 2021 at 12:45 pm
    Reply

    It is a far more important feature to provide instant ‘rollback’ in the event that a Windows update damages the computer setup – that is, the update leads to peripherals (eg printers) or software being nonfunctional
    Windows OS should have an easily used native utility that restores the system to the previous configuration

    1. Sal said on July 4, 2021 at 1:02 am
      Reply

      You mean, like System Restore? Perhaps you should stop disabling it then, eh Adam? ;)

    2. vanp said on July 2, 2021 at 5:37 am
      Reply

      I don’t know if technically that’s hard or easy to do, but it’s easy to make a system image and restore it if the update fails. And you have some control over when the update occurs if you use whatever ‘delay’ options M$ is graciously providing you at that point in time.

  14. Tony said on July 1, 2021 at 12:41 pm
    Reply

    No need to tell me,i haven’t updated Windows in years,no not even for that mythical “security”.

    1. Sal said on July 4, 2021 at 1:00 am
      Reply

      What is it they say? Oh yes – “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”

  15. Barabbas Metal said on July 1, 2021 at 6:59 am
    Reply

    An estimate about what doesn’t work after restart would also be nice. Or a prediction/hope/fingers crossed notice that your computer will most likely and PROBABLY restart without any issues, and of course a tiny legal document that says if it doesn’t: it’s your fault. Like: Estimated time for bluescreen and loss of all personal data, due to user error: 5min.

  16. vanp said on July 1, 2021 at 6:54 am
    Reply

    I’ll be staying far away from this nonsense, bullshit, and stupidity. If they want to improve Windows, go back to W7, improve whatever needs to be done “under the hood,” and leave me alone. I’ll even pay for it, like I did for W10 after 2 downloads/installs failed, and I went to a store and bought the package. Thanks for nuthin’, M$. Have a nice day.

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