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Microsoft to offer "snooze" option for Windows 10 updates

Following lots of complaints, Microsoft have added a "snooze" option for updates so users will be able to schedule and update within three days of receiving notification.

We'd like to remind people however that delaying security updates can by risky, however it's often the case that you're right in the middle of that important presentation or work deadline and you don't need to be interrupted. It's recommended to complete your update and do a full re-start as soon as possible though.

The change to Windows, part of the upcoming Creators Update, came in response to complaints about enforced reboots, said John Cable, a director of program management at Microsoft.

"What we heard back most explicitly was that you want more control over when Windows 10 installs updates."

"We also heard that unexpected reboots are disruptive if they happen at the wrong time."

The three-day window is designed to give people more control over when updates occur - and they can also change the time they have chosen while they are waiting.

As part of Creative Update, Microsoft is also exploring changes to privacy settings, Mr Cable said.

Cybersecurity expert Prof Alan Woodward, from Surrey University, told the BBC that delaying updates could help hackers.

"I'm not 100% sold on the idea precisely because quite often these updates have critical security fixes in them, and you really want them on people's machines as quickly as possible. Once a critical flaw gets understood by hackers they will be out there trying to exploit it. Convenience and complexity are often the enemy of security."