An unusual situation is affecting Windows 10 users who have decided not to join the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.
According to Windows Latest, the “Pause updates for 7 days” option appears disabled or greyed out on these computers. This happens regardless of whether the user has used the feature before, removing an essential level of control over the operating system.
This issue becomes more serious when the Windows 11 upgrade comes into play. If a user accidentally starts downloading the new version of the operating system (currently version 25H2), they will find that it is impossible to cancel the process.
With the pause button disabled, the system continues downloading and installing Windows 11, leaving the user with no tools to stop the migration—unless they force a shutdown or disconnect from the internet.
Possible Bug in Windows Update Logic
When checking the “Advanced Options,” the system shows a message saying the PC has reached the “pause limit,” forcing the installation of pending updates before allowing the pause feature again. However, this happens even on devices that have never paused updates before.
Everything suggests that this is not an intentional move by Microsoft to penalize users who don’t pay for ESU, but rather a technical error caused by the official end of support on October 14, 2025.
The most likely theory is that the internal evaluation system of Windows Update is incorrectly classifying devices without ESU. When it detects that the device lacks recent security updates, it assumes the system is outdated and enters a forced update mode, disabling the pause controls.
This seems to be a side effect of Microsoft’s new logic for distinguishing between supported and unsupported devices.
What Can Users Do Now?
Since Windows 10 is officially retired, it’s unclear whether Microsoft will release a patch to fix this interface issue.
In the meantime, users face a dilemma: they can either live with a system that constantly tries to update itself or enroll in the ESU program to regain control and continue receiving security updates until October 2026.
