14 DAY TRIAL // The first Windows 11 preview build includes a new Windows Update feature that lets you know how long you’ll stay offline when rebooting the computer to install updates.
In other words, whenever there’s a new update for your device and you are prompted to restart the computer in order to complete the installation, you should now see an estimate of how long it’ll take until you’re booted back to the desktop both in Windows Update and in the power options menu right in the Start menu.
As you can see in the screenshots here, the estimate shows up next to the relevant power options, including restart and shut down, which typically triggers the installation of downloaded updates.
As for how accurate the estimate really is, this is hard to say, though I believe these figures are based on the actual performance of the system. However, in my case, the update installation was completed in less than one minute, whereas Windows 11 estimated it would take up to 5 minutes for the whole thing to come to an end.
Only available for select insiders
Most likely, Microsoft will further refine this feature in the coming Windows 11 builds, so by the time the new operating system is ready for the launch to production devices, everything should be a little bit more reliable overall.
“We are providing estimates for how long a restart for updates would take. When your PC is pending reboot for a quality update, you will be able to see estimates on your power menu under Start, in restart notifications, on the Windows Update Settings page and inside the Windows Update icon that shows up at the lower right of Taskbar. This feature is rolling out to a subset of Insiders in the Dev Channel at first so not everyone will see this right away,” the company explains.
The first Windows 11 preview build is available today for Windows Insiders in the Dev channel.
