The problem
Windows 10 downloads and installs updates automatically — which is generally good practice for security. The problem is the follow-up: Windows decides by itself when to restart, and it will do so in the middle of the night without warning, aborting any running imaging session, closing all software, and leaving the observatory in an uncontrolled state until someone notices.
The solution is not to block updates entirely (that creates security risks) but to allow Windows to download and install updates normally while preventing it from initiating an unsupervised restart.
Option 1: WinBuzzer guide (recommended)
The WinBuzzer guide "How to Stop Automatic Restart in Windows 10 After a Windows Update" walks through the specific registry or Group Policy settings that control restart behaviour, without touching anything else. This is the less invasive option — it changes exactly the settings you need and nothing more.
Option 2: O&O ShutUp10++
O&O ShutUp10++ is a free tool that provides a comprehensive interface for controlling Windows 10 and 11 privacy and behaviour settings. It is effective but covers many more settings than just restart behaviour — which some users find useful and others find overwhelming.
Recommendation: Start with the WinBuzzer guide if you only want to solve the restart problem. Use O&O ShutUp10++ if you want broader control over Windows telemetry and automatic behaviours.
After applying the fix
Windows will still download and install updates. The difference is that after installation, Windows will wait for you to initiate the restart manually. You will see a notification that a restart is pending — schedule it for before your next session, not in the middle of one.