Is there a way to make Windows stop updating at the worst time?

You can control update timing, but active hours, pausing updates, and scheduling a restart do different jobs. Start with Settings, Windows Update, Advanced options, Active hours, and set the period when you normally work. This primarily controls automatic restarts; it does not mean Windows cannot download or prepare updates during those hours. When an update is waiting for a restart, use the scheduling option to choose a suitable time rather than leaving it pending indefinitely. Before a presentation or other critical period, temporarily pause updates, then resume them afterwards and allow the pending installation to finish. Available options can differ by build, and an employer's update policies may impose deadlines. Avoid disabling Windows Update services or treating permanent deferral as the solution. If restarts still happen inside your configured hours, record the update, exact time, and whether Windows showed an enforced deadline so the specific behavior can be investigated.