Stop Windows from installing updates on its own?

On Home there's also the metered connection trick. Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > your network > Metered connection on. Windows holds off downloading most updates on a metered network. Some security ones still come through, and it applies per network, so set it on each wifi you use. On Pro you can skip all that: gpedit, Windows Update, Configure Automatic Updates, set it to notify for download. Then nothing installs until you click.

Home doesn't have the group policy options Pro has, but you can still get control: - Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Active hours, set it manually to cover when you're actually at the PC. It won't auto-restart inside that window. - In the same Advanced options, turn on Notify me when a restart is required, so you get warned. - Pause updates on the main Windows Update page for a week or more when you're in the middle of something. The overnight restarts usually happen because active hours are on automatic and it guessed wrong. Save your work before walking away anyway, a pending update will still win eventually.