In the Windows operating system, managing updates is crucial to ensure system stability, security, and performance. One of the features that administrators can leverage is the ability to defer feature updates. The "DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays" setting allows administrators to delay the installation of new feature updates for a specified number of days. This can be particularly useful in enterprise environments where immediate updates might disrupt critical workflows or where thorough testing of updates is required before deployment.

This article will guide you through the process of configuring the "DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays" setting using Group Policy and the Windows Registry. By understanding and applying this setting, you can better control the update process and maintain a stable operating environment.

Examples:

Using Group Policy:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update -> Windows Update for Business.
4. Double-click on Select when Preview Builds and Feature Updates are received.
5. Select Enabled.
6. In the options section, set the number of days to defer feature updates in the Defer feature updates for this many days field.
7. Click Apply and then OK.

Using the Windows Registry:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate.
4. If the WindowsUpdate key does not exist, right-click on Microsoft, select New -> Key, and name it WindowsUpdate.
5. Right-click on WindowsUpdate, select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays.
6. Double-click on DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays and set the value to the number of days you want to defer updates.
7. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

Using PowerShell:

1. Open PowerShell with administrative privileges.
2. Run the following command to set the defer period:

   New-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" -Name "DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays" -Value 30 -PropertyType DWord -Force

   Replace 30 with the number of days you want to defer the updates.