Immediately after updating, I paused the update for 5 weeks. After 2 weeks it started nagging again, telling me that maximum period has passed, and it can't be paused anymore.
Windows update breaks its promises and continues to nag me. What to do?
I'll address the suggestions below.
I don't wish to update at all. When it updates, almost always something goes wrong and doesn't work afterwards, and a reboot is necessary.
I don't use the kind of apps that can be "restored" after boot.
Before you start updating, you may be able to pause for 5 weeks. I see that here.
However once updates have started, the maximum pause is 2 weeks. I have seen that as well on occasion when I have had to pause updates until I was able to shut down virtual machines.
Remember that Windows 11 initiates updates itself and fairly regularly.
So what you see is normal, and you must process your updates within a 2 week time span.
Windows updates have been made more mandatory with Windows 11. You cannot (on a consumer system) disable Windows 11 Updates, and restarts WILL happen from time to time (usually on Patch Tuesday) but sometimes more frequently.
You must work within Windows 11 constraints if you are going to continue to use it.