How do I prevent my Windows Server from being automatically rebooted by SQL Server updates?
To prevent SQL Server updates to be installed automatically, you need to:

open up PowerShell window (Command prompt will also work)
type &quot;sconfig.cmd&quot; and run it
press 5 to select &quot;Windows Update Settings&quot;
set it to &quot;M&quot; which is &quot;Manual&quot;

Important: choose &quot;Manual&quot;, NOT &quot;DownloadOnly&quot;, because even with &quot;DownloadOnly&quot; setting, some Windows Updates that Microsoft considers very important, may be still installed and machine will be rebooted (I've experienced it myself)
This way you have total control over when and how to install Windows and SQL Server updates