WSUS no Auto Restart

Handian Sudianto 7,441 Reputation points
2026-08-13T23:28:23.3033333+00:00

How we can set the client to auto restart after update installed?

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I already set restart timer to 15

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Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | Devices and deployment | Install Windows updates, features, or roles
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  1. AI answer

    2026-08-13T23:28:42.41+00:00

    To make WSUS clients restart automatically after updates are installed, configure scheduled installation and make sure the policy that blocks auto-restart for signed-in users is not enabled.

    1. In Group Policy, open: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Configure Automatic Updates
    2. Set it to Enabled.
    3. Choose 4 - Auto download and schedule the install.
    4. Set the scheduled install time.

    Then configure:

    1. Always automatically restart at the scheduled time = Enabled
    2. Set the restart timer to the required value, such as 15 minutes.

    Important behavior:

    • Always automatically restart at the scheduled time starts the restart timer immediately after Windows Update installs important updates.
    • This policy is a legacy policy and isn't applicable for Windows 11.
    • If No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations is Enabled, then Always automatically restart at the scheduled time has no effect.

    So if the client is not auto-restarting, check this policy:

    1. Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > No auto-restart with logged on users for scheduled automatic updates installations
    2. Set it to Disabled or Not Configured if automatic restart is required.

    Related default behavior:

    • With Configure Automatic Updates = 4, if updates require a restart, Windows restarts automatically.
    • If a user is signed in, the user is notified and can delay the restart.
    • For scheduled installations, the default wait before restart is 15 minutes unless changed by policy.

    If using registry instead of Group Policy, the restart-related settings are under: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

    Warning: Direct registry editing is risky. Back up the registry first. Incorrect changes can cause serious system problems.

    References:

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  2. Adam J. Marshall 11,031 Reputation points MVP
    2026-08-18T00:35:42.75+00:00

    Your best option is to tell it to restart, but rather set this to be a rolling deadline.

    https://www.ajtek.ca/wsus/how-to-setup-manage-and-maintain-wsus-part-4-creating-your-gpos-for-an-inheritance-setup/

    Create a rolling deadline to ensure that the computers DO end up restarting, but not when your clients don't want them to.

    Setting it to my suggested guidance of 5 days with a 2 day grace period, will allow a computer to schedule the restart ONLY IF THE USER IS NOT LOGGED IN, as soon as it can within the 5 days. My guide also shows you how to add the notifications that the user will see to let them know they need to restart within a time. They can schedule the restart when it's convenient for them (assuming within the 5 day deadline).

    If the user logs out anytime within that 5 day period, and the computer is idle, Windows will restart and apply the update which preserves compliance and doesn't affect the user - a win-win.

    What specifically is the reason why you're trying to prevent it from restarting?

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