Update Rings in Intune: "Auto Install and restart at a ascheduled time" doesn't work

Question

Update Rings in Intune: "Auto Install and restart at a ascheduled time" doesn't work

Noah Valentino 1

I want to have Windows Updates to install every sunday night so it doesnt interfeer with the user. To test the schedule capabillities of the intune update rings, i configured a ring like so:

I have uninstalled a specific update on my test system so that i can check after the scheduled time if its reinstalled and my update ring configuration worked. Unfortunately, it doesnt work and the device never ever updates. I have tested it multiple times but the device never even semms to search for new updates. The last time the device searched for updates was this morning when i did it manually.

Do you guys use the schedule feature and am i missing something obvious?
Does the schedule work for you on time?

Brent Johnson 0 Reputation points

2024-06-13T14:43:53.2166667+00:00

Hey Jason/Noah,

I know this was posted back in 2021, but I hope one of you are still monitoring this thread as I'm hung up on a similar issue. I have a set of mission critical computers that I am allowed to update & restart on the Third Thursday of every month at 11AM and I have created an update ring for this purpose. I read this article meticulously as I created it. For some reason, even though I have set the install day and time set to the Third Thursday of every month at 11AM, the update ring installs updates just a few hours after they are released on patch Tuesday! I cannot figure out why the date/time I specified is being ignored! This behavior is incredibly frustrating. Can one of you please look at the settings specified in the screenshot below and tell me what I am doing wrong?

Thank you in advance.
RiDER07 0 Reputation points

2025-04-16T22:24:25.38+00:00

I am facing the exact same issue. Updates are not following the 'automatic update behaviour'
sridhar jilkar 0 Reputation points

2025-07-04T12:53:46.7666667+00:00

Hai Is you device getting rebooted atomically as per above mentioned schedule

2 answers

Your answer

Brent Johnson 0 Reputation points

2024-06-13T14:43:53.2166667+00:00

Hey Jason/Noah,

I know this was posted back in 2021, but I hope one of you are still monitoring this thread as I'm hung up on a similar issue. I have a set of mission critical computers that I am allowed to update & restart on the Third Thursday of every month at 11AM and I have created an update ring for this purpose. I read this article meticulously as I created it. For some reason, even though I have set the install day and time set to the Third Thursday of every month at 11AM, the update ring installs updates just a few hours after they are released on patch Tuesday! I cannot figure out why the date/time I specified is being ignored! This behavior is incredibly frustrating. Can one of you please look at the settings specified in the screenshot below and tell me what I am doing wrong?

Thank you in advance.
RiDER07 0 Reputation points

2025-04-16T22:24:25.38+00:00

I am facing the exact same issue. Updates are not following the 'automatic update behaviour'
sridhar jilkar 0 Reputation points

2025-07-04T12:53:46.7666667+00:00

Hai Is you device getting rebooted atomically as per above mentioned schedule

Answer 1

Nick Hogarth 3,521 Volunteer Moderator

It should search for updates from WUfB every 22 hours. How long was it left until after you uninstalled the update?

Have you left it to see if it installs the following week? See the important note below.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/intune/protect/windows-update-settings

Important
The device might not complete the installation at the specified time because of power policies, user absence, and so on. In this case, it will not attempt installation until the specified time occurs again or until a deadline you have specified is reached.

Noah Valentino 1 Reputation point

2021-11-30T10:19:04.62+00:00

Hello Nick Hogarth

Thanks for tryin to help me out here.
As it seems, the update installed this very morning right when i logged myself on the computer.
Unfortunately, this is not what i want because it would be so cool if the update just ran whenever i scheduled it.

Where did you get the info that WUfB only searches for Updates every 22 hours?
Im curious to see if this has anything to do with my schedule.

Answer 2

Jason Sandys 31,411 Microsoft Employee Moderator

Where did you get the info that WUfB only searches for Updates every 22 hours?

That's not specific to Windows Update for Business, that's specific to the Windows Update Agent/client itself and can be configured using a policy.

As called out in the snippet that Nick posted above as well, if you need to force the process at a specific time, you should also be setting a deadline in the ring configuration.

Noah Valentino 1 Reputation point

2021-12-03T14:51:02.07+00:00

Hi Jason

I checked the Schedule Scan Service on my PC and its true: The Windows Update Orchestrator searches for Updates in the background every 22 hours random throughout the day.
So thats basically why no update got installed in the first place. Yes, the device reached the scheduledinstalltime, but the device didnt already search for updates which it has to do first in order to install them.

Unfortunately i still have my problems with the policy:
The Device never automatically restarts after installing an update, aldo the policy says "install AND RESTART at maintenance time".
The only thing that happens after a install is the appearing of a message saying "Your Organisation scheduled a restart in 30 days" WTF?!
I dont want this message i want an automated restart.
Jason Sandys 31,411 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2021-12-03T19:18:27.367+00:00

Same answer, please use deadlines. Maintenance times factor in many other items including user activity. Deadlines do not.

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Update Rings in Intune: "Auto Install and restart at a ascheduled time" doesn't work

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