WSUS - how to force install of updates and restart?

Joachim 26 Reputation points
2022-06-02T11:05:46.447+00:00

Since some users rather send their computers to sleep than restart, updates are massively delayed to be installed.
I changed our GPOs but still can't force the restart in a timely manner. What I'm most confused about: with the settings I will present you, it was planned that clients install at 12:00 (noon) and then have a maximum delay of 3 hours until they restart, nagging the users all 15 minutes that a restart will occur.

Clients: Windows 10 21H1 / 21H2
Server: 2019

What happened:

  • until 12:00 the Windows Updates in Settings told me that an installation was scheduled : good!
  • At 12:00 the updates were installed: good!
  • NO notification after that (except the small icon in the taskbar that the computer is missing updates)
  • When I check Windows Updates in Settings, im told the restart will occur at 3:00am: why!?

GPOs

  • Allow Automatic Updates immediate installation (has nothing to to with the problem, just to include that I use that setting)
  • Always automatically restart at scheduled time: Restart Timer: 180min
  • Automatic update detection frequencey: 2 hours
  • Configure Automatic Updates: 4 - Auto Download and Schedule installation
    Install during automatic maintenance: every day, 12:00 (noon), every week
  • Configure auto-restart reminder notifications for updatesPeriod: 15min
  • Configure auto-restart required notifications for updates Method: 2-user action
  • Display options for update notifications: 1-Excluding all notifications, excluding restart warnings

My goal would be, that updates get installed immediately when they receive them from WSUS and then get a warning every 15min that a restart will occur latest in 3 hours.I think that's not possible, so 12:00 installation and then 3 hours warnings and then restart would also be ok. What settings do I need for that and why don't the users see no restart warnings and restart is scheduled at 3am with my settings?

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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Windows 10
Windows 10
A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.
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