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 for business Windows Server User experience Other
Windows for business Windows Client for IT Pros User experience Other
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