Group Policy to control updates on Win11

pokeefe0001 · Mar 20, 2022

On Win10 & Win11 I have the Group Policy
Computer Configuration>Windows Components>Windows Updates>Configure Automatic Updates set to 2.

On Win10 on the Windows Update page in Settings there is a comment in red saying "Some settings are managed by your organization" . On Win11 there is no similar message. And just to confuse things a bit, the option "Pause for 1 week" is set even though I did not set it.

How can I tell if the group policy is actually working? I installed Win11 on a test PC just yesterday - not enough time to see if this works. I've also go Win11 on a Surface Pro tablet (pre-installed) but have manually installed maintenance too often to tell if it's the policy or the 1 week delay that's in effect.

Win11 21H2 build 22000.556
Win10 21H1 build 19043.1526

Bree · Mar 20, 2022

pokeefe0001 said:
On Win10 on the Windows Update page in Settings there is a comment in red saying "Some settings are managed by your organization" . On Win11 there is no similar message.

...How can I tell if the group policy is actually working?

I think Microsoft got tired of people asking "Who is this 'organization'? I'm the only user on this PC !". :lmao:

Look in Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Configured update policies.

And for others looking to set this particular group policy, in W11's Group Policy Editor it's now found in:
Computer Configuration>Windows Components>Windows Update>Manage end user experience>Configure Automatic Updates

pokeefe0001 · Mar 20, 2022

Oh, yeah. I forgot that extra "Manage end user experience" they stuck in. I did "manage" to find that.

AddRAM · Mar 21, 2022

Use Option 7 and yes it works on W11 too.

Enable or Disable Windows Update Automatic Updates in Windows 10

How to Enable or Disable Automatic Updates for Windows Update in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

pokeefe0001 · Mar 21, 2022

Bree said:
I think Microsoft got tired of people asking "Who is this 'organization'? I'm the only user on this PC !".

I've always assume (based on ignorance) that Group Policies were developed for the Active Directory environment and we non-AD users were lucky to get it at all. In the AD environment the message makes sense.

On the other hand the message could have been "Some settings are managed by administrative policy" and it would work for both environments. But Microsoft forgot to ask my opinion.

Bree · Mar 21, 2022

pokeefe0001 said:
I've always assume (based on ignorance) that Group Policies were developed for the Active Directory environment....

I think you are correct. If you download the Group Policy Settings Reference Spreadsheet you'll see that some polices are supported as far back as Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. And Windows 2000 was when support for AD was first introduced.

Sqrly · Mar 20, 2024

Hey people,

I have this set to option 2 as well and it works until Microsoft want to override it, but that only seems to happen if an update is put off for too long and that's acceptable for me at this time.

My issue is, it is also controlling the "security Intelligence Update(s) for Microsoft Defender Antivirus" so I have to manaully allow that update every time.

Is there a way to allow the definitions to update without my interaction while keeping the rest as set in the policy?

VBF · Jul 2, 2025

Bree said:
I think Microsoft got tired of people asking "Who is this 'organization'? I'm the only user on this PC !".

Look in Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Configured update policies.

View attachment 24881

And for others looking to set this particular group policy, in W11's Group Policy Editor it's now found in:
Computer Configuration>Windows Components>Windows Update>Manage end user experience>Configure Automatic Updates

I do realise this is an old thread, and my findings may already exist on the forum, but @Bree I'm only now getting into W11 and have a brand spanking new PC which I'm slowly customising.

On Winver 24H2 OS Build 26100.4351 I actually found it in

Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates> Windows Components>Windows Update>Manage end user experience>Configure Automatic Updates
which is slightly different to your post.

After making the change, to option 2 I restarted the PC, it downloaded Defender A/V update, and offered “Download and Install” for others which then proceeded as usual

Bree · Jul 2, 2025

VBF said:
I do realise this is an old thread, and my findings may already exist on the forum, but @Bree I'm only now getting into W11 and have a brand spanking new PC which I'm slowly customising.

Welcome to Eleven Forum.
Well, to posting at least, I see you've been a member for a few years now

Yes, MS have changed the location of that particular group policy since I first posted.

Here's Ghot's head-start to help you customise your brand spanking new Windows 11.

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are links to...

www.elevenforum.com

hsehestedt · Jul 2, 2025

As for the issue where you believe that updates are paused for one week, I think that the button on that page is confusing because it almost makes it look like updates are already paused.

You have to actually press the button to get it to pause. The clear sign that updates are paused is if the button that normally says "Check for updates" says "Resume updates" and to the left of that it says that updates are paused until some date.

VBF · Jul 2, 2025

Bree said:
Welcome to Eleven Forum.
Well, to posting at least, I see you've been a member for a few years now

Yes, MS have changed the location of that particular group policy since I first posted.

Here's Ghot's head-start to help you customise your brand spanking new Windows 11.

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are links to...

www.elevenforum.com

Thanks @Bree I'll take a look at that guide,although tbh, I've nearly finished - got to set up a friend's system soon

More tweaking info always welcome though!

Group Policy to control updates on Win11

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