Automatic updates are essential for maintaining the security and performance of your Windows operating system. Configuring automatic updates ensures that your system receives the latest security patches, bug fixes, and feature enhancements without manual intervention. This article will guide you through the steps to configure automatic updates using both the Windows Settings interface and Command Prompt (CMD).

Configuring Automatic Updates via Windows Settings

1. Open Settings:

• Press Win + I to open the Settings app.

2. Navigate to Update & Security:

• Click on "Update & Security".

3. Windows Update:

• In the left pane, click on "Windows Update".

4. Advanced Options:

• Click on "Advanced options" under the Windows Update section.

5. Configure Update Settings:

• Under "Choose how updates are installed", select "Automatic (recommended)".


• You can also configure other options like "Notify to schedule restart" and "Pause updates" if needed.

Configuring Automatic Updates via Command Prompt (CMD)

For more advanced users, you can configure automatic updates using the Command Prompt. Here’s how:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

• Press Win + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)".

2. Check Current Update Settings:

• Type the following command and press Enter:
  

   sconfig



• This will open the Server Configuration tool.

3. Configure Automatic Updates:

• In the Server Configuration tool, type 5 to enter the Windows Update settings.


• Then type A to set the updates to "Automatic".

Configuring Automatic Updates via Group Policy

For enterprise environments, configuring automatic updates via Group Policy is often preferred.

1. Open Group Policy Editor:

• Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to Windows Update Policies:

• Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.

3. Configure Automatic Updates:

• Double-click on "Configure Automatic Updates".


• Select "Enabled" and choose your preferred configuration from the options provided (e.g., Auto download and notify for install).


• Click "Apply" and then "OK".

Examples

Example 1: Checking Update Status via CMD

To check the current status of Windows Update via Command Prompt, you can use the following command:

wmic qfe list brief /format:table

Example 2: Forcing an Update Check via PowerShell

To force Windows to check for updates immediately, use the following PowerShell command:

Get-WindowsUpdate

Note: You may need to install the Windows Update PowerShell module first:

Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate