Set the default source path for Update-Help
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows PowerShell User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows PowerShell Description
This policy setting allows you to set the default value of the SourcePath parameter on the Update-Help cmdlet. If you enable this policy setting, the Update-Help cmdlet will use the specified value as the default value for the SourcePath parameter. This default value can be overridden by specifying a different value with the SourcePath parameter on the Update-Help cmdlet. If this policy setting is disabled or not configured, this policy setting does not set a default value for the SourcePath parameter of the Update-Help cmdlet. Note: This policy setting exists under both Computer Configuration and User Configuration in the Group Policy Editor. The Computer Configuration policy setting takes precedence over the User Configuration policy setting.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp Value name: EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath
Enabled: EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath = 1
Disabled: EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_PowerShellExecutionPolicy/EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_PowerShellExecutionPolicy/EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Set the default source path for Update-Help
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp]
"EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath"=dword:00000001
"DefaultSourcePath"=""More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the default source path for Update-Help
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DefaultSourcePath' -Value '' -Type StringIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_PowerShellExecutionPolicy/EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="SourcePathForUpdateHelp" value=""/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the default source path for Update-Help
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp' -Name 'EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp' -Name 'DefaultSourcePath' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the default source path for Update-Help
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DefaultSourcePath' -Value '' -Type StringSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the default source path for Update-Help
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the default source path for Update-Help
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp' -Name 'EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp' -Name 'DefaultSourcePath' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the default source path for Update-Help
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DefaultSourcePath' -Value '' -Type StringBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.