Enable optional updates
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update\Manage updates offered from Windows Update Description
This policy enables devices to get optional updates (including gradual feature rollouts (CFRs) - learn more by visiting aka.ms/AllowOptionalContent) When the policy is configured • If "Automatically receive optional updates (including CFRs)" is selected, the device will get the latest optional updates automatically in line with the configured quality update deferrals. This includes optional cumulative updates and gradual feature rollouts (CFRs). • If "Automatically receive optional updates" is selected, the device will only get optional cumulative updates automatically, in line with the quality update deferrals. • If "Users can select which optional updates to receive" is selected, users can select which optional updates to get by visiting Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. Users can also enable the toggle "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" to automatically receive optional updates and gradual feature rollouts.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate Value name: SetAllowOptionalContent
Enabled: SetAllowOptionalContent = 1
Disabled: SetAllowOptionalContent = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/AllowOptionalContent Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
CSP values
-
0 (Default)- Don't receive optional updates. -
1- Automatically receive optional updates (including CFRs). -
2- Automatically receive optional updates. -
3- Users can select which optional updates to receive.
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. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Enable optional updates
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"SetAllowOptionalContent"=dword:00000001
"AllowOptionalContent"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable optional updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SetAllowOptionalContent' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowOptionalContent' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/AllowOptionalContent
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="AllowOptionalContent" value="1"/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable optional updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'SetAllowOptionalContent' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'AllowOptionalContent' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable optional updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SetAllowOptionalContent' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowOptionalContent' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable optional updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
# 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: Enable optional updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'SetAllowOptionalContent' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'AllowOptionalContent' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable optional updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SetAllowOptionalContent' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowOptionalContent' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.