Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update\Legacy Policies Description
This policy setting allows you to manage whether the 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option is allowed to be the default choice in the Shut Down Windows dialog. If you enable this policy setting, the user's last shut down choice (Hibernate, Restart, etc.) is the default option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box, regardless of whether the 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option is available in the 'What do you want the computer to do?' list. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option will be the default option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box if updates are available for installation at the time the user selects the Shut Down option in the Start menu. Note that this policy setting has no impact if the Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update\Do not display 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option in Shut Down Windows dialog box policy setting is enabled.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU Value name: NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption
Enabled: NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption = 1
Disabled: NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption = 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. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU]
"NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU' -Name 'NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2
# 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: Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU' -Name 'NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.