Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Vista through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update\Legacy Policies Description
Specifies whether Automatic Updates will deliver both important as well as recommended updates from the Windows Update update service. When this policy is enabled, Automatic Updates will install recommended updates as well as important updates from Windows Update update service. When disabled or not configured Automatic Updates will continue to deliver important updates if it is already configured to do so.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU Value name: IncludeRecommendedUpdates
Enabled: IncludeRecommendedUpdates = 1
Disabled: IncludeRecommendedUpdates = 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: Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Vista through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU]
"IncludeRecommendedUpdates"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'IncludeRecommendedUpdates' -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: Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU' -Name 'IncludeRecommendedUpdates' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'IncludeRecommendedUpdates' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.
# 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: Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU' -Name 'IncludeRecommendedUpdates' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on recommended updates via Automatic Updates
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista through Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 with most current service pack. Not supported on Windows 10 and above.
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'IncludeRecommendedUpdates' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.