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Reschedule Automatic Updates scheduled installations

Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 12, 2026

Windows 11 25H2

Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP SP1 , Windows 2000 SP4, Windows 2000 SP3

Path in the GPO console

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update\Legacy Policies

Description

Specifies the amount of time for Automatic Updates to wait, following system startup, before proceeding with a scheduled installation that was missed previously. If the status is set to Enabled, a scheduled installation that did not take place earlier will occur the specified number of minutes after the computer is next started. If the status is set to Disabled, a missed scheduled installation will occur with the next scheduled installation. If the status is set to Not Configured, a missed scheduled installation will occur one minute after the computer is next started. Note: This policy applies only when Automatic Updates is configured to perform scheduled installations of updates. If the "Configure Automatic Updates" policy is disabled, this policy has no effect.

Registry

HKLM Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Value name: RescheduleWaitTimeEnabled

Enabled: RescheduleWaitTimeEnabled = 1

Disabled: RescheduleWaitTimeEnabled = 0

More options available

Options

startup (minutes):
RescheduleWaitTime decimal - range 1-60

Export Builder

BETA

Configure 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: Reschedule Automatic Updates scheduled installations
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP SP1 , Windows 2000 SP4, Windows 2000 SP3

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU]
"RescheduleWaitTimeEnabled"=dword:00000001
"RescheduleWaitTime"=dword:00000001
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Reschedule Automatic Updates scheduled installations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP SP1 , Windows 2000 SP4, Windows 2000 SP3

$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RescheduleWaitTimeEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'RescheduleWaitTime' -Value 1 -Type DWord

Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.

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