Windows Update Commands: PowerShell, UsoClient & WUAUCLT

Master Windows update management with essential commands for PowerShell, UsoClient, and legacy WUAUCLT tools

Effective Windows update management is crucial for maintaining system security, stability, and performance. Whether you’re troubleshooting update failures, automating patch deployment, or managing updates across enterprise environments, understanding the right command-line tools can save time and prevent costly security vulnerabilities.

USOClient: Modern Update Management

The Update Session Orchestrator (USOClient) is the modern replacement for WUAUCLT, introduced in Windows 10 and Server 2016. It provides streamlined update management with better integration into the Windows Update service architecture.

USOClient Command Reference

Command	Description
startscan	Initiate scan for available updates
startdownload	Begin downloading discovered updates
startinstall	Install downloaded updates
refreshsettings	Refresh Windows Update settings
startinteractivescan	Open dialog and start scanning
restartdevice	Restart to complete update installation
scaninstallwait	Scan, download, and install in sequence

USOClient Usage Examples

# Scan for available updates
usoclient startscan

# Download detected updates
usoclient startdownload

# Install downloaded updates
usoclient startinstall

# Complete workflow: scan, download, and install
usoclient scaninstallwait

PowerShell: Advanced Update Automation

PowerShell provides the most flexibility and power for Windows update management. The PSWindowsUpdate module enables sophisticated update automation, filtering, and reporting capabilities that surpass both WUAUCLT and USOClient.

Installing PSWindowsUpdate Module

# Install from PowerShell Gallery (PowerShell 5+)
Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate

# Import the module
Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate

# Add Microsoft Update service
Add-WUServiceManager -ServiceID 7971f918-a847-4430-9279-4a52d1efe18d

Essential PowerShell Update Commands

# List available updates
Get-WUList -MicrosoftUpdate

# Install all updates with automatic reboot
Get-WUInstall -MicrosoftUpdate -AcceptAll -AutoReboot

# Install updates without automatic reboot (recommended)
Get-WUInstall -MicrosoftUpdate -AcceptAll

# Check if reboot is required
Get-WURebootStatus

# View update history
Get-WUHistory

Advanced PowerShell Filtering

# Install only security updates
Get-WUInstall -MicrosoftUpdate -Category "Security Updates" -AcceptAll

# Exclude specific updates by title
Get-WUInstall -MicrosoftUpdate -AcceptAll -NotTitle "Silverlight"

# Install updates for specific products
Get-WUInstall -MicrosoftUpdate -Category "Critical Updates" -AcceptAll

WUAUCLT: Legacy Windows Update Management

The Windows Update Automatic Update Client (WUAUCLT) was the primary command-line utility for managing Windows updates on older systems like Windows 7 and Server 2012R2. While deprecated in modern Windows versions, it remains essential for legacy system administration.

⚠️ Important: WUAUCLT has been deprecated in Windows 10 and Server 2016+. Use USOClient or PowerShell for modern systems.

Essential WUAUCLT Commands

Command	Description
/DetectNow	Detect and download available updates
/ReportNow	Report status back to WSUS server
/ResetAuthorization	Clear update check cookie (fixes 1-hour delay)
/UpdateNow	Install updates immediately
/ShowSettingsDialog	Display Windows Update settings

Common WUAUCLT Examples

# Detect and install updates immediately
wuauclt /detectnow /updatenow

# Reset authorization cookie if updates are stuck
wuauclt /resetauthorization

# Report client status to WSUS server
wuauclt /reportnow

Tool Comparison and Best Practices

Tool	Best For	Advantages	Limitations
WUAUCLT	Legacy systems (Win 7, Server 2012R2)	Simple, built-in	Deprecated, limited features
USOClient	Modern Windows (10+, Server 2016+)	Native, reliable	Basic functionality only
PowerShell	Advanced automation, enterprise	Flexible, scriptable, detailed control	Requires module installation

💡 Best Practices for Windows Update Management

Always run update commands from an elevated/administrative prompt
Test updates in a non-production environment first
Schedule updates during maintenance windows to minimize disruption
Monitor update installation progress and logs for errors
Implement a rollback strategy for critical systems
Use PowerShell for enterprise environments requiring detailed control

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Updates Not Installing

# Reset Windows Update components
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

# Clear update cache
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

# Restart services
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Check Update Service Status

# Check Windows Update service status
Get-Service wuauserv

# Check update installer status (PowerShell)
Get-WUInstallerStatus

# View recent update errors
Get-WinEvent -LogName System | Where-Object {$_.Id -eq 20} | Select-Object -First 10

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