Say Goodbye to Manual Reboots: How to Automate Windows Updates using Intune

In this guide, we’ll show you how to schedule reboot for Windows devices using Intune.

Fortunately, Intune is a powerful cloud-based management solution that allows you to schedule reboots for Windows devices remotely.

To begin with, here is a quick step guide to Schedule reboot the Windows devices using Intune:

• Access the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center

• Navigate to Configuration Profiles

• Create a New Policy

• Configure The Policy Details

• Setting Up Reboot Options

• Define the Schedule

• Assign the Policy

• Review and Deploy

• As a result, the assigned devices will receive the policy and automatically reboot according to the defined schedule

If you’d like to learn more, continue reading the blog. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the detailed process of setting up schedule reboot using Intune, ultimately helping you maintain your Windows fleet with minimal disruption to your users’ workflow..  

How to schedule automatic reboots for Windows devices with Intune ?

Ensuring your Windows devices stay updated and perform optimally often requires regular reboots. With Microsoft Intune, you can automate this process, minimizing disruption and maintaining device health.

In this section, we’ll explore various methods to schedule automatic reboots for Windows devices using Intune, providing detailed steps for each approach. Schedule reboot for Windows devices using Intune is essential for efficient device management.

Microsoft Intune

Intune provides three scheduling options for reboots:

• Single Reboot: Firstly, schedule a one-time reboot for a specific date and time.

• Daily Recurrent: Secondly, configure a daily reboot with options to define a specific time or a time window.

• Weekly Recurrent: Lastly, set up a weekly reboot, specifying the day(s) and time.

Steps for All Methods

1. Access the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center: To begin with, head over to aka.ms/intune and log in with your Microsoft credentials.

2. Navigate to Configuration Profiles: Next, within the admin center, navigate to Devices > Windows > Configuration profiles.

3. Create a New Policy: Then, click on Create profile and define the following settings:

• Platform: Select Windows 10 and later.

• Profile type: Choose Settings catalog.

4. Configure Policy Details: After that, click Next and provide a descriptive name and optional description for your profile according to your organization’s standards.

5. Setting Up Reboot Options: Subsequently, under Configuration settings, click on Add settings. In the search bar, type “Reboot” and select the Reboot category. You’ll be presented with the three scheduling options mentioned earlier.

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Detailed Steps for Each Method

Method 1: Single Reboot

• First, after selecting Reboot from the Settings picker, choose Single reboot.

• Then, in the Reboot time section, define the desired date and time for the one-time reboot in the following format: YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ (e.g., 2024-07-31T18:00:00Z for a reboot on July 31st, 2024, at 6:00 PM UTC).

Method 2: Daily Recurrent

• Initially, after selecting Reboot from the Settings picker, choose Daily recurrent.

• Next, you can either define a specific Reboot time using the same format as the Single Reboot option, or choose a Maintenance window approach.

• If using a maintenance window, define the Start hour and End hour within a 24-hour format (e.g., Start hour: 18, End hour: 22 for a window between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM).

Method 3: Weekly Recurrent

• To start, after selecting Reboot from the Settings picker, choose Weekly recurrent.

• Following this, select the desired day(s) of the week for the reboot using the checkboxes.

• Finally, define the Reboot time using the same format as the Single Reboot option.

6. Complete the Policy Deployment:

• Once you’ve chosen your scheduling method and defined the details, subsequently, click Next through the remaining configuration options.

• In the Assignments section, then, assign the policy to the target device groups you want to manage automatic reboots for.

• Carefully review the assigned groups and click on Next to complete the process. Lastly, click on Create to deploy the policy to the designated devices.

Using a PowerShell Script

1. First, create a PowerShell script that performs the reboot action, such as schedule a reboot for Windows devices using Intune. You can use a simple script like this:

• # Reboot.ps1

• Restart-Computer -Force

2. Next, upload the script to Intune:

• Go to the Intune portal.

• Then, navigate to Apps > Windows > PowerShell scripts.

• Fianlly, click on Add a script and upload your Reboot.ps1 script.

3. After that, create an Intune policy:

• First, go to Devices > Configuration profiles.

• Then, click on Create profile.

• Next, choose Platform: Windows 10 and later.

• Subsequently, select Profile type: PowerShell script.

• Afterwards, assign the script you uploaded.

• Lastly, configure the desired schedule (e.g., daily at 3:00 AM).

4. Once everything setup, deploy the profile to your target devices.

Additional Tips:

• Firstly, consider using a maintenance window outside of working hours to minimize disruption for users. This is especially important for the Daily Recurrent method.

• Moreover, Intune offers reporting features to monitor the status of the reboot policy deployment. You can use these reports to track the success and identify any issues with device reboots.   

Group Policy (For Domain-Joined Windows Devices)

Requirement: This method only works for devices joined to a Windows domain.

Process

Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)

• To begin with, open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). You can do this by pressing Win + R, typing gpmc.msc, and hitting Enter.

Navigate to the Group Policy Object (GPO)

• Subsequently, navigate to the Group Policy Object (GPO) that you want to configure for automatic reboots. First, expand the Forest and Domains nodes to locate your specific GPO.

Access Windows Update Settings

• Once you’ve found the correct GPO, proceed to Computer Configuration. After that, navigate to Administrative Templates and expand the Windows Components folder. Finally, select Windows Update.

Locate the Automatic Restart Setting Policy

• Following this, within the Windows Update settings, locate the policy named “Automatic Updates automatic restart setting”. This policy is crucial for configuring the automatic restart behavior.

Enable and Configure the Policy

• Next, double-click on the “Automatic Updates automatic restart setting” policy to open it. First, enable the policy by selecting the Enabled option. Then, configure the desired “Scheduled install time”. This setting allows you to specify a timeframe during which automatic restarts can occur after updates are downloaded.

Limitations

• Lacks precise control over reboot timing. Reboots happen within a window, potentially during work hours.

• Requires domain membership for devices.  

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Task Scheduler (Limited Use)

Open the Task Scheduler on the target Windows device

• First, open the Task Scheduler. You can do this by pressing Win + R, typing taskschd.msc, and hitting Enter.

Create a New Task

• Once the Task Scheduler window opens, click on Create Task. Subsequently, provide a descriptive name for the task, such as “Automatic Reboot Task”, in the Name field.

Configure the Trigger

• Next, navigate to the Triggers tab and click on New to create a new trigger.

• At this point, choose a trigger option such as Daily or Weekly, depending on your desired schedule.

• After selecting the trigger type, configure the specific time and frequency for the task to run, and then click OK.

Set the Action

• Moving on, go to the Actions tab and click on New to create a new action.

• First, choose Start a program as the action.

• Then, in the Program/script field, enter shutdown.exe.

• Following this, in the Add arguments field, enter /r /t 0 to set the task to restart the computer with no delay.

• Finally, click OK to save the action.

Review and Save the Task

• Before concluding, carefully review all the settings you have configured to ensure they are correct.

• Lastly, click OK to create the scheduled task.

Limitations:

• Requires manual configuration on each device. Not ideal for large deployments.

• Doesn’t account for ongoing user activity, potentially leading to data loss.

• Limited control over user prompts or warnings before restart.

Third Party Tool  

Popular Third-Party Tools:

• PDQ Deploy: A comprehensive deployment and management solution with features including automated restarts.

• NinjaRMM: A remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform that allows scheduling reboots on managed devices.

• ManageEngine Desktop Central: Offers patch management, remote control, and the ability to schedule system restarts.

• SolarWinds Patch Manager: Provides patching functionalities alongside scheduled reboot options.

General Steps (May vary slightly depending on the chosen tool):

• Install and Configure the Third-Party Tool: to begin, download and install the chosen software on your management console or server. Follow the tool’s specific setup instructions.

• Add Target Devices: Next, most tools allow adding individual devices or device groups for management. Refer to the software’s documentation for adding your Windows devices.

• Schedule Reboots: Once devices are added, navigate to the tool’s functionality for managing system restarts. This might be under “Patching,” “Deployment,” or a dedicated “Restart” section.

• Configure Schedule: After locating the reboot options, choose the desired scheduling method (e.g., single reboot, daily recurrent, weekly recurrent). Define the specific date/time or select a recurring schedule with desired parameters.

• Additional Options (Optional): Depending on the tool, you might be able to configure advanced options like:

• Maintenance windows: Specify timeframes for reboots to minimize user disruption.

• Reboot behavior: Choose between forced reboots or prompting users before restarting.

• Notifications: Set up notifications for successful or failed reboots.

• Apply the Schedule: Finally, once satisfied with the configuration, deploy the schedule to the target devices. The tool will handle the automated reboots based on your settings.

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Recommendation

While these alternatives can work in specific scenarios, Intune offers a more robust and centralized solution for managing automatic reboots across your Windows devices.

It provides greater control over scheduling, minimizes user disruption through maintenance windows, and simplifies management for large deployments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, automating Windows reboots is a crucial step in maintaining a healthy and secure IT environment. Microsoft Intune emerges as the standout solution, offering precise control, flexibility, and seamless integration with other Microsoft tools.

Schedule reboot for Windows devices using Intune ensures efficient device management and enhanced operational continuity.

Whether you choose Intune, Group Policy, Task Scheduler, or third-party tools, the goal remains the same: keeping your systems updated while minimizing disruption to users.

Remember, the key to success lies in finding the right balance between system maintenance and user productivity.

By implementing a well-planned reboot strategy, you’ll enhance security, improve performance, and reduce the administrative burden on your IT team.

Take the time to explore these options and choose the method that best fits your organization’s needs.

Reference:

Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)