gpupdate - Update Group Policy via Windows with Command Line Interface

gpupdate – Update Group Policy via Windows with Command Line Interface

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Windows operating systems use Group Policy in order to manage operating system configuration, settings, permissions, etc. in a structured and easy way. By creating and applying Group Policies single or multiple computers can be managed easily. The gpupdate command is the client-side command used to get new Group Policy updates via the network. The gpupdate command can run in both MS-DOS and PowerShell.

gpupdate Command Syntax

The gpupdate command has the following syntax. The gpupdate command has very simple syntax.

gpupdate OPTION
  • OPTION is used to specify single or more options. It is optional.

Display gpupdate Help Information

The gpupdate command help information and options can be listed by providing the /? as option like below.

gpupdate /?
Display gpupdate Help Information

Update Group Policy

The current system group policy can be easily updated by running gpupdate command. There is no need for extra privilege to run gpupdate command.

gpupdate
Updating policy…
Computer Policy update has completed successfully.
User Policy update has completed successfully.

If the group policy is updated succesfully we see the message above.

Force Group Policy Update

In some cases the group policy update can hang for different reasons. Or by default is there is no new group policy the update do not occurs and applied. We can force the group policy download and apply even there is not update with the force option. The force option specified with /force .

gpupdate /force

Apply Computer Group Policy

Group Policy has two main components called Computer Group Policy and User Group Policy. By using the /target option only the Computer Group Policy can be applied like below.

gpupdate /target:Computer

Apply User Group Policy

Also only User Group Policy can be applied by using the /target:User option like below.

gpupdate /target:User

Logoff After Group Policy Update

Some Group policies may require log off for the current user or session. The /logoff option of the gpupdate can be used to log off after the group policy update.

gpupdate /logoff

Reboot/Restart Group Policy Update

Some Group policies may require a reboot/restart the system. The /boot option of the gpupdate can be used to reboot/restart after the group policy update.

gpupdate /boot

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