Windows Autopatch Adds PowerShell Scripts Support for Automated Policy Conflict Resolution

Microsoft has rolled out a new update that enables administrators to use PowerShell scripts with Windows Autopatch to resolve policy conflicts more efficiently. Windows Autopatch is a cloud-based service that helps organizations automate the update process for Windows, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Teams.

What causes policy conflicts?

Microsoft explains that policy conflicts can arise when multiple policies exist within a tenant, potentially blocking the successful deployment of Windows quality and feature updates. This issue is particularly common in environments that use Configuration Manager and Group Policy Objects (GPOs).

When Windows Autopatch detects a policy conflict, it sends a notification to inform administrators about the issue. The alert includes details about the conflicting policy, its settings, and the associated Entra ID group. It also offers suggestions on how to resolve the policy conflict.

How to use PowerShell scripts to remediate policy conflicts with Windows Autopatch?

PowerShell scripts can automatically detect and resolve policy conflicts that might interfere with how Windows updates are applied within enterprise environments. For example, IT admins can use detection scripts to identify and log specific Windows Update policy settings that may cause deployment issues. The remediation scripts can also be used to remove certain registry keys that are responsible for conflicts with Windows Update policies.

“The remediation script prepares a log file, defines a file name, and sets up a directory for logging the script’s output, or creates a log directory if one does not yet exist. Once you resolve the conflict, the update takes effect on the device at the next Intune sync. This system is refreshed every 24 hours, so it can take up to 72 hours after the conflict is resolved for the change to be applied,” Microsoft explained.

Overall, managing updates can be challenging for administrators due to the complexity of IT environments. This makes a strong update management strategy crucial for maintaining the health and security of IT systems. The new auto-remediation scripts in Windows Autopatch are designed to help users resolve policy conflicts and ensure smooth system performance.