Specify intranet Microsoft update service location (Windows 11 Group Policy)

What it does

Specifies an intranet server to host updates from Microsoft Update. You can then use this update service to automatically update computers on your network. This setting lets you specify a server on your network to function as an internal update service. The Automatic Updates client will search this service for updates that apply to the computers on your network. To use this setting, you must set two server name values: the server from which the Automatic Updates client detects and downloads updates, and the server to which updated workstations upload statistics. You can set both values to be the same server. An optional server name value can be specified to configure Windows Update Agent to download updates from an alternate download server instead of the intranet update service. If the status is set to Enabled, the Automatic Updates client connects to the specified intranet Microsoft update service (or alternate download server), instead of Windows Update, to search for and download updates. Enabling this setting means that end users in your organization don't have to go through a firewall to get updates, and it gives you the opportunity to test updates before deploying them. If the status is set to Disabled or Not Configured, and if Automatic Updates is not disabled by policy or user preference, the Automatic Updates client connects directly to the Windows Update site on the Internet. The alternate download server configures the Windows Update Agent to download files from an alternative download server instead of the intranet update service. The option to download files with missing Urls allows content to be downloaded from the Alternate Download Server when there are no download Urls for files in the update metadata. This option should only be used when the intranet update service does not provide download Urls in the update metadata for files which are present on the alternate download server. Note: If the "Configure Automatic Updates" policy is disabled, then this policy has no effect. Note: If the "Alternate Download Server" is not set, it will use the intranet update service by default to download updates. Note: The option to "Download files with no Url..." is only used if the "Alternate Download Server" is set. Note: This policy is not supported on Windows RT. Setting this policy will not have any effect on Windows RT PCs. To ensure the highest level of security, Microsoft recommends securing WSUS with TLS/SSL protocol, thereby using HTTPS based intranet servers to keep systems secure. If a proxy is required, we recommend configuring system proxy. To ensure highest levels of security, additionally leverage WSUS TLS certificate pinning on all devices. In order to keep clients inherently secure, we are no longer allowing intranet servers to leverage user proxy by default for detecting updates. If you need to leverage user proxy for detecting updates while using an intranet server despite the vulnerabilities it presents, you must configure the proxy behavior to "Allow user proxy to be used as a fallback if detection using system proxy fails". Detection for updates against intranet servers will fail when user proxy is needed as a fallback and the alternate proxy behavior is not configured.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
When enabled: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU\UseWUServer = DWORD 1
When disabled: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU\UseWUServer = DWORD 0

In Intune

Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/AllowUpdateServiceUpdate on Microsoft LearnWindows builds listed: 10.0.10240.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/DoNotEnforceEnterpriseTLSCertPinningForUpdateDetectionUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the option “Do not enforce TLS certificate pinning for Windows Update client for detecting updates.”.Windows builds listed: 10.0.10240.18818, 10.0.14393.4169, 10.0.15063.2108, 10.0.16299.2166, 10.0.17134.1967, 10.0.17763.1697, 10.0.18362.1316, 10.0.18363.1316, 10.0.19041.746, 10.0.19042.746, 10.0.22000.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/FillEmptyContentUrlsUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the option “Download files with no Url in the metadata if alternate download server is set.”.Windows builds listed: 10.0.14393.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/SetPolicyDrivenUpdateSourceForDriverUpdatesUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the template element CorpWUSetPolicyDrivenUpdateSourceForDriverUpdates.Windows builds listed: 10.0.19041.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19044.1288, 10.0.19045.2130, 10.0.20348.371, 10.0.22000.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/SetPolicyDrivenUpdateSourceForFeatureUpdatesUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the template element CorpWUSetPolicyDrivenUpdateSourceForFeatureUpdates.Windows builds listed: 10.0.19041.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19044.1288, 10.0.19045.2130, 10.0.20348.371, 10.0.22000.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/SetPolicyDrivenUpdateSourceForOtherUpdatesUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the template element CorpWUSetPolicyDrivenUpdateSourceForDriverUpdates.Windows builds listed: 10.0.19041.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19044.1288, 10.0.19045.2130, 10.0.20348.371, 10.0.22000.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/SetPolicyDrivenUpdateSourceForQualityUpdatesUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the template element CorpWUSetPolicyDrivenUpdateSourceForQualityUpdates.Windows builds listed: 10.0.19041.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19044.1288, 10.0.19045.2130, 10.0.20348.371, 10.0.22000.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/SetProxyBehaviorForUpdateDetectionUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the option “Select the proxy behavior for Windows Update client for detecting updates”.Windows builds listed: 10.0.10240.18696, 10.0.14393.3930, 10.0.15063.2500, 10.0.16299.2107, 10.0.17134.1726, 10.0.17763.1457, 10.0.18362.1082, 10.0.18363.1082, 10.0.19041.508, 10.0.22000.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/UpdateServiceUrlUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the option “Set the intranet update service for detecting updates”.Windows builds listed: 10.0.10240.
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/UpdateServiceUrlAlternateUpdate on Microsoft LearnSets the option “Set the alternate download server”.Windows builds listed: 10.0.14393.

From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.

Options

Option	Type	Registry value	Allowed values
Set the intranet update service for detecting updatesRequired	Text	`WUServer`	Up to 255 characters
Set the intranet statistics serverRequired	Text	`WUStatusServer`	Up to 255 characters
Set the alternate download server	Text	`UpdateServiceUrlAlternate`	Up to 255 characters
Download files with no Url in the metadata if alternate download server is set.Default: unchecked	Checkbox	`FillEmptyContentUrls`	On (1) or off (0)
Do not enforce TLS certificate pinning for Windows Update client for detecting updates.Default: unchecked	Checkbox	`DoNotEnforceEnterpriseTLSCertPinningForUpdateDetection`	On (1) or off (0)
Select the proxy behavior for Windows Update client for detecting updatesRequiredDefault: Only use system proxy for detecting updates (default)	Drop-down list	`SetProxyBehaviorForUpdateDetection`	Only use system proxy for detecting updates (default)`0` Allow user proxy to be used as a fallback if detection using system proxy fails`1`

Configure and deploy

Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.

State Enabled Disabled Not configured

Options used when Enabled

Set the intranet update service for detecting updatesUp to 255 characters

A value is required.

Set the intranet statistics serverUp to 255 characters

A value is required.

Set the alternate download serverUp to 255 characters

Download files with no Url in the metadata if alternate download server is set.

Do not enforce TLS certificate pinning for Windows Update client for detecting updates.

Select the proxy behavior for Windows Update client for detecting updates

Fix the highlighted options to generate output.

History 5 retained releases

22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

4 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name: CorpWuURL
Namespace: Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate
Template file: WindowsUpdate.admx
Release: Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set de4e49983ebd651f…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.CorpWuURL)" explainText="$(string.CorpWuURL_Help)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" name="CorpWuURL" presentation="$(presentation.CorpWuURL)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WSUSOffering" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WU_SUPPORTED_Win2kSP3_Or_XPSP1_NoWinRT" />
      <enabledList>
        <item key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" valueName="UseWUServer">
          <value>
            <decimal value="1" />
          </value>
        </item>
      </enabledList>
      <disabledList>
        <item key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU" valueName="UseWUServer">
          <value>
            <decimal value="0" />
          </value>
        </item>
      </disabledList>
      <elements>
        <text id="CorpWUURL_Name" required="true" valueName="WUServer" />
        <text id="CorpWUStatusURL_Name" required="true" valueName="WUStatusServer" />
        <text id="CorpWUContentHost_Name" required="false" valueName="UpdateServiceUrlAlternate" />
        <boolean id="CorpWUFillEmptyContentUrls" required="false" valueName="FillEmptyContentUrls" />
        <boolean id="CorpWUDoNotEnforceEnterpriseTLSCertPinningForUpdateDetection" required="false" valueName="DoNotEnforceEnterpriseTLSCertPinningForUpdateDetection" />
        <enum id="SetProxyBehaviorForUpdateDetection" required="true" valueName="SetProxyBehaviorForUpdateDetection">
          <item displayName="$(string.OnlyUseSystemProxyForUpdateDetection)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="0" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.AllowUserProxyAsFallbackForUpdateDetection)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="1" />
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
      </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="CorpWuURL" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <textBox refId="CorpWUURL_Name">
          <label>Set the intranet update service for detecting updates:</label>
        </textBox>
        <textBox refId="CorpWUStatusURL_Name">
          <label>Set the intranet statistics server:</label>
        </textBox>
        <textBox refId="CorpWUContentHost_Name">
          <label>Set the alternate download server:</label>
        </textBox>
        <text>(example: https://IntranetUpd01)</text>
        <checkBox defaultChecked="false" refId="CorpWUFillEmptyContentUrls">Download files with no Url in the metadata if alternate download server is set.</checkBox>
        <checkBox defaultChecked="false" refId="CorpWUDoNotEnforceEnterpriseTLSCertPinningForUpdateDetection">Do not enforce TLS certificate pinning for Windows Update client for detecting updates.</checkBox>
        <dropdownList defaultItem="0" noSort="true" refId="SetProxyBehaviorForUpdateDetection">Select the proxy behavior for Windows Update client for detecting updates:</dropdownList>
      </presentation>

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:category:WSUSOffering
<category displayName="$(string.WSUSOffering)" name="WSUSOffering" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WindowsUpdateCat" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:category:WindowsUpdateCat
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsUpdateCat)" name="WindowsUpdateCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:definition:WU_SUPPORTED_Win2kSP3_Or_XPSP1_NoWinRT
<definition displayName="$(string.WU_SUPPORTED_Win2kSP3_Or_XPSP1_NoWinRT)" name="WU_SUPPORTED_Win2kSP3_Or_XPSP1_NoWinRT" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range minVersionIndex="3" ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows2000" />
          <range minVersionIndex="1" ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindowsXP" />
          <range maxVersionIndex="8" minVersionIndex="3" ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows" />
        </or>
      </definition>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:unresolved:unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows
<unresolved reference="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows" />
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:unresolved:unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows2000
<unresolved reference="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows2000" />
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:unresolved:unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindowsXP
<unresolved reference="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindowsXP" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:category:WSUSOffering
<category displayName="$(string.WSUSOffering)" name="WSUSOffering" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WindowsUpdateCat" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WSUSOffering">Manage updates offered from Windows Server Update Service</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:category:WindowsUpdateCat
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsUpdateCat)" name="WindowsUpdateCat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WindowsUpdateCat">Windows Update</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:definition:WU_SUPPORTED_Win2kSP3_Or_XPSP1_NoWinRT
<definition displayName="$(string.WU_SUPPORTED_Win2kSP3_Or_XPSP1_NoWinRT)" name="WU_SUPPORTED_Win2kSP3_Or_XPSP1_NoWinRT" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range minVersionIndex="3" ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows2000" />
          <range minVersionIndex="1" ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindowsXP" />
          <range maxVersionIndex="8" minVersionIndex="3" ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows" />
        </or>
      </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsUpdate:WU_SUPPORTED_Win2kSP3_Or_XPSP1_NoWinRT">At least Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 or Windows 2000 Service Pack 3, excluding Windows RT</string></strings>