Set the default source path for Update-Help (Windows 11 Group Policy)

What it does

This policy setting allows you to set the default value of the SourcePath parameter on the Update-Help cmdlet. If you enable this policy setting, the Update-Help cmdlet will use the specified value as the default value for the SourcePath parameter. This default value can be overridden by specifying a different value with the SourcePath parameter on the Update-Help cmdlet. If this policy setting is disabled or not configured, this policy setting does not set a default value for the SourcePath parameter of the Update-Help cmdlet. Note: This policy setting exists under both Computer Configuration and User Configuration in the Group Policy Editor. The Computer Configuration policy setting takes precedence over the User Configuration policy setting.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp
Value name: EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath
When enabled: DWORD 1
When disabled: DWORD 0

In Intune

Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_PowerShellExecutionPolicy/EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePathADMX_PowerShellExecutionPolicy on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.22000, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19041.1202.
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_PowerShellExecutionPolicy/EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePathADMX_PowerShellExecutionPolicy on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.22000, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19041.1202.

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

Options

Option	Type	Registry value	Allowed values
Default Source PathRequired	Text	`DefaultSourcePath`	Up to 255 characters

Configure and deploy

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

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: EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath
Namespace: Microsoft.Policies.PowerShell
Template file: PowerShellExecutionPolicy.admx
Release: Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set de4e49983ebd651f…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Both" displayName="$(string.EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath)" explainText="$(string.EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\UpdatableHelp" name="EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath" presentation="$(presentation.EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath)" valueName="EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.PowerShell:PowerShell" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.PowerShell:SUPPORTED_WIN7" />
      <enabledValue>
        <decimal value="1" />
      </enabledValue>
      <disabledValue>
        <decimal value="0" />
      </disabledValue>
      <elements>
        <text id="SourcePathForUpdateHelp" required="true" valueName="DefaultSourcePath" />
      </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="EnableUpdateHelpDefaultSourcePath" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <textBox refId="SourcePathForUpdateHelp">
          <label>Default Source Path</label>
        </textBox>
      </presentation>

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.PowerShell:category:PowerShell
<category displayName="$(string.PowerShell)" name="PowerShell" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.PowerShell:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
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.PowerShell:category:PowerShell
<category displayName="$(string.PowerShell)" name="PowerShell" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.PowerShell:PowerShell">Windows PowerShell</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.PowerShell:definition:SUPPORTED_WIN7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WIN7)" name="SUPPORTED_WIN7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.PowerShell:SUPPORTED_WIN7">At least Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 family</string></strings>
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>