Install Windows Server Updates, without a GUI! You'll never patch the same way again!

Here's how you can patch your servers using "sconfig" and the Command Prompt! It's that easy, and yes it supports WSUS (Windows Server Update Services). Read more below!

Using "sconfig" (Server Configuration) is the method used to manually update Windows Server Core instances that do not have a GUI, but it also works on normal Windows Server instances that do have a GUI. Sometimes it just feels better to work without all those fancy graphical windows :)0

To run Windows Update using the CLI (using Command Prompt):
1. Open elevated Administrative Command Prompt
2. Run "sconfig" (without quotations)
3. Choose option 6 for "Download and Install Updates"
4. Follow the prompts

To hire me and my company, visit:

#WindowsServer, #sconfig, #WindowsUpdates, #CLI, #GUI, #ServerConfiguration, #TipsandTricks

[mentezari]

Thank you so much for your tip. One of my 2016 servers would not update through GUI but did through sconfig. Have a great day.

[simonouting]

Great Video - I never knew of this either. But from today, this is the way I am also going to be updating my server going forward. Thanks and keep up the fantastic work.

[constantinsiriteanu]

Great video! Top Top Top as usual straight to the point and very useful info, thanks, much appreciated and keep up with this great work you do mate :)

[dennisheler]

i've been an Administrator since 2011 and i didn't know that as well. Thank you so much! Great video, greetings from Germany

[Tomersss]

wow thanks a lot, the "Start" button on server wasn't working and ms-settings / WIN+i didn't work to open settings so you saved me with the only option left

[IvanAlvarezCPACMA]

Great video! Fantastic! I agree...updates will never be the same again!

[steveabba]

I did not know about this, thanks for the video!!!

[swmitchell]

I'm a Network Engineer, and I often get sysadmin work thrown at me... this was a GEAT tip. BTW, your videos' are great quality. short punchy, the sound is great.. Keep it up. I cant beleive you only have 3k subscribers

[georginagraham]

i tried it on server 2019 and restarted the server after installation when completed but didnt see the updates under "Update History'?

[syafiq]

so if my wsus server notworking to push update, i can use this method to update? is this something like manual update?

[bhanskidum]

Yes I m doing like this before some days it's good 👍 can you plz make a vedio on SCCM !

[steve]

Great tutorial very helpful, any chance you can do a troubleshooting\fixes for wsus patches not either being seen by a server, or patches are being seen but failing? Much appreciated!

[kelemvor]

Can this be used as a one-liner so I can do something like sconfig -downloadall or something like that? Or does it have to be done as individual commands? Wondering if it can be scripted so I can remotely send a single command to a server and have it go check for updates and download whatever it finds and install them but not reboot (or something like that).

[TortugaR]

I am having H-E-Double L of a problem with KB5021237 for Server 2019. Trying this method now. I've tried the built in Windows version, the manual file download version, and when it starts installing, it reboots and fails the update.

[DJMNM]

followed your step by step but i get "There are no applicable updates" and then i have to exit... what if I have the KB for an update that i want to install... how can i push that to a server core installation? THANK YOU ! !

[Eugensson]

You cannot run sconfig from a remote PS session.

[amazing]

When using the sconfig command via cmd, does it prompt me to restart the server once the download/install of updates are completed?

[network]

How to uninstall windows update through command prompt

[mrmuffin]

does this work in windows 11? i keep getting sconfig is not recognized as an internal or external command

[muka]

When i type sconfig ‘sconfig’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.