Controlling Windows Update frequency?

Question

Is it possible to control how often Windows Update checks for available updates? I would imagine a registry hack is necessary?

Answer 1

On Windows 7, you can use Local Group Policies to set Windows Update detection frequency.

Run this command:

gpedit.msc

On Computer/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Windows Update

Set the option that says Automatic Update detection frequency to the desired frequency.

Note, nonetheless, that although detection can occur even hourly, installation will occur on a daily basis, minimum.

Indeed, you can set that installations be applied imediately, but this only happens to important updates that don't need a reboot (or to updates with a due date in the past, if you are using a WSUS server).

Answer 2

You can read this Microsoft KB article here: KB 326693, or simply run a task to do it whenever you want, with the command line option of:

wuauclt /detectnow.

Either way you do it, it is rather quick, easy and simple to setup.