How to Update Group Policy Using CMD

In this article I’ll guide you how to update Group Policy using CMD with my step by step guide. If changes are made to Group Policy settings then users may need to update them manually instead of waiting for the automatic refresh cycle.

How to Update Group Policy Using CMD

To update group policy using CMD you can follow these steps below:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

The first step to update group policy using CMD you need to run the Command Prompt with admin privileges:

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
3. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator by right-clicking on the CMD icon and selecting Run as administrator.

Step 2: Force Update Group Policy with gpupdate

The primary command to refresh Group Policy is:

gpupdate /force

Now this command is going to force the system to immediately apply all Group Policy settings including user and computer policies.

Step 3: Refresh Specific Group Policy Settings

If you want to refresh only user policies or only computer policies, use:

• To update user policies only:gpupdate /target:user /force

gpupdate /target:user /force

• To update computer policies only:

gpupdate /target:computer /force

Step 4: Logoff or Restart if Required

Some Group Policy settings require users to log off or restart for the changes to take effect. If prompted, you can manually log off with:

logoff

Or restart your computer using:

shutdown /r /t 0

Step 5: Verify Applied Policies with gpresult

After updating Group Policy, you may want to verify which policies are applied. Use the following command to generate a detailed report:

gpresult /h C:\gp_report.html

This will create an HTML report (gp_report.html) in the C: drive, which you can open in a web browser to review the applied policies.

Troubleshooting Group Policy Issues

• Policies not applying: Ensure the computer is connected to the domain and has network connectivity.
• Slow updates: Use the /wait parameter to extend the timeout period.
• Permission issues: Run CMD as an administrator and ensure you have the necessary permissions.

Why Update Group Policy Using CMD?

Updating Group Policy via CMD is useful in scenarios where:

1. Remote management: You need to update policies on remote machines.
2. Automation: You want to script the process for multiple computers.
3. Troubleshooting: The GUI tools are unavailable or not functioning.
4. Efficiency: You prefer using command-line tools for faster execution.

Conclusion

Using the gpupdate command in CMD is an efficient way to apply Group Policy changes immediately. Whether you’re updating policies for a user or a computer, using additional options like gpresult helps verify settings. If issues arise, troubleshooting steps like checking Event Viewer and resetting policies can resolve common problems.