Schedules a remote Group Policy refresh on the specified computer.
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Last verified: 2026-10-26
Microsoft GroupPolicy reference: Schedules a remote Group Policy refresh on the specified computer. The syntax and selected example below are adapted from the pinned Windows Server 2025 reference. Module availability, target configuration and delegated permissions determine whether it can run in your environment. Documentation and parameter text: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; formatting adapted by Cmdlet World. No execution testing is claimed.
Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Invoke-GPUpdate. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.
Supported environments
Windows / GroupPolicy · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply
Parameters
-AsJob
Runs the cmdlet as a background job. Use this parameter to run commands that take a long time to complete. The cmdlet immediately returns an object that represents the job and then displays the command prompt. You can continue to work in the session while the job completes. To manage the job, use the *-Job cmdlets. To get the job results, use the Receive-Job cmdlet. For more information about Windows PowerShell® background jobs, see about_Jobs.
-Boot
Indicates that the cmdlet restarts the computer after the Group Policy settings are applied. This is required for those Group Policy client side extensions (CSEs) that do not process Group Policy on a background update cycle, but do process Group Policy at computer startup, for instance, per-computer Software Installation policy settings. This parameter has no effect if there are no CSEs called that require a restart.
-Computer
Specifies the name of the computer for which this cmdlet schedules a Group Policy refresh. You can specify the computer name in one of the following formats: - Full computer name (FQDN computer name); for example, computer-01.sales.contoso.com. - Fully qualified domain name (FQDN)\computer name; for example, sales.contoso.com\computer-01. - NetBIOS domain name\computer name; for example, sales\computer-01. - Computer name (host name): for example, computer-01. If the computer name is not specified, the computer in which this cmdlet is run will have its Group Policy settings refreshed.
-Force
Forces the command to run without asking for user confirmation.
-LogOff
Indicates that the cmdlet logs off the current user after the policy settings have been updated. This is required for those Group Policy client-side extensions (CSEs) that do not process Group Policy on a background update cycle but do process Group Policy when a user logs on. Examples include per-user Software Installation policy settings and the Folder Redirection extension. This parameter has no effect if there are no CSEs called that require a logoff.
-RandomDelayInMinutes
Specifies the delay, in minutes, that Task Scheduler waits, with a random factor added to lower the network load, before running a scheduled Group Policy refresh. You can specify a delay in from 0 minutes to a maximum of 44640 minutes (31 days): - A value of 0 causes the Group Policy refresh to run as soon as the gpupdate task has been scheduled. - A value in the range of 1 minute to the maximum value of 44640 minutes cause the Group Policy refresh to delay the specified number of minutes plus a random offset before starting the Group Policy refresh.
-Sync
Indicates that the cmdlet processes the next foreground Group Policy application to be done synchronously. Foreground Group Policy applications occur at computer startup and user logon. You can specify this for the user, computer or both using the Target parameter. On a client computer, by default, Group Policy processes synchronously at computer startup and asynchronously at user logon. On a server, by default, Group Policy processes synchronously at computer startup and at user logon.
-Target
Specifies that only the user or computer policy settings are refreshed. By default, both user and computer policy settings are refreshed. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - User - Computer If the Target parameter is not specified both user and computer policy settings are refreshed.
Prerequisites
Windows with the GroupPolicy module and the Windows feature or management tools that provide it. Confirm target connectivity and version compatibility using the linked Microsoft reference.
Security considerations
This cmdlet changes system state. Review every target and parameter in the official reference, test outside production, and prepare an appropriate backup or rollback. Do not execute the example automatically.
Examples
Example 1: Schedule a Group Policy refresh on the current computer
Invoke-GPUpdate
This command schedules a Group Policy refresh on the computer on which you are running the Invoke-GPUpdate cmdlet. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.