Select the channel for Microsoft Defender monthly platform updates [to be deprecated]: registry value PlatformRingComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender

Policy ID: Root_PlatformUpdateChannel
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Registry

PlatformRing

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Select the channel for Microsoft Defender monthly platform updates:

Options
Item	Stored value
Beta Channel	2
Current Channel (Preview)	3
Current Channel (Staged)	4
Current Channel (Broad)	5
Critical - Time delay	6

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender]

; Options (use only one)
; Beta Channel
"PlatformRing"=dword:00000002
; Current Channel (Preview)
"PlatformRing"=dword:00000003
; Current Channel (Staged)
"PlatformRing"=dword:00000004
; Current Channel (Broad)
"PlatformRing"=dword:00000005
; Critical - Time delay
"PlatformRing"=dword:00000006

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Beta Channel
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "PlatformRing" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Current Channel (Preview)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "PlatformRing" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
:: Current Channel (Staged)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "PlatformRing" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
:: Current Channel (Broad)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "PlatformRing" /t REG_DWORD /d 5 /f
:: Critical - Time delay
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "PlatformRing" /t REG_DWORD /d 6 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Beta Channel
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PlatformRing' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Current Channel (Preview)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PlatformRing' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null
# Current Channel (Staged)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PlatformRing' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null
# Current Channel (Broad)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PlatformRing' -PropertyType DWord -Value 5 -Force | Out-Null
# Critical - Time delay
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PlatformRing' -PropertyType DWord -Value 6 -Force | Out-Null