Specify the day of the week to check for security intelligence updates: registry value ScheduleDayComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates

Policy ID
SignatureUpdate_ScheduleDay
Scope
Computer Configuration
Supported on
At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
Source
Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category
Windows Components › Microsoft Defender Antivirus › Security Intelligence Updates

Registry

ScheduleDay

-Computer

ScheduleDay

REG_DWORDComputer
Enabled value
Depends on the option value
Element
Specify the day of the week to check for security intelligence updates
Options
ItemStored value
Never8
Every Day0
Sunday1
Monday2
Tuesday3
Wednesday4
Thursday5
Friday6
Saturday7
Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell
.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

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

; Options (use only one)
; Never
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000008
; Every Day
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000000
; Sunday
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000001
; Monday
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000002
; Tuesday
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000003
; Wednesday
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000004
; Thursday
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000005
; Friday
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000006
; Saturday
"ScheduleDay"=dword:00000007
CMD
:: Options (use only one)

:: Never
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 8 /f
:: Every Day
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
:: Sunday
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Monday
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Tuesday
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
:: Wednesday
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 4 /f
:: Thursday
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 5 /f
:: Friday
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 6 /f
:: Saturday
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 7 /f
PowerShell
# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Never
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 8 -Force | Out-Null
# Every Day
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
# Sunday
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Monday
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Tuesday
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null
# Wednesday
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 4 -Force | Out-Null
# Thursday
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 5 -Force | Out-Null
# Friday
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 6 -Force | Out-Null
# Saturday
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates' -Name 'ScheduleDay' -PropertyType DWord -Value 7 -Force | Out-Null