Enable optional updates: registry value SetAllowOptionalContent and 1 moreComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

Policy ID: AllowOptionalContent
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2025, Windows 10 Version 21H2, or Windows 11 Version 22H2
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Windows Update › Manage updates offered from Windows Update

Registry

SetAllowOptionalContent

REG_DWORDComputer

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

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

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

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"SetAllowOptionalContent"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"SetAllowOptionalContent"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "SetAllowOptionalContent" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "SetAllowOptionalContent" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'SetAllowOptionalContent' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'SetAllowOptionalContent' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

AllowOptionalContent

REG_DWORDComputer

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

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Select how users receive optional updates:

Options
Item	Stored value
Automatically receive optional updates (including CFRs)	1
Automatically receive optional updates	2
Users can select which optional updates to receive	3

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

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

; Options (use only one)
; Automatically receive optional updates (including CFRs)
"AllowOptionalContent"=dword:00000001
; Automatically receive optional updates
"AllowOptionalContent"=dword:00000002
; Users can select which optional updates to receive
"AllowOptionalContent"=dword:00000003

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Automatically receive optional updates (including CFRs)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "AllowOptionalContent" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Automatically receive optional updates
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "AllowOptionalContent" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Users can select which optional updates to receive
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v "AllowOptionalContent" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# Automatically receive optional updates (including CFRs)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'AllowOptionalContent' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Automatically receive optional updates
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'AllowOptionalContent' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Users can select which optional updates to receive
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate' -Name 'AllowOptionalContent' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null