Microsoft has quietly shifted a major piece of device provisioning from a manual follow-up task for end users to an automated, admin‑controlled step in setup — beginning with the September 2025 Windows security update, eligible Windows 11 devices can check for and install quality updates during the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) so that devices arrive to users already patched and compliant. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Windows updates have long been one of IT’s perennial headaches: devices shipped from vendors frequently require dozens of cumulative updates, security fixes and drivers before they’re safe to use in a corporate environment. That lag between device handoff and the first completed update window creates risk and extra work for IT: helpdesk tickets, extended onboarding time, and inconsistent patch posture across fleets.
Microsoft has been working toward a managed OOBE update experience for more than a year. The concept evolved from community feedback and several Microsoft announcements that laid out both intent and the administrative controls that would govern the behavior. In February 2025 Microsoft signalled the plan to allow organizations to enable quality updates during OOBE via Autopilot and MDM/GPO controls, and subsequent communications clarified timing and the exact administrative surfaces for management. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
What’s changed recently is that Microsoft has set a firm deployment window: the capability will be available with the September 2025 Windows security update for eligible Entra‑joined and Entra hybrid‑joined devices, and administrators will be able to manage it through the Windows Autopilot Enrollment Status Page (ESP) in Microsoft Intune. (techcommunity.microsoft.com, mc.merill.net)
Community voices on forums and enterprise channels underscore a consistent theme: the administration surface (ESP) and Intune integration make this practical and manageable, but assumptions about “everything will be up to date” must be tempered — feature updates, driver updates and firmware still require separate management and scheduling. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Source: TechRadar Microsoft may have just saved admins a whole of work (and stress) when it comes to installing vital upgrades
Windows updates have long been one of IT’s perennial headaches: devices shipped from vendors frequently require dozens of cumulative updates, security fixes and drivers before they’re safe to use in a corporate environment. That lag between device handoff and the first completed update window creates risk and extra work for IT: helpdesk tickets, extended onboarding time, and inconsistent patch posture across fleets.Microsoft has been working toward a managed OOBE update experience for more than a year. The concept evolved from community feedback and several Microsoft announcements that laid out both intent and the administrative controls that would govern the behavior. In February 2025 Microsoft signalled the plan to allow organizations to enable quality updates during OOBE via Autopilot and MDM/GPO controls, and subsequent communications clarified timing and the exact administrative surfaces for management. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
What’s changed recently is that Microsoft has set a firm deployment window: the capability will be available with the September 2025 Windows security update for eligible Entra‑joined and Entra hybrid‑joined devices, and administrators will be able to manage it through the Windows Autopilot Enrollment Status Page (ESP) in Microsoft Intune. (techcommunity.microsoft.com, mc.merill.net)
Overview: what Microsoft is actually delivering
The essential technical change
- Windows will check for and install applicable quality updates on the final OOBE page before moving users to the desktop. This means a new hire opening a freshly unboxed laptop can be signed in to a device that already has the latest cumulative security fixes applied. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- This mechanism applies to quality updates only (monthly cumulative security and reliability updates). Feature updates, driver packages, and other types of servicing are not installed through the OOBE quality‑update path. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Which devices and management scenarios are eligible
Devices must meet the following criteria to receive quality updates during OOBE:- Running Windows 11, version 22H2 or later and one of these SKUs: Pro, Enterprise, Education or SE. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Microsoft Entra joined (formerly Azure AD) or Entra hybrid‑joined and enrolled with an MDM solution that supports Autopilot ESP (Microsoft Intune is the most common). (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Devices must either be imaged with the June 2025 Windows non‑security update (or later), or receive the August 2025 OOBE Zero Day Patch (ZDP) to include the new OOBE update setting locally on the device. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
How administrators will control the behavior
The Enrollment Status Page (ESP) toggle
The new control is surfaced in Microsoft Intune’s Enrollment Status Page profile as a toggle labeled Install Windows quality updates (might restart the device). Administrators can:- Turn the toggle on to allow updates during OOBE,
- Turn it off to retain previous behavior (no automatic quality updates during OOBE),
- Assign ESP profiles to Autopilot device groups or “All devices” to enforce consistent behavior. (techcommunity.microsoft.com, windowsforum.com)
Alternatives and legacy management
- If you’re not using Autopilot/ESP, Microsoft will still mirror the control as a Group Policy and as an MDM policy — but some enrollment paths that don’t include device ESP may not be able to turn off OOBE updates (effectively forcing default behavior). Administrators should verify their enrollment flow. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Non‑Microsoft MDM vendors that implement Autopilot/ESP functionality may be able to expose the same toggle, but feature parity and timing depend on the vendor. Validate with your MDM provider. (theregister.com)
Why this matters: operational benefits
- Day‑one protection: Devices handed out to employees will be in the organization’s approved patch state immediately, shrinking the window of exposure between device handoff and the first completed update cycle. This is a tangible improvement for security posture, compliance audits and vulnerability management. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Fewer helpdesk calls and smoother onboarding: End users will no longer need to run a long Windows Update session on first sign-in — fewer tickets, fewer frustrated new hires, and reduced interruptions to first‑day onboarding tasks. (theregister.com)
- Alignment with Windows Update for Business policies: Microsoft has designed the OOBE update path to respect existing quality update deferrals, pause policies and the organization’s WUfB settings, so only approved quality updates are installed during provisioning. That enables consistent, policy‑aligned update behavior across your fleet. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Risks, caveats and limits — what IT must watch for
While beneficial, the change is not without operational tradeoffs and risk vectors. Key concerns admins must plan for are:- Longer OOBE provisioning time. Installing quality updates during OOBE can add an average of roughly 20 minutes to setup, but total time varies by update size, device hardware and network conditions. For bulk deployments or “on‑the‑spot” device activations, this extra time needs to be planned for. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Temporary Access Pass (TAP) expiry. Because the OOBE flow may take longer, temporary credentials used during enrollment (TAPs) can expire before the user reaches sign‑in. Microsoft recommends IT teams extend TAP validity during provisioning or adjust enrollment procedures accordingly. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Not a replacement for feature/driver updates. Device drivers and feature updates are intentionally excluded from the OOBE quality‑update path. Feature updates must still be managed and scheduled by standard feature‑update channels. Don’t assume an OOBE update will bring the device to the latest feature update release. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Default behavior may surprise teams. With new ESP profiles defaulting to enabled, organizations that previously depended on manual first‑boot updating should proactively set ESP profiles to off if they prefer the old behavior. Otherwise, newly created profiles may apply updates during OOBE unexpectedly. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Network bandwidth and vendor logistics. If you deploy devices in offices where many machines will download updates simultaneously, ensure your WAN and distribution strategies (Windows Update for Business delivery optimization, local WSUS/Distribution points) are sized and configured. Consider vendor coordination for pre‑imaging with the June 2025 non‑security update to reduce OOBE download volume. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Possibility of failed update states during OOBE. Any update can fail; applying updates in OOBE shifts the failure domain into provisioning. Ensure test images and pre‑deployment validation are comprehensive so you don’t hand users devices that require recovery or reimaging before first login. Independent reporting and community feedback emphasize careful pilot testing. (theregister.com)
Recommended pre‑deployment checklist for IT teams
- Confirm that target devices will be running Windows 11, version 22H2 or later and that you are using a supported SKU (Pro/Enterprise/Education/SE). (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Ensure devices are Entra joined or Entra hybrid‑joined and that Intune (or an MDM supporting Autopilot ESP) is the chosen enrollment path. Validate Autopilot group assignment workflows. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Decide whether to enable OOBE quality updates by default: update or create ESP profiles and explicitly set the Install Windows quality updates toggle to your desired state; remember new ESP profiles default to enabled. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Update imaging and vendor provisioning processes: include the June 2025 non‑security update in images where possible, or ensure devices receive the August 2025 OOBE ZDP as part of vendor provisioning to gain the capability locally. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Run targeted pilot groups (representative device models, networks, and user locations) to measure OOBE time and failure modes. Record telemetry to tune bandwidth and ESP timeouts. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Adjust TAP lifetimes or alternate authentication flows to ensure temporary credentials don’t expire mid‑provisioning. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Configure monitoring: device Enrollment Status Page telemetry, Intune diagnostic logs, Windows Update for Business reporting, and Autopilot diagnostic files. Create alerts for OOBE update failures. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Testing and validation guidance
- Use a diverse device matrix during pilot testing: low‑end CPUs, high storage load, and different network segments. OOBE update duration can vary widely by hardware and bandwidth. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Verify your OEM image or vendor provisioning process. If vendor images lack the June 2025 non‑security update, the device will still work, but will download the ZDP in August 2025 to enable the OOBE setting. Ensure vendors are briefed and aligned on the ZDP schedule if you rely on vendor imaging. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Stress‑test the provisioning network. If you plan mass rollouts (dozens to hundreds of devices on site), confirm that Peer‑to‑Peer Delivery Optimization or local caching is configured to avoid saturating Internet links. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Simulate failure scenarios: interrupted downloads, expired TAPs, or an ESP interruption during updates so runbooks are ready. Document recovery steps for technicians and field staff.
Real‑world implications and vendor reactions
Independent outlets and community discussions reflect broad relief about the feature — but also prudent caution. Reports note that the change brings real improvements for zero‑touch provisioning, but stress that administrators must be deliberate about defaults and test thoroughly before broad rollouts. Several news outlets summarized Microsoft’s August 2025 announcement and flagged the same operational cautions IT teams should heed. (theregister.com, windowslatest.com)Community voices on forums and enterprise channels underscore a consistent theme: the administration surface (ESP) and Intune integration make this practical and manageable, but assumptions about “everything will be up to date” must be tempered — feature updates, driver updates and firmware still require separate management and scheduling. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Security and compliance analysis
From a defensive posture, the ability to apply quality updates during OOBE is meaningful. It shortens the window in which a freshly deployed device is exposed to known vulnerabilities — a key improvement for organizations with strict compliance or high‑risk profiles.- Benefits to security operations: Faster completion of mandatory update baselines, simpler enforcement of security configuration checks at first login, and more predictable patch states during imaging and provisioning cycles. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Compliance incentives: Regulators and internal auditors who expect up‑to‑date endpoints will find the shift useful because it reduces the need to capture evidence that new devices were patched after delivery. However, compliance programs should update their procedural language to note that OOBE updates cover quality updates only. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Residual risk: If device firmware or vendor driver updates are required to remediate a vulnerability, OOBE quality updates won’t suffice. Organizations must continue to vendor‑validate firmware and coordinate driver/firmware servicing outside the OOBE path. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Practical scenarios: three deployment patterns
1) Zero‑touch corporate provisioning (Autopilot + Intune)
- Best fit: Organizations using Autopilot with ESP profiles assigned to Autopilot groups.
- Behavior: Devices will automatically download and apply quality updates during OOBE if ESP is configured with the toggle enabled, giving employees an up‑to‑date device at first login. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
2) Vendor‑imaged large dispatch
- Best fit: Workflows where OEMs pre‑image devices before bulk delivery.
- Behavior: Ask OEMs to include the June 2025 non‑security update in images or apply the August 2025 ZDP; that reduces OOBE download volume and speeds provisioning. If OEMs can’t comply, expect longer OOBE times as each device downloads more updates. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
3) Hybrid operations with occasional manual enrollment
- Best fit: IT shops that mix Autopilot and ad hoc enrollments.
- Behavior: Autopilot devices will be governed by ESP; manually enrolled devices might fall back to Group Policy behavior or require manual updates post‑login. Confirm that your enrollment paths expose the policy you expect. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Final assessment: strengths and potential pitfalls
Strengths
- Substantial security upside — devices reach users patched for current quality updates at handoff. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Administrative control — the setting is exposed in Intune/ESP and via policy, enabling alignment with enterprise update strategy. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Operational simplicity for Autopilot environments — zero‑touch provisioning becomes more complete and reliable. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Potential pitfalls
- Provisioning time increases may impact deployment throughput or employee experience on first boot. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Default‑on for new ESP profiles can lead to unintentional changes in provisioning operations unless admins proactively check profile defaults. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Scope limitations — quality updates only; firmware, drivers, and feature updates remain separately managed and will still require additional steps. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
- Network and vendor dependencies — scheduling and imaging must be coordinated to avoid surprises in field deployments. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Conclusion
Microsoft’s decision to make quality updates available during OOBE for Entra‑joined and hybrid‑joined Windows 11 devices is an important operational improvement for enterprise IT. It reduces the post‑handoff patching gap, simplifies zero‑touch provisioning, and strengthens day‑one security for new endpoints. However, the feature shifts some operational complexity into provisioning: teams must validate images, manage ESP profile defaults, extend temporary credential lifetimes where needed, and test real‑world provisioning timelines before rolling it out broadly. With careful planning — image updates, pilot testing, ESP configuration and monitoring — organizations can turn what was once a repetitive post‑deployment chore into a secure, automated step of device setup that saves time and reduces risk. (techcommunity.microsoft.com, mc.merill.net)Source: TechRadar Microsoft may have just saved admins a whole of work (and stress) when it comes to installing vital upgrades