Let’s discuss how to configure Active Hours Max Range Policy using Intune. The Active Hours Max Range policy helps IT administrators define the maximum number of hours a device can be considered active during the day. This setting allows Windows to know when not to automatically restart a device for updates, especially during a user’s regular working hours.
When configuring this policy, admins provide the number of active hours starting from a defined time. For example, if the active hours start at 9:00 AM and the max range is set to 10, Windows will avoid reboots between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. This ensures that critical work is not interrupted by automatic restarts.
In one of our recent posts, we covered the different ways to configure this setting, including using Windows Settings, Local Group Policy Editor, and Registry Editor. Each method offers a different level of control, depending on whether you are managing individual devices or deploying changes across an organisation.
In this post, you will find a complete guide on how to configure the Active Hours Max Range policy using Intune. We will walk you through the steps to deploy this policy using Microsoft Intune, explain the supported values, and highlight how this configuration can improve user productivity by aligning system behavior with working schedules.
Table of Contents
How to Configure Active Hours Max Range Policy using Intune
You can easily set the Active Hours Max Range Policy using Intune policy. Sign in to the Intune Admin Center portal. From the left-hand menu, navigate to Devices, then select Configuration under Policy. On the right pane, click + Create, and choose New policy to initiate the setup process.
- This will allow you to define and assign the settings needed to configure Active Hours Max Range across your managed devices.
| Create a Profile | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform | Select Windows 10 and later |
| Profile Type | Choose Settings catalog |
| Next Action | Click Create to proceed to configuration |
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Basic Profile Details – Active Hours Max Range Configuration
In the Basics tab, start by providing clear and descriptive information. Enter “Active Hours Max Range” as the Name of the profile to easily identify its purpose. In the Description field, add a short note like “How to Configure Maximum Active Hours Range for IT Admins” to give context for future reference. For the Platform, select Windows to ensure the settings apply to supported Windows 10 and later devices.
Configuration Settings
The Configuration settings is the 2nd tab. Settings Catalog provides a flexible way to configure only the settings you need. To begin, click on Add settings hyperlink, where you can either search for specific options or browse through categories to locate the exact configuration.
Selecting the Active Hours Max Range Setting from the Settings Catalog
In the Settings picker window, use the search box to quickly find the setting you want to configure. Type in “Windows Update for Business“, and you will see a list of available options. This category includes 77 settings in total. From there, locate and expand the sub-category called Active Hours Max Range.
- Once you’have selected this specific policy, simply close the settings picker by clicking the ‘X‘ icon in the top corner to return to the main configuration screen.
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Understanding the Impact of the Active Hours Max Range Policy
This policy allows IT admins to control how long a device is considered active, starting from a defined time. By enabling the policy, you can set a maximum active hours range between 8 and 18 hours. During this period, Windows Update will avoid restarting the device. These settings help to protect productivity and reduce disruption during work hours.
| Policy Settings | Details |
|---|---|
| Enabled | Allows setting a custom active hours range between 8 and 18 hours. Prevents restarts during this period to reduce work disruptions. |
| Disabled / Not Configured | Uses the default active hours range of 18 hours. May not suit all use cases or working schedules. |
Active Hours Max Range Policy
Under the Windows Update for Business category, you will find the Active Hours Max Range policy. This setting allows you to easily define how long a device should be considered active each day. The configurable range is between 8 and 18 hours.
- In this policy, the maximum active hours range is set to 8, ensuring updates and restarts are delayed during this 8-hour window to avoid interrupting the user’s workflow.
Scope tags in Microsoft Intune are used to control access and visibility of Intune resources based on roles or organisational structure. They act as filters that help ensure that admins only see and manage the objects they are authorized to.
Assigning the Policy to Targeted Groups in Intune
In this section, you will need to assign the policy to the appropriate groups. Assignments in Microsoft Intune determine which users or devices the configuration will apply to. Here i selected the HTMS CPC – Test group. After selecting the group click the Next button to proceed.
What Is the Review + Create Tab in Intune?
The Review + Create tab is the final step in the policy creation process within Microsoft Intune. It provides a summary of all the configurations. If anything needs to be corrected, you can go back and make changes. Once you’re satisfied with the configuration, simply click Create to deploy the policy to the selected groups.
Monitoring Status
Once the policy is created, you’ll see a confirmation message stating “Policy Active Hours Max Range created successfully.” Additionally, under the deployment status, you will notice that the policy shows “Succeeded: 1,” indicating that it has been successfully applied to one targeted device. This confirmation helps ensure the policy is active and functioning as intended within your Intune environment.
ActiveHoursMaxRange Windows CSP Details
The Active Hours Max Range policy is part of the device configuration settings available through Intune and maps directly to Group Policy and the Windows registry. The full path to the policy is:
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Update/ActiveHoursMaxRange.
Client Side Verification
The following log entry from the MDM PolicyManager confirms that the Active Hours Max Range policy has been successfully applied to the device. It shows that the policy named ActiveHoursMaxRange was set as an integer value (Int: 0x8), which corresponds to 8 hours.
For client-side verification, start by logging into the Cloud PC. Once logged in, open the Event Viewer and navigate to: Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > DeviceManagement-Enterprise-Diagnostics-Provider > Admin.
MDM PolicyManager: Set policy int, Policy: (ActiveHoursMaxRanqe), Area: (Update), EnrollmentID requestinq merqe: (EB427D85-802F-46D9-A3E2-D5B414587F63), Current User: (Device), Int: (0x8), Enrollment Type: (0x6), Scope: (0x0).
How to Delete Active Hours Max Range Policy using Intune
To delete the Active Hours Max Range policy in Intune, you simply remove the configuration profile associated with it. This action is typically done when the policy is no longer needed, has been replaced by an updated version, or requires cleanup for better policy management.
How to Remove the Active Hours Max Range Policy group using Intune
Sometimes it may be necessary to remove an assigned group from a policy, whether for security, compliance, or to simplify operational management. The screenshot below illustrates the process of deleting a group from the policy assignment.
For more details – Learn How to Delete or Remove App Assignment from Intune using Step by Step Guide
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Author
Anoop C Nair has been Microsoft MVP for 10 consecutive years from 2015 onwards. He is a Workplace Solution Architect with more than 22+ years of experience in Workplace technologies. He is a Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group Community leader. His primary focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM and Intune. He writes about technologies like Intune, SCCM, Windows, Cloud PC, Windows, Entra, Microsoft Security, Career, etc.