Key Takeaways:
- Windows Autopatch by Default from May 2026
- Enable hotpatch updates for eligible devices in Intune and via Microsoft Graph API
- Devices must install the April 2026 baseline update before receiving hotpatch updates in May
- Tenant defaults apply only to devices not in a quality update policy.
Let’s discuss Hotpatch Updates Become Default Path to Faster Security Compliance Across Windows Devices in Intune. Windows security update, Windows Autopatch is enabling hotpatch updates by default to help your organization get more secure, quicker.
Table of Content
Table of Contents
Hotpatch Updates Become Default Path to Faster Security Compliance Across Windows Devices in Intune
Before 1 month of this shift, starting on April 1, 2026, new controls become available if you’re not ready for this change. Here’s why and how you can decide on your next move. Applying security fixes without waiting for a restart can get organizations to 90% compliance in half the time, while you remain in control.
| Advantages of Hotpatch Updates |
|---|
| Security updates take effect as soon as they are installed without restart |
| Organizations reported reaching 90% compliance in half the usual time |
- Quick and Simple FAQ Guide to Windows 11 Client Hotpatching
- Learn How Windows 11 Hotpatching Works using Windows Autopatch and Intune
- Feature Comparison of Windows Server 2025 Vs 2022 Vs 2019 Hotpatching High Security and Faster Storage
How Windows Autopatch by Default Work
Windows Autopatch by Default, tenant setting is only applied to devices that aren’t members of a quality update policy. If a device is assigned to one of quality update policies, the hotpatch setting from that policy is the one applied. Your preferences for update deferrals and update ring settings are also respected.
Note: – Device that meet the hotpatch prerequistices is only apploes Hotpatch update. If the device meet these prerequisites will continue to patch in the same way they do today.
The device that meeting the prerequisites and taken the April 2026 security update (a baseline update), it will start receiving hotpatch updates with the May 2026 security update.
Check If Device will Receive a Hotpatch Update
Using Microsoft Intune you can check If Device will Receive a Hotpatch Update. Review the Hotpatch quality updates report in Intune, before May 2026 hotpatch update. It shows devices that have hotpatch updates enabled and meet the prerequisites. The hotpach ready column will show you which evices will receive a hotpatch update.
- Home > Reports > Windows Quality Updates > Summary
Configure Default Hotpatch Update
After the change are live in April you can configure the default hotpatch update behavior for your tenant. Sign in Microsoft Intune. Navigate to Tenant administration > Windows Autopatch > Tenant management Then Select the Tenant settings tab. Toggle the “When available, apply updates without restarting the device (“hotpatch”) setting to either Allow or Block.
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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.