The most common way to refresh policies manually is using the command-line utility. This works on almost all versions of Windows. How to run it: Press Win + R , type cmd , and hit Enter . Type the following command and press Enter : gpupdate Use code with caution.
3. Remote Refresh via Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)
To update a specific Organizational Unit (OU) or group of computers, administrators can combine this with Get-ADComputer : force group policy update
Not all Group Policies can be applied dynamically. Certain settings—such as those modifying system services, folder redirection, or software installation—require a restart or a user logoff to take full effect. The gpupdate command will explicitly prompt the user or administrator if a reboot is required. To automate this, the /boot or /logoff switches can be added to the command.
Using gpupdate /force across thousands of machines simultaneously can generate a significant spike in network traffic and load on Domain Controllers. When performing mass updates via the GPMC, it is wise to limit the scope or schedule updates during off-peak hours to avoid a denial-of-service scenario on the authentication infrastructure. The most common way to refresh policies manually
Here’s a for a “Force Group Policy Update” capability, written as if for a system administration tool (e.g., Windows-based IT management software, RMM tool, or security compliance platform).
psexec \\ComputerName gpupdate /force
Forcing an update on a local machine is typically performed via the command-line interface.
This switch re-applies all policy settings, not just the new or changed ones. It is more thorough but generates more network traffic and takes longer to process. Type the following command and press Enter :