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Service UWF-protected devices

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    ✅ Windows 11, ✅ Windows 10

To update your devices, use UWF servicing mode. UWF servicing mode allows you to apply Windows updates, antimalware signature file updates, and custom software or third-party software updates.

Normally, when the Unified Write Filter (UWF) is active, system updates are disabled, as they would be erased when the overlay is cleared.

When UWF servicing mode is triggered, Windows does the following:

  1. Clears the UWF overlay.
  2. Reboots the devices.
  3. Triggers a system maintenance hour.
  4. Disables the UWF filter.
  5. Scans for and applies Windows updates.
  6. Scans for and applies app updates from the Microsoft store.
  7. After servicing is complete, it re-enables the UWF filter and resumes UWF protection.

Note

Servicing mode requires that all user accounts on the system have a password. If there is a user account that does not include a password, UWF servicing will fail.

In this section

Topic Description
Antimalware support on UWF-protected devices Describes the procedures to add support for Microsoft Defender and System Center Endpoint Protection (SCEP/Forefront) antimalware to your UWF-protected devices.
Apply OEM updates to UWF-protected devices Provides information about how to apply OEM updates to a UWF-protected device.
Apply Windows updates to UWF-protected devices Describes the procedures to apply Windows updates to your UWF-protected devices.
UWF master servicing script Provides information about the UWF master servicing script (UwfServicingMasterScript.cmd).
UWF servicing screen saver Provides information about how to modify the default UWF servicing screen saver.