Enable Patch Management on devices

Patch Manager enables you to control updating hundreds (or even thousands) of devices with system, security and software patches across multiple client sites. You can configure rules to automatically approve or deny certain types of patches when a new update comes out.

To use Patch Manager on a device, you need to enable it so that N-able N-central agents and probes can monitor and install the updates.

You can also enable Patch Management in bulk using the patch setup wizard to create rules.

  1. Click Views > All Devices.
  2. Select the device by clicking the device name in the Name column.

    3. To configure multiple devices, click the check boxes for each device and click Edit and locate the Patch Management section.

  3. Click Settings > Patch Management, and click Enable Patch Management.
  4. Select a profile from the Patch Management Profile drop-down list.
  5. Next to Type of Patching, select which patching type to allow.
  6. Click Save.

Patch Manager will now manage the downloading and installation of the latest patches on the device.

Multiple devices

To configure multiple devices, click the check boxes for each device and click Edit and locate the Patch Management section.

When Patch Management is turned on for a device, the Probe changes the Windows Update settings on the device to either "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them" or "Never check for updates". In both cases, the option is grayed out.

In Windows 10, when Patch Management is enabled on the device, the Windows Update Control Panel will display the message: "We couldn't install some updates because the PC was turned off". This is normal. Patching and monitoring is being performed by N-able N-central Patch Management.