I know how to schedule when updates are installed but I need to schedule when the updates are downloaded. I have a daily download cap but can download freely between 2-6am. Does anyone know how to schedule the download, not when it's installed? Thank you

You can't schedule when updates are downloaded. This is an automatic function (BITS), and it operates in the background 'intelligently' in that it backs off when you're using the internet. Otherwise it just goes full speed until everything is downloaded. One way is to choose the "Check for updates and let me choose when to download and install them" option. This way you have full control over when the updates are downloaded. This can be found by typing "automatic updates" in your Search box, and choosing "Turn Automatic Updating on or off".

Without the use of a 3rd party tool, or better yet Microsoft's SCCM infrastructure which provide more flexibility, you are limited to controlling when the downloads occur. You may have to apply a custom solution if you need to control the schedule of downloading of updates. While I have not tried this myself, what comes to mind is that if you control when the "Windows Updates" service runs on the system, you may be able to create your own scheduler. So for instance, if you set the service to Manual instead of automatic and only start the service at 2 am via scheduled task, if the AU setting is to download and install, the system, while idle during that time, may very well begin the download of the missing patches and intall them. Then, have another scheduled task to run at 6:00 am to stop the service once again. If you think it may work for your situation, give it a try and let us know if it worked. Visit: anITKB.com, an IT Knowledge Base.