Needs Reboot Flag Not Clearing On Windows Device

Needs Reboot Flag Not Clearing On Windows Device

When a Windows device shows a "Needs Reboot" status in the Automox console despite being rebooted, the issue might relate to how Windows processes feature updates. Specifically, the file WindowsUpdateBox.exe is triggered during certain updates and delays the actual reboot.

This guide explains how to diagnose and resolve this issue.

Root Cause

After the reboot command, WindowsUpdateBox.exe is launched to finalize OS upgrades. During this phase:

  • The Automox console may display the message: "Finalizing OS Upgrade..."
  • The actual reboot might be delayed by 30 seconds to up to 5 hours depending on the update size and system performance.

Diagnosis

To verify whether this is causing the issue, check if the WindowsUpdateBox.exe is running on the device.

Resolution

1. Allow Time for Finalization

  • Wait for WindowsUpdateBox.exe to complete its operation. The process duration depends on the system and update size.

2. Perform a Manual Shutdown

If the status persists:

  1. Shut down the device manually.
  2. Wait for at least 30 seconds.
  3. Power the device back on.

Additional Support

If the flag persists after following these steps, gather the following information and contact Automox Support:

  • Device Name and ID
  • Agent log file 
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