Gpupdate /sync Vs /force Jun 2026

gpupdate /sync → Computer policy applies (foreground) → User policy applies (foreground) → Waits for background refresh thread to run → Waits for any pending cross-domain sync → Returns only when everything is consistent

If a policy should be there but isn't showing up in gpresult , /force can clear up local inconsistencies. gpupdate /sync vs /force

The /force option is useful when you want to ensure that all Group Policy settings are refreshed and applied, such as after making changes to the Group Policy Object (GPO). gpupdate /sync → Computer policy applies (foreground) →

Normally, the client only processes GPOs with a new version number. /force bypasses this check. However, even with /force , it will still skip "foreground" policies if they require a logout or reboot to take effect. It simply ensures that every registry-based setting is rewritten. gpupdate /sync: The Forensic Synchronization /force bypasses this check