Security Compliance

Patch Manager status definitions

This article provides information on the status messages for Patches and Updates in Patch Manager. Their definitions are determined and provided by WSUS and Microsoft as they are stored and managed via the WSUS server.

First published date

11/1/2018 9:16 AM

Last published date

5/11/2026 11:33 PM

Overview

This article describes the status messages for patches and updates that display for Patch Manager. These definitions are provided by Microsoft, and stored and managed in the WSUS server. 

 

Product section

Patch Manager

Resolution

Below are the status messages that display in the Patch Manager Administrator Console. 

STATUSDESCRIPTION
InstalledThe update is installed on the computer.
Needed

When applied to one computer, this status indicates that the update is compatible with the computer and can be installed.

When applied to a computer group, the Needed column displays the number of computers in the group that apply to the update. A positive Needed indicates that the update applies, but has not been installed when the computer last contacted the WSUS server.

The following statements can be true when an update status is Needed: 

  • You approved the update for installation, but the client computers have not contacted the WSUS server since you made this change. 
  • The update was downloaded and installed, but the client computer has not contacted the WSUS server since the update was installed. 
  • The update was downloaded and installed, but the client computer must be restarted for the changes to take effect.
  • The update was downloaded to the computer but not installed. 
  • The update was not downloaded or installed on the computer.
Installed/Not Applicable

When applied to one computer, this status indicates the update is not applicable or required on the targeted computer.

When applied to a computer group, this column displays the number of computers in the group where the update is not applicable or required. 

No statusThe computer has not contacted the WSUS server since the last synchronization.
FailedAn error occurred when the update was installed or attempted to install on the computer. 
Last contactedThe date that the computer last contacted the WSUS server.