View all software patches (Windows and Mac) and package updates (Linux) available for installation, as well as patches and packages already installed on devices. Atera is 100% synced to the most accurate Windows patch repository, ensuring the information is always current. Windows Patches can be viewed within Atera as well as with PowerShell commands (the information displayed will be identical).
For info on installing available software patches or package upgrades, see:
Available patches or upgrades
To view available software patches or package upgrades:
From Devices (on the side panel), click Manage > Patch management on the device.
Note: For Linux devices, click Manage > Package manager.
Windows or Mac
The Patch Management window appears.
The Available patches tab displays the following information:
- Name: The name of the update (including its KB link).
- Classification: The patch class (e.g., Critical updates, Recommended, Feature packs).
- Supported products: The operating systems and applications that support the patch (e.g., Windows 11, Microsoft Defender Antivirus).
- Size: The amount of disk space the update will occupy.
- Reboot required: A checkmark means a device restart is required to install the patch.
- Status: The status of the installed update (e.g., Available, Failed).
Linux
The Package manager window appears.
The Available upgrades tab displays the following information:
- Package name: The name of the upgrade.
- Available version: The specific version number of the upgrade.
- Classification: The upgrade based on its type or source (e.g., now, focal-security, xenial).
- Priority: The importance level of the upgrade (e.g., extra, important, optional, required).
- Maintainer: The team responsible for the package (e.g., Ubuntu Developers, Debian QA Group).
- Install size: The amount of disk space the upgrade will occupy.
- Status: The current state of the package installation (e.g., Upgradable, Failed).
Installed patches or packages
To view installed patches/packages:
1. From Devices (on the side panel), click Manage > Patch management on the device.
Note: For Linux devices, click Manage > Package manager.
Windows or Mac
The Patch Management window appears.
2. Click the Installed patches tab.
The Installed patches tab displays the following information:
- Name: The name of the update (Windows and Mac) or upgrade (Linux).
- Classification: The patch class (e.g., Critical updates, Recommended, Feature packs).
- Supported products: The operating systems and applications that support the patch (e.g., Windows 11, Microsoft Defender Antivirus).
- Installed date: The date the update was installed.
Note: You may notice that Atera isn't fully synced with ‘Windows Update History’ (on the PC). The reason is that it’s not a 100% accurate repository as it frequently lists duplicate patches, as shown in the example below.
Linux
The Patch Management window appears.
2. Click the All packages tab.
The All packages tab displays the following information:
- Package name: The name of the upgrade.
- Version: The specific version number of the package.
- Maintainer: The team responsible for the package (e.g., Ubuntu Developers, Debian QA Group).
- Size: The installation size of the upgrade.
- Status: The status of the installed package (e.g., Up to date, Upgradable).
Click the chevron icon () to read the package description (with links to the related homepage or bug documentation, when available).
View available patches with PowerShell
Enter this PowerShell script into the command prompt:
Powershell.exe (then enter)
$Session = New-Object -ComObject "Microsoft.Update.Session"
$Searcher = $Session.CreateUpdateSearcher()
$SearchResult = $searcher.Search("IsInstalled=0 and IsHidden=0")
$SearchResult.updates | Select-Object title
View installed patches with PowerShell
Enter this PowerShell script into the command prompt:
Powershell.exe (then enter)
$Session = New-Object -ComObject "Microsoft.Update.Session"
$Searcher = $Session.CreateUpdateSearcher()
$SearchResult = $searcher.Search("IsInstalled=1 and IsHidden=0")
$SearchResult.updates | Select-Object title
