this bugged me for ages also until I worked out that this works:

cmd /c start /wait "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /log C:\ProgramData\Pearson\Logs
Answer from Yadda on Stack Overflow
Top answer
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I run this as an application towards the end of the TS then reboot with MDT and run it again followed by another reboot before finishing up the whole TS.

@echo off
TITLE Running DELL Command Update...
REM Checks for updated DELL Drivers using DELL Command Update CLI

"C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /configure -silent -autoSuspendBitLocker=enable -userConsent=disable
"C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /scan -outputLog=C:\dell\logs\scan.log
"C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /applyUpdates -reboot=disable -outputLog=C:\dell\logs\applyUpdates.log

It's pretty self explanatory but it configures it first, does a scan, then applies the updates and disables reboot so that MDT can do it instead. I run this against DCU 4.1.

I don't recommend silencing the Apply Updates stage (it isn't in that script above) because sometimes it can take a little while and not being able to see what it's doing can be nerve racking.

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Update: Not sure if this was recent but you must now remove the (x86) out of the Program Files path (maybe they made the app x64 now?)

Here's a script I made that works really well. Of course you can tailor it for a GPO but standalone, it works wonders.

The gist is.. it will check if Dell Command Update is installed and if it is, it will run it and install all available updates. If it's not installed, it will look for the Dell Command Update msi and silently install it and then run it silently. If it cannot find the msi automatically, it will prompt you with an explorer GUI to browse to the .msi and silently install/run it.

Esentially.. a single click to do all Dell updates. It's also turning off Dell automatic update (handy for enterprise/small business) but you can delete/comment that out. In order to get the .msi you can run the Dell Command Update tool and in the middle of it running, you can find it in the Windows temp directory and copy it out of their and put it on a network share or USB stick for mass deployment.

@echo off
cls

tasklist | find /i "DellCommandUpdate.exe" && echo Closing existing Dell Command Update && taskkill /im DellCommandUpdate.exe /F
SET file=S:\Downloads\DellCommandUpdate.msi
if exist "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" goto:runDellUpdater
if exist "%file%" goto:installDellUpdater

echo Please navigate to the DellCommandUpdate.msi file
set dialog="about:<input type=file id=FILE><script>FILE.click();new ActiveXObject
set dialog=%dialog%('Scripting.FileSystemObject').GetStandardStream(1).WriteLine(FILE.value);
set dialog=%dialog%close();resizeTo(0,0);</script>"
for /f "tokens=* delims=" %%p in ('mshta.exe %dialog%') do set "file=%%p"

:installDellUpdater
echo Installing Dell Command Update app
"%file%" /quiet

:runDellUpdater
echo Disabling Dell automatic updates
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Dell\UpdateService\Clients\CommandUpdate\Preferences\Settings\Schedule" /v "ScheduleMode" /t REG_SZ /d "ManualUpdates" /f
echo Running the Dell Command Update app
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /ApplyUpdates
pause
🌐
Dell
dell.com › support › manuals › en-us › command-update › dcu_ug › dell-command-update-command-line-interface
Dell Command | Update Version 5.x User's Guide | Dell US
To run the CLI: Launch the command prompt as an Administrator, then go to %Program Files (x86)%\Dell\CommandUpdate and run the dcu-cli.exe command in the command prompt.
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Server Fault
serverfault.com › questions › 1118913 › dell-dcu-cli-exe-missing-after-upgrading-to-universal-update-4-7-1
windows - Dell DCU-Cli.exe missing after upgrading to universal update 4.7.1 - Server Fault
December 27, 2022 - Instead it is appearing under · C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\DellInc.DellCommandUpdate_4.7.18.0_x86__htrsf667h5kn2\DCU.Classic. The problem is, this folder doesn't include the dcu-cli tool
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Automox
community.automox.com › community hub › forum › automox worklets › find & share worklets › basic dell command update worklet
Basic Dell Command Update Worklet | Community
November 29, 2023 - $software = & "$env:SystemRoot... -Command $scriptblock ... $results = Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" -ArgumentList "/configure -$Arg" -Wait | Out-Null...
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Dell
dell.com › support › manuals › en-us › command-update › dcu_rg › dell-command-update-command-line-interface
Dell Command | Update Version 5.x Reference Guide | Dell US
To run the CLI: Launch the command prompt as an Administrator, then go to %Program Files (x86)%\Dell\CommandUpdate and run the dcu-cli.exe command in the command prompt.
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Dell
dell.com › support › manuals › en-cr › command-update-v2.4 › dcu_ug_v2.4 › command-line-interface-reference
Dell Command | Update Version 2.4 User's Guide | Dell Costa Rica
dcu-cli.exe <option1> [<value1>] <option2> [<value2>]... To set the repository or catalog file location: <C:\Program Files(x86)\Dell\CommandUpdate>: dcu-cli.exe /catalog c:\\catalog.xml · To import a new policy file: <C:\Program Files(x86)\Dell\CommandUpdate>: dcu-cli.exe /policy c:\log.txt ·
Find elsewhere
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Manuals+
manuals.plus › home › dell › dell command | update version 4.x reference guide
Dell Command | Update Version 4.x Reference Guide
August 18, 2025 - To run the CLI: Launch the command prompt as an Administrator, then go to %PROGRAMFILES%\Dell\CommandUpdate and run the dcu-cli.exe command in the command prompt.
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Elevatetechcommunity
elevatetechcommunity.org › resource › command-explained
Dell Command Explained: Endpoint Management Tools
July 30, 2025 - dcu-cli.exe -? Perform a system scan to determine relevant updates for the current system configuration: dcu-cli.exe /scan · Install all the base drivers for the present configuration on a newly installed Windows operating system: dcu-cli.exe /driverInstall ·
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Stack Overflow
stackoverflow.com › questions › 71876484 › how-to-run-command-line-or-powershell-script-if-file-could-exist-in-two-location
How to run command line or PowerShell script if file could exist in two locations? - Stack Overflow
%programfiles(x86)%\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /configure -updatetype=bios,firmware,driver,application,utility,others %programfiles(x86)%\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /applyupdates -reboot=enable -autosuspendbitlocker=enable
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Automox
community.automox.com › community hub › forum › automox worklets › find & share worklets › worklet - scan for and install all dell firmware updates
Worklet - Scan for and Install all Dell Firmware updates | Community
September 13, 2023 - # Define the path to Dell Command Update dcu-cli.exe if installed $dcuCliPath = "C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" # Check if dcu-cli.exe exists if (-Not (Test-Path -Path $dcuCliPath -PathType Leaf)) { # Install Dell Command Update ...
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Automox
community.automox.com › community hub › forum › automox worklets › find & share worklets › set dell command update to download, install and verify in update settings
Set Dell Command Update to download, install and verify in update settings | Community
October 3, 2024 - # Find dcu-cli $x86 = 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe' $x64 = 'C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe' IF((Test-Path $x86) -eq $true){$dcucli = $x86} IF((Test-Path $x64) -eq $true){$dcucli = $x64} # Collect ...
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ManageEngine
pitstop.manageengine.com › portal › en › community › topic › dell-command-update-command-line-interface
Dell Command Update - Command line interface
You can try executing the following command from any of the failed machine to get the exact results,C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\commandupdate\dcu-cli.exe
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GARYTOWN
garytown.com › dell-command-update-offline-repo-ts-integration
Dell Command Update – Offline Repo – TS Integration – GARYTOWN ConfigMgr Blog
dcu-cli.exe /configure -restoreDefaults · You can make a pretty simple process to do all of that, either by creating a command line per step, or a simple powershell / batch script. However, I like to go overboard and make it pretty and add logging, so I have a bigger PS script so I can gather the locations, provide logging in the SMSTS log (and other logs), and have the TSProgressUI show the progress, because I like to have it showing things.
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ProcessChecker
processchecker.com › file › dcu-cli.exe.html
What is dcu-cli.exe ? dcu-cli.exe info
dcu-cli.exe is known as Dell Command | Update and it is developed by Dell Inc. . We have seen about 1 different instances of dcu-cli.exe in different location. So far we haven't seen any alert about this product.
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Adam the Automator
adamtheautomator.com › dell-command-update
Master Dell Command Update and Keep Your Dell Apps Current
February 16, 2024 - # Check for updates dcu-cli.exe /detect # Download and install updates dcu-cli.exe /download /install
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/sysadmin › install all available updates via dell command update cli commands?
r/sysadmin on Reddit: Install all available updates via Dell Command Update CLI commands?
April 10, 2024 -

Hi Everyone,

We’re using Dell Command Update to push our Drivers and BIOS updates.

Instead of waiting for the updating to automatically trigger, When I used the /ApplyUpdates option it only really installed a handful of what is available in my catalogue. Skipping among many things the BIOS update.

I was wondering if there is an option to just install everything available in the catalogue?

Thanks everyone!

🌐
Mobile Jon
mobile-jon.com › uncategorized › bending dell command update 3.1 to your will
Bending Dell Command Update 3.1 To Your Will
March 11, 2024 - I’m not going to cover deploying ...App_Setup.exe /S /v/qn · I use 3 files to make the magic happen.. This is the settings file that configures everything except BitLocker and the BIOS password. We will use the CLI to point at this file later on.. WordPress isn’t all that happy about pasting XML so you can access it here. You will find its pretty straight forward. This batch file fires off several DCU-CLI commands ...