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
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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.
Discussions

Automating Dell Command Update

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.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/MDT
27
12
March 12, 2021
How to run command line or PowerShell script if file could exist in two locations? - Stack Overflow
Could someone help me convert this to a command line or PowerShell script so that it would correctly from whichever location exists? It should only exist in one of the two locations and only needs to be run once. ... "%ProgramFiles%\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /configure -updatetype=bi... More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
Install all available updates via Dell Command Update CLI commands?
Get-Process DellCommandUpdate -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |Stop-Process -Force cmd /c 'C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe' /configure -updatetype='bios,firmware,driver' -maxretry=2 Start-Process -WindowStyle hidden -filepath $DCU_exe -ArgumentList "/applyUpdates -silent -reboot=disable -outputlog=$DCU_report" -Wait cmd /c "C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /configure -restoreDefaults cmd /c "C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /configure -updatesNotification=disable this is what i use...we uninstall DCU, reinstall, then run this (DCU used to freeze constantly, reinstall seemed to help not sure if its still a thing.) i push this out with our monthly patches so the reboot should get taken care of...its not perfect but it does the trick and i dont have to maintain up to date drivers I just let DCU handle it. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/sysadmin
16
2
April 10, 2024
intune - How to initiate Dell Command updates remotely with a Powershell script - Stack Overflow
In short, I have an environment with ~165 devices requiring firmware updates available through Dell Command/Support Assist. I've tested a few scripts by changing to the Dell Command directory and then executing "dcu-cli.exe" with arguments to bypass prompts but haven't had much luck. More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
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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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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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Adam the Automator
adamtheautomator.com › dell-command-update
Master Dell Command Update and Keep Your Dell Apps Current
February 16, 2024 - Besides its user-friendly graphical interface, Dell Command Update also offers a Command Line Interface (CLI) for automation. This CLI is especially beneficial for batch operations and scripting, adding flexibility to your update management strategies. While the CLI of Dell Command Update is potent, it doesn’t provide some GUI features like scheduling updates. But this CLI is a powerful tool for IT professionals who prefer script-based operations. Here’s a basic guide to using the CLI with Dell Command Update: dcu-cli.exe/<command> -option1=value1 -option2=value2 -option3=value3...
Top answer
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6

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.

2 of 5
3

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
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Elevatetechcommunity
elevatetechcommunity.org › resource › command-explained
Dell Command Explained: Endpoint Management Tools
July 30, 2025 - The following command line scripts can be used for batch and scripting setups in automated remote deployment infrastructures. To run these scripts, first launch the Command Prompt in Administrator mode, then navigate to %Program Files (x86)%\Dell\CommandUpdate. Display usage information: dcu-cli.exe -? Perform a system scan to determine relevant updates for the current system configuration: dcu-cli.exe /scan ·
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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\sysnative\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -NoProfile -NonInteractive -Command $scriptblock ... $results = Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" -ArgumentList "/configure -$Arg" -Wait | Out-Null
Find elsewhere
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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
The following table lists information about the CLI options available in Dell Command | Update: The CLI syntax is as follows: 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 ...
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LinkedIn
linkedin.com › pulse › powershell-automation-install-configure-execute-dell-command-webber
PowerShell Automation: Install, Configure, and Execute Dell Command Update
April 15, 2023 - Here the call operator, &, is used to run the dcu-cli.exe executable, which is used to run DCU commands.
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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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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
$possiblePaths = "$env:ProgramFiles\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe", "${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" $correctPath = foreach( $path in $possiblePaths ) { if( Test-Path -PathType Leaf $path ) { $path break } } if( !$correctPath ) { throw "Could not find dcu-cli.exe at any of the following paths: $(@( $possiblePaths ) -join ', ')" } # Execute found binary & $correctPath /configure -updatetype='bios,firmware,driver,application,utility,others'
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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 - By using the DCU-CLI (its the command line interface for DCU), you set DCU 3.1 to automatically suspend BitLocker when needed and provide the BIOS password so that it can apply the BIOS password.
Top answer
1 of 11
8

DELL Command Update version: Dell-Command-Update-Application-for-Windows-10_GRVPK_WIN_4.3.0_A00.EXE

Dell Command | Update Version 4.x Reference Guide

Steps:

  1. Open interactive command line interface on remote workstation
  2. Execute dcu-cli.exe /applyUpdates -updateType=bios,firmware,driver -autoSuspendBitLocker=enable -outputLog=C:\Temp\scanOutput.log
  3. Command fails with return code 500 (see log output below)

I’ve omitted all commands except /applyUpdates -updateType, but I am still getting the same result.

I can ping downloads.dell.com and dellupdater.dell.com.

I’ve attempted this on different workstations over several days.

Any help would be appreciated.

[2021-08-16 11:40:42] : The computer manufacturer is ‘Dell’

[2021-08-16 11:40:42] : Checking for updates…

[2021-08-16 11:40:43] : Checking for application component updates…

[2021-08-16 11:40:45] : Determining available updates…

[2021-08-16 11:40:45] : The scan result is DOWNLOAD_ERROR

[2021-08-16 11:40:45] : INDEX_CATALOG_FAILED_DOWNLOAD is flagged in the scan results

[2021-08-16 11:40:45] : The catalog CatalogIndexPC.cab failed to provide any result

[2021-08-16 11:40:45] : The service provided this message 'Catalog download failed [https://downloads.dell.com/catalog/CatalogIndexPC.cab] ’

[2021-08-16 11:40:45] : The service provided this message 'Catalog download failed [https://dellupdater.dell.com/non_du/ClientService/Catalog/CatalogIndexPC.cab] ’

[2021-08-16 11:40:46] : Execution completed.

[2021-08-16 11:40:46] : The program exited with return code: 500

[2021-08-16 11:40:46] : State monitoring instance total elapsed time = 00:00:04.8709729, Execution time = 9mS, Overhead = 0.194844032082379%

[2021-08-16 11:40:46] : State monitoring disposed for application domain dcu-cli.exe

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0

This is the command I run. I just ran it on some of my computers are it works. Also using the current version. Hope this helps

"C:\Program Files\Dell\CommandUpdate\dcu-cli.exe" /applyUpdates -reboot=enable -updateType=driver,application -outputLog="c:\temp\DellCommandUpdate%dt%.log"
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Dell
dell.com › home › support home › product support › manuals
Dell Command | Update Version 2.4 User's Guide | Dell US
The following table lists information about the CLI options available in Dell Command | Update: The CLI syntax is as follows: 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 ...
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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.
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Device Report
device.report › manual › 6056704
DELL Command Update User Guide
January 4, 2023 - It provides basic options with ... 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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GARYTOWN
garytown.com › dell-command-update-install-manage-via-powershell
Dell Command Update – Install & Manage via PowerShell – GARYTOWN ConfigMgr Blog
If you’re running DCU CLI’s command line via PowerShell, you can have your script call a reboot if it updated the BIOS.