Windows 10: What is Audit Mode in Windows 10? How to boot into or out of Audit Mode?

Have you ever wondered how OEMs deploy Windows 10 OS with their own set of apps and drivers? Or how does the recovery partition helps […]

This article What is Audit Mode in Windows 10? How to boot into or out of Audit Mode? first appeared on TheWindowsClub.com.

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Audit mode

Hi Diane,

Windows boots into Windows Welcome Mode and Audit Mode. Windows Welcome Mode
is the first user experience while the Audit mode is used to add customization to Windows images. Sometimes, Windows keeps running in Audit Mode and user has no idea about it, just like in your case. While your machine is running Audit
Mode when upgrading or reinstalling Windows 10, the upgrade won’t progress.

Here's how to exit from Audit mode to reinstall Windows 10:

• Open the administrative or elevated Command Prompt. Type cmd in the
  Search field at the taskbar.
• Type the following command and press Enter key: sysprep /oobe /generalize
  DISCLAIMER: Running sysprep command each time resets Windows licensing state to default. So if your Windows is activated and you run this command, you’ll need to reactivate Windows after executing this command.
  
  
• Once the command IS successfully executed, you’ll be out of Audit Mode. Now you can re-try to upgrade to Windows 10 and it should work.

Let us know if the steps above worked for you.

 

what is audit mode

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I understand that you are facing issues with Audit Mode on your PC.



Usually, Audit mode is used to add customization to Windows images. Sometimes, Windows keeps running in Audit Mode and user has no idea about it, just like in your case. While your machine is running Audit Mode when upgrading
or reinstalling Windows 10, the upgrade won’t progress.



Kindly follow the steps mentioned below to exit Audit mode:

1. Now press Windows +
   S key together to open Search.
   
2. Now type CMD and select Run as administrator.
   
3. Accept the UAC prompts.
   
4. Type in the following commands one by one and hit
   Enter:
   
   sysprep /oobe /generalize
   
5. Close the command prompt window.
   

DISCLAIMER: Running sysprep command each time resets Windows licensing state to default. So if your Windows is activated and you run this command, you’ll need to reactivate Windows after executing
this command.



Let us know how it goes.



Regards,

Prakhar Khare

Microsoft Community – Moderator

 

Windows 10 Audit mode and Windows Updates

Hi ScottCharlton1,

Using the Windows 10 Audit Mode is a good way to bypass the
Out-Of-Box Experience (OOBE) on your Windows, specially if what you'll need for troubleshooting is the built-in administrator. To get more information on
Audit Mode, you can use this article as reference. There are a few things that you can
perform as well, when booting Windows to Audit Mode or OOBE. You can use some of these commands and steps as reference on this
link.

To answer your question if can you install Windows 10 updates while in Audit Mode, no. Because this will render the
Windows Update locked. However, you should be able to install the updates that your computer would be needing manually. I recommend that you perform the steps shared by
Forum Moderator Kate Li (MSFT CSG) posted last March 3, 2017 on this
link for further information.

Please don't hesitate to keep me posted with the results, for me to assist you further.