---
module: fleet.patch-windows
title: Patch Window Guide
tab: Customer
order: 10
audience: customer
---

How to schedule and manage ATM maintenance windows.

## 🕐 What is a Patch Window?
1. A Patch Window defines a recurring time slot when ATMs are allowed to install hotfixes.
2. ATMs assigned to a window will only run **HOTFIX_INSTALL** tasks during that window — never outside of it.
3. Windows can recur **every week** on selected days, or on a **specific week of the month** (e.g. 2nd Tuesday).

> HOTFIX tasks (immediate download) are not affected by patch windows — only HOTFIX_INSTALL.

## ➕ Create a Patch Window
1. Click **+ New Patch Window** in the toolbar.
2. Enter a name and select the **institution** this window belongs to.
3. Select one or more **days of the week** when the window is active.
4. Optionally set a **Week of Month** to make it monthly (e.g. 1st week only). Leave blank for weekly recurrence.
5. Set the **start and end time** and select the correct **timezone**.

> The window runs from start time to end time — keep it outside business hours.

## 🏧 Assign ATMs to a Window
1. Click any window row in the table to open the ATM assignment panel.
2. ATMs currently assigned to that window are listed with their location.
3. To assign an ATM, edit the ATM record in Device Management and set its Patch Window.
4. To remove an ATM, click **Unassign** next to it in the panel.

> An ATM can only belong to one patch window at a time.

## 🚀 Using with HOTFIX_INSTALL Tasks
1. When a **HOTFIX_INSTALL** task is created for an ATM with a patch window, it is automatically scheduled for the next available window slot.
2. The scheduled time appears in the **Scheduled** tab in Fleet Tasks.
3. The task still requires **approval** before it will execute — approval can happen before the window opens.
4. If the ATM has no patch window assigned, the install runs immediately after approval.

> Always assign a patch window to ATMs in live production environments.
