Reboot Pending Prompt

The civilized way to say "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" on Windows and macOS.

Purpose

The Reboot Pending Prompt solution provides an automated, user-friendly mechanism to handle pending reboots on both Windows Workstations and macOS devices within NinjaOne. It solves the classic IT dilemma: enforcing critical updates and maintaining security without abruptly interrupting user productivity.

Instead of forcing unexpected restarts, the solution displays a branded, interactive GUI prompt that allows users to defer reboots up to a configurable limit. It intelligently detects when a reboot is needed, validates if it is an appropriate time to ask, and gracefully guides the user through the process.

How It Works

The solution operates using a seamless three-part workflow:

Detection (The Brain): A background script regularly checks the device. It looks for manual overrides, uptime thresholds, or (on Windows) pending update flags. It also checks if the user is active, if the screen is locked, or if it's outside of approved "Quiet Hours."
Condition (The Trigger): If the Detection script determines a reboot is needed and the timing is right, it returns a specific exit code. This triggers a NinjaOne Compound Condition.
Autofix (The Action): The Compound Condition launches the Autofix script. This script downloads the lightweight OmniPrompt utility, displays the interactive window directly to the logged-in user, handles their response (Deferral vs. Immediate Reboot), and updates tracking fields for the next cycle.

Key Capabilities

Cross-Platform Support: Fully functional on both Windows 10/11 and macOS.
Interactive User Prompts: Displays a modern, customizable GUI window allowing users to "Yes" (Reboot Now) or "No" (Defer), or an "OK" button for final warnings.
Dynamic Message Substitution: Use live variables (like PromptsLeft, ComputerName, or ScheduledRebootTime) directly in your prompt messages for a highly personalized user experience.
Deferral Enforcement: Administrators can set a maximum number of deferrals. Once exhausted, the system transitions to a mandatory "Final Prompt" workflow.
Productivity Protections: Includes "Quiet Hours" (Suppress Time Windows) to block prompts overnight, and options to skip prompts entirely on weekends.
Unattended Handling: Configurable logic to immediately reboot machines if no user is currently logged in, ensuring patches are applied without waiting for human interaction.
Missed Prompt Tracking: Intelligently tracks consecutive missed prompts when a machine is locked or unattended, with an optional threshold to force a reboot after a set number of misses.
Install-In-Progress Protection: Automatically detects active software installations or OS updates and delays unattended reboots until the process safely finishes, preventing mid-update corruption.
Advanced Branding & Styling: Supports custom window titles, messages, header images, icon images, themes (Dark/Light), and granular control over font sizes, styles, and window dimensions.

Platform Differences: Windows vs. macOS

While the user experience is nearly identical, the underlying mechanics differ slightly between operating systems to respect platform standards:

Feature	Windows Workstations	macOS
Reboot Triggers	Manual Override, Uptime, or Windows Registry (CBS/Windows Update) flags.	Manual Override or Uptime. (macOS does not have an equivalent pending reboot registry).
GUI Execution	Uses a temporary Scheduled Task to bypass Windows Session 0 isolation and render in the user's active session.	Executes `OmniPrompt.app` directly, as root-level scripts in NinjaOne can already render in the console user's session.
Install Guards	Checks for `TiWorker`, `wusa`, `SetupHost`, `winget`, active BITS transfers, and the MSI mutex.	Checks for `softwareupdate`, `install`, `msud`, `setupd`, and `osinstallersetupd`.
Reboot Command	`shutdown -f -r -t <seconds>` (Allows precise second-level delays).	`shutdown -r now` (Immediate) or `shutdown -r +<minutes>` (Minute-level delays).

Dynamic Message Substitution Variables

You can make your prompt messages highly contextual by using Substitution Variables. Simply type these exact PascalCase tokens into your cPVAL Reboot Prompt Message or cPVAL Final Prompt Message custom fields. The script will automatically replace them with live values when the prompt is displayed.

Token	Description	Example Output
`PromptsToSend`	Total prompts the user will receive (regular + final)	`5`
`PromptsSent`	Number of prompts shown so far, including the current one	`2`
`PromptsLeft`	Remaining prompts before the forced/final one	`3`
`PromptIntervalMinutes`	Interval between prompts, in minutes	`240`
`PromptIntervalHours`	Same interval, in hours	`4`
`RegularTimeoutSeconds`	Regular prompt timeout, in seconds	`600`
`RegularTimeoutMinutes`	Same timeout, in minutes	`10`
`FinalTimeoutSeconds`	Final prompt timeout, in seconds	`900`
`FinalTimeoutMinutes`	Same timeout, in minutes	`15`
`DelayAfterFinalSeconds`	Delay after the final prompt before reboot, in seconds	`900`
`DelayAfterFinalMinutes`	Same delay, in minutes	`15`
`ScheduledRebootTime`	Clock time (HH:mm) of the automatic reboot	`14:30`
`MinutesUntilReboot`	Minutes until the automatic reboot	`10`
`ComputerName`	The machine's network name	`PC-OFFICE-01`
`UserName`	The currently logged-in username	`jsmith`

Example Message:
"Hello UserName, your computer ComputerName requires a restart. You have PromptsLeft deferral(s) remaining. If you wait, the next prompt will appear in PromptIntervalHours hour(s)."

Associated Content

Custom Fields

Note on Enablement: The fields cPVAL Pending Reboot, cPVAL Reboot Prompt When Pending Reboot (Windows only), and cPVAL Reboot Prompt Uptime Days have no default values. You must set at least one of these at the Organization, Location, or Device level to opt-in and activate the solution for your devices.

Name	Default	Example	Level	Managed By	Function
cPVAL Reboot Prompt For MAC	(unset)	`Enable`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Enables or disables the reboot prompt feature for Mac computers.
cPVAL Pending Reboot	`False`	`True`	Device	Manual / Script	Manually forces a reboot prompt to appear on this specific device.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt When Pending Reboot	`Disable`	`Enable`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Enables reboot prompts when Windows reports an update is waiting.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Uptime Days	`0`	`14`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Prompts for a reboot if the computer has been left on for this many days.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Count	`4`	`5`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Sets how many times a user can delay the reboot before it becomes mandatory.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Duration Between Prompt	`4`	`2`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Sets how many hours to wait before showing the reboot prompt again.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Title	`Updates Installed...`	`IT Dept: Action Req`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The text displayed at the top of the reboot prompt window.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Message	(See script default)	`Hello UserName...`	Org, Loc, Dev, End User	Manual	The main message shown to the user asking them to restart.
cPVAL Final Prompt Message	(See script default)	`Final warning...`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The final warning message shown right before a forced restart.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Timeout	`300`	`60`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	How many seconds the regular reboot prompt stays on screen before closing.
cPVAL Final Prompt Timeout	`900`	`120`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	How many seconds the final warning prompt stays on screen before closing.
cPVAL Final Prompt Reboot Delay Minutes	`5`	`10`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	How many minutes the computer waits after the final warning before restarting.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Header Image	(blank)	`https://site.com/logo.png`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	A picture or company logo displayed at the top of the prompt.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Icon Image	(blank)	`C:\Logos\icon.ico`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	A small icon displayed next to the prompt title.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Theme	`Dark`	`Light`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Changes the visual style of the prompt window to Dark or Light mode.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Skip Weekends	`Disable`	`Enable`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Prevents reboot prompts from appearing on Saturdays and Sundays.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Suppress Time Window	(blank)	`1800-0900`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Blocks reboot prompts from appearing during specific hours (e.g., overnight).
cPVAL Reboot if Not Logged In	`Disable`	`Enable`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Restarts the computer automatically if no one is currently logged in.
cPVAL Reboot During Suppress Period	`Disable`	`Enable`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	Allows forced reboots to happen even during blocked hours or weekends.
cPVAL Max Missed Prompts Before Force	`0`	`3`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	How many times a user can ignore the prompt before the computer forces a restart.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Size	`640x480`	`800x600`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The overall width and height of the reboot prompt window.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Text Box Size	(blank)	`500x200`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The size of the area where the message text is displayed.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Logo Size	`400x150`	`500x200`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The width and height of the header image or logo.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Text Size	`14`	`16`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	How large the main message text appears.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Text Style	`Arial`	`Calibri`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The font style used for the main message text.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Button Text Style	`Arial`	`Calibri`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The font style used for the text on the buttons (e.g., "Yes", "No").
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Button Text Size	`14`	`16`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	How large the text on the buttons appears.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Button Size	(blank)	`120x40`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The width and height of the buttons in the prompt.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Title Text Style	`Arial`	`Calibri`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The font style used for the title bar text.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Title Text Size	`14`	`16`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	How large the title bar text appears.
cPVAL Reboot Prompt Title Field Size	(blank)	`640x35`	Org, Loc, Dev	Manual	The width and height of the title bar area.
cPVAL Last Prompted	(blank)	`2024-05-20 14:30:00`	Device	Script (Auto)	Automatically records the date and time the last reboot prompt was shown.
cPVAL Times Prompted	`0`	`2`	Device	Script (Auto)	Automatically counts how many times the user has been asked to reboot.
cPVAL Consecutive Missed Prompts	`0`	`2`	Device	Script (Auto)	Automatically counts how many times the reboot prompt was ignored in a row.
cPVAL First Missed Prompt Time	(blank)	`2024-05-20 14:30:00`	Device	Script (Auto)	Automatically records the date and time the user first started ignoring prompts.

Organization-Level Fields

Device-Level Fields [Windows Workstations]

Device-Level Fields [Mac]

Automations

Name	Function
Reboot Pending Prompt - Detection [Windows]	Evaluates Windows registry, uptime, and user state. Returns Exit Code 1 to trigger the Autofix if conditions are met.
Reboot Pending Prompt - Autofix [Windows]	Downloads `OmniPrompt`, launches it via a Scheduled Task in the user's session, handles the response, and updates tracking fields.
Reboot Pending Prompt - Detection [Macintosh]	Evaluates uptime, manual overrides, and macOS-specific user/install states. Returns Exit Code 1 to trigger the Autofix.
Reboot Pending Prompt - Autofix [Macintosh]	Downloads `OmniPrompt.app` and executes it directly in the console user's session, handles the response, and updates tracking fields.

Compound Conditions

Name	Function
Reboot Pending Prompt - Windows Workstation	Triggers the Windows Autofix when the Windows Detection script returns Exit Code 1.
Reboot Pending Prompt - Macintosh	Triggers the macOS Autofix when the macOS Detection script returns Exit Code 1.

Implementation

Step 1: Create Custom Fields

Create the following custom fields as described in the document:

Step 2: Create Automations

Create the following automations as described in the document:

Pro Tip: In the Automation settings, you can define the Script Variables (like Prompt Count, Prompt Theme, etc.) to establish global fallback defaults for your entire organization.

Step 3: Create Compound Conditions

Create the following compound conditions as described in the document:

Step 4: Enable the Solution (Opt-In)

The solution is opt-in by design to prevent unexpected interruptions. To activate it for a device, Location, or Organization, you must configure at least one of the following trigger fields:

Manual Override: Check the cPVAL Pending Reboot box (Device level only).
Uptime Check: Set cPVAL Reboot Prompt Uptime Days to a number greater than 0 (e.g., 14).
Registry Check (Windows Only): Set cPVAL Reboot Prompt When Pending Reboot to Enable.
macOS Global Enable: Set cPVAL Reboot Prompt For MAC to Enable (this opts in all Macs client-wide, overriding the need for individual manual flags).

Comprehensive FAQs

General Usage

Q. What does this solution actually do?
A: It helps computers restart when they need to (e.g., after updates), but it asks the user nicely first. Instead of forcing a restart while someone is working, it shows a popup window asking if they want to reboot now or later. You control how many times they can say "later."

Q. Does this work on both Windows and Macs?
A: Yes! The solution is fully cross-platform. It uses PowerShell and Scheduled Tasks for Windows, and Bash scripts with direct execution for macOS. The user experience is nearly identical on both.

Q. Is this solution enabled automatically for all my devices?
A: No. It is strictly opt-in. You must explicitly enable it by configuring at least one trigger field (Uptime Days > 0, Pending Reboot checkbox, or the macOS master switch) at the Organization, Location, or Device level.

Q. Can I force a reboot prompt even if the system doesn't think it needs one?
A: Yes. Simply check the cPVAL Pending Reboot box on a specific device. The Detection script will see this and start the prompting process immediately, regardless of uptime or OS flags.

Q. What happens if another script or solution checks the "cPVAL Pending Reboot" box?
A: That will automatically trigger the reboot prompt cycle! This solution is designed to act as a central reboot manager. If a patching automation flags the box, this solution takes over, ensuring a consistent, user-friendly experience (with snoozes and quiet hours) instead of a harsh, immediate reboot.

Prompting & Deferrals

Q. How many times can a user say "No" to the reboot?
A: You decide! By default, they can snooze it 4 times (configured in cPVAL Reboot Prompt Count). If set to 4, they get 4 regular "Yes/No" prompts, followed by 1 final "OK" prompt, for a total of 5 interactions before a forced reboot.

Q. What happens when the user runs out of "Snoozes"?
A: The next prompt will be the Final Prompt. This window does not have a "No" button—only an "OK" button. It informs the user that the computer will restart soon, giving them a final grace period (default 5 minutes) to save their work.

Q. What if the user ignores the prompt and walks away?
A: The prompt has a built-in timer!

Warning Prompts: If the timer runs out (Default: 5 mins), it counts as a "Snooze" and closes the window so it doesn't block the screen.
Final Prompt: If the timer runs out here (Default: 15 mins), it assumes the user isn't there and forces the reboot to ensure the machine gets patched.

Q. Why is the prompt not showing up on my computer?
A: Common reasons include:

Not Needed: The computer doesn't meet the trigger criteria (uptime is low, no manual flag).
Too Soon: The user clicked "No" recently, and the Duration Between Prompt window hasn't elapsed.
Quiet Time: It's currently within the configured Suppress Time Window or on a weekend (if Skip Weekends is enabled).
User Away: The screen is locked or the screensaver is running. The system blocks the prompt to ensure the user doesn't miss it, and will retry when they unlock the machine.

Advanced Features & Protections

Q. I don't want to bother users at night or on weekends. Can I stop the prompts?
A: Yes. Use cPVAL Reboot Prompt Suppress Time Window (e.g., 1800-0900 for 6 PM to 9 AM) and set cPVAL Reboot Prompt Skip Weekends to Enable.

Q. What is the "Reboot During Suppress Period" feature?
A: Normally, suppress windows and weekends block all prompts. If you enable this field, the solution will make an exception: it will allow unattended reboots (when no user is logged in and "Reboot if Not Logged In" is enabled) or forced reboots (when the missed prompt threshold is reached) to proceed even during quiet hours. Logged-in users still get their quiet hours protected.

Q. What happens if nobody is logged into the computer?
A: If cPVAL Reboot if Not Logged In is set to Enable, the system will bypass the GUI prompt entirely and reboot immediately (subject to the Install-In-Progress guard).

Q. Will the solution reboot my machine while updates are still installing?
A: No. Before any unattended reboot, the script checks for active installations (e.g., Windows Update, macOS softwareupdate, MSI installers, winget). If an install is detected, the reboot is cleanly deferred and retried on the next cycle. Note: This guard does not apply if a user actively clicks "Yes" to reboot.

Q. What is the "Missed Prompt" tracking feature?
A: If a machine is locked or unattended, the prompt cannot be seen. The solution tracks these "missed" cycles. If the count reaches the threshold set in cPVAL Max Missed Prompts Before Force (e.g., 3), it will trigger a forced reboot, ensuring devices that are rarely unlocked still receive critical updates.

Customization & Technical Details

Q. Can I customize the message the user sees?
A: Absolutely. Use the cPVAL Reboot Prompt Message and cPVAL Final Prompt Message fields. You can use Substitution Variables (like UserName or PromptsLeft) to make the message dynamic.
⚠️ Important: Avoid using single quotes (') in these fields, as they can break the script's string parsing. Use double quotes (") if needed.

Q. Can I add my company logo to the prompt?
A: Yes. Provide a local file path (e.g., C:\Logos\header.png) or a public URL in the cPVAL Reboot Prompt Header Image and cPVAL Reboot Prompt Icon Image fields.

Q. How does the GUI utility get to the computer?
A: The Autofix script automatically downloads a lightweight, secure utility called OmniPrompt (Windows .exe or macOS .app) from ProVal's repository. It verifies the file's SHA256 hash before extraction to ensure integrity. No manual prerequisite deployment (like .NET) is required.

Q. Can I edit the built-in default values directly in the script files?
A: No. The scripts are code-signed. Modifying the script body will break the signature and prevent execution. Always use NinjaOne Custom Fields or Script Variables (configured in the Automation settings) to adjust default behaviors.

Q. I manually rebooted the computer, but the tracking fields didn't reset. Why?
A: The fields update the next time the Detection script runs. After a reboot, the Detection script will run, see that the computer uptime is low and no registry keys are set, and it will automatically clear cPVAL Pending Reboot and reset the counters for you.

Advanced Customization & Styling

Q. Can I format the text in my reboot prompt messages (e.g., bold, italic, line breaks)?
A: Yes! The prompt engine supports basic Markdown-style formatting for plain text messages. You can use:

**bold** for bold text
*italic* for italic text
__underline__ for underlined text
\n to create a new line (e.g., Line 1\nLine 2).
(Note: These markers are rendered automatically; you do not need to add any special HTML tags unless you are using advanced HTML message modes).

Q. Fun Fact: Can I resize the prompt window and its individual components?
A: Absolutely! You have granular control over the UI layout to perfectly match your branding or screen requirements. You can customize:

Overall Window: cPVAL Reboot Prompt Size (e.g., 800x600)
Message Area: cPVAL Reboot Prompt Text Box Size (e.g., 500x200)
Header/Logo Area: cPVAL Reboot Prompt Logo Size (e.g., 400x150)
Title Bar: cPVAL Reboot Prompt Title Field Size
You can also independently adjust the font family and size for the main message, the buttons, and the title bar using their respective Custom Fields. If left blank, OmniPrompt gracefully falls back to its optimized built-in defaults.

Q. Can I use animated images (like GIFs) for my company logo or header?
A: Yes! Both the cPVAL Reboot Prompt Header Image and cPVAL Reboot Prompt Icon Image fields fully support animated .gif files. You can provide either a public URL or a local file path. This is a fantastic way to add a subtle, engaging, and modern touch to your IT communications.

Q. Where can I find more advanced customization options or technical details about the prompt engine?
A: The underlying GUI utility is OmniPrompt, a powerful, cross-platform tool built by ProVal. For a complete list of supported arguments, advanced text formatting rules, HTML message capabilities, and troubleshooting tips, please refer to the comprehensive OmniPrompt Documentation.

Changelog

2026-07-20

Cross-Platform Expansion: Added full support for macOS, including dedicated Detection and Autofix scripts, a macOS-specific Compound Condition, and the cPVAL Reboot Prompt For MAC master enablement field.
New GUI Engine: Replaced the legacy .NET Prompter.exe with OmniPrompt, a modern, cross-platform, Go-based utility that requires no external runtime dependencies.
Dynamic Substitution Variables: Added support for live tokens (e.g., PromptsLeft, ComputerName, ScheduledRebootTime) in prompt messages for highly contextual user communication.
Advanced Styling: Introduced new Custom Fields for granular UI control: Size, Text Box Size, Logo Size, Text Size, Text Style, Button Text Style, Button Text Size, Button Size, Title Text Style, Title Text Size, and Title Field Size.
Script Variables: Migrated hardcoded default values to NinjaRMM Script Variables, allowing administrators to define global fallback defaults directly within the Automation configuration UI.
New Logic: Added the cPVAL Reboot During Suppress Period field, allowing unattended or forced reboots to bypass quiet hours/weekends while still protecting active, logged-in users.

2026-06-10

Missed prompt counter now uses real elapsed time instead of counting each script run, making the forced reboot timeline predictable.
Added safety checks for active installations before rebooting unattended machines.
Machines with no user logged in will no longer reboot mid-update; the script exits safely and retries once servicing is done.
Winget is now only treated as active when it is actually doing work, preventing false detections.

2026-06-03

Added support for missed-prompt tracking custom fields and forced reboot after repeated missed prompts.
Added default values for missed-prompt handling, weekend behavior, suppress window behavior, and no-user reboot behavior.

2026-05-26

Updated the solution to install .Net 10 Desktop Runtime instead of .Net 8 (Legacy Windows version).
Fixed a bug where the script failed to reset custom fields for manual reboots after rejecting the first prompt.

2025-12-19

Initial version of the document.