# How to deploy approved patches - Patch Approval | ManageEngine

## How do I deploy approved patches?

### Description

You can automate the patch deployment process using Endpoint Central. Using automated patch deployment you can complete all patch-related tasks from identifying missing patches to deploying them to specific client computers.

As an administrator, you must test the patches, especially critical ones, before deploying them. You can use the Patch Approval feature in Endpoint Central to ensure that only patches that you have approved will be deployed using the Automated Patch Deployment feature.

For more information about the Automated Patch Deployment feature, see:

- [Automated patch deployment for computers in your network](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/windows-patch-management.html#Approval-of-Patches)
- [How does the Automated Patch Deployment feature work in Endpoint Central?](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/automated_patch_deployment_process.html)

You can also deploy approved patches [manually](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/patch-deployment.html). This document provides steps required to deploy approved patches.

### Steps

To deploy approved patches you must:

- Enable the patch-approval setting in Endpoint Central
- Approve patches

#### Enabling the Patch-approval Setting

To enable the patch-approval setting in Endpoint Central, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the **Admin** tab
2. In the **Patch Settings** section, click **Approval Settings**
3. In the **Approve Patches** section, check the **Deploy patches only when they are approved** checkbox
4. Click **Save**

You have enabled the patch-approval setting in Endpoint Central.

#### Approving Patches

You can approve specific patches from the following categories of patches:

- Applicable Patches
- Missing Patches
- Installed Patches

To approve patches, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the **Patch Mgmt** tab
2. In the **Patches** section, select a patch category
3. Check the checkbox against specific patches
4. In the **Mark as** dropdown list, select **Approve**

You have approved specific patches.

The approved patches will be deployed depending on the automated patch-deployment task created by you. For more information about creating tasks to deploy patches automatically, see [Configuring Automated Patch Deployment](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/patch_management/patch_management_configurations.html).

If you enable the Approve Patch feature, and you have not approved patches that are categorized as missing patches, you will see the status, “No missing patches found”. Ensure that you test and approve the missing patches to deploy them during the next scheduled task to deploy patches automatically.