Group Policy

Feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems

Parts of this article (those related to Windows 10 issues) need to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (September 2018)

|

Local Security Policy editor in Windows 11

Group Policy is a feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems (including Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11) that controls the working environment of user accounts and computer accounts. Group Policy provides centralized management and configuration of operating systems, applications, and users' settings in an Active Directory environment. A set of Group Policy configurations is called a Group Policy Object (GPO). A version of Group Policy called Local Group Policy (LGPO or LocalGPO) allows Group Policy Object management without Active Directory on standalone computers.[1][2]

Active Directory servers disseminate group policies by listing them in their LDAP directory under objects of class `groupPolicyContainer`. These refer to fileserver paths (attribute `gPCFileSysPath`) that store the actual group policy objects, typically in an SMB share \\\domain.com\SYSVOL shared by the Active Directory server. If a group policy has registry settings, the associated file share will have a file `registry.pol` with the registry settings that the client needs to apply.[3]

The Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) is not provided on Home versions of Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10/11.

## Operation

[edit]

Group Policies, in part, control what users can and cannot do on a computer system. For example, a Group Policy can be used to enforce a password complexity policy that prevents users from choosing an overly simple password. Other examples include: allowing or preventing unidentified users from remote computers to connect to a network share, or to block/restrict access to certain folders. A set of such configurations is called a Group Policy Object (GPO).

As part of Microsoft's IntelliMirror technologies, Group Policy aims to reduce the cost of supporting users. IntelliMirror technologies relate to the management of disconnected machines or roaming users and include roaming user profiles, folder redirection, and offline files.

### Enforcement

[edit]

To accomplish the goal of central management of a group of computers, machines should receive and enforce GPOs. A GPO that resides on a single machine only applies to that computer. To apply a GPO to a group of computers, Group Policy relies on Active Directory (or on third-party products like ZENworks Desktop Management) for distribution. Active Directory can distribute GPOs to computers which belong to a Windows domain.

By default, Microsoft Windows refreshes its policy settings every 90 minutes with a random 30 minutes offset. On domain controllers, Microsoft Windows does so every five minutes. During the refresh, it discovers, fetches and applies all GPOs that apply to the machine and to logged-on users. Some settings - such as those for automated software installation, drive mappings, startup scripts or logon scripts - only apply during startup or user logon. Since Windows XP, users can manually initiate a refresh of the group policy by using the `gpupdate` command from a command prompt.[4]

Group Policy Objects are processed in the following order (from top to bottom):[5]

1. Local \- Any settings in the computer's local policy. Prior to Windows Vista, there was only one local group policy stored per computer. Windows Vista and later Windows versions allow individual group policies per user accounts.[6]
2. Site \- Any Group Policies associated with the Active Directory site in which the computer resides. (An Active Directory site is a logical grouping of computers, intended to facilitate management of those computers based on their physical proximity.) If multiple policies are linked to a site, they are processed in the order set by the administrator.
3. Domain \- Any Group Policies associated with the Windows domain in which the computer resides. If multiple policies are linked to a domain, they are processed in the order set by the administrator.
4. Organizational Unit \- Group policies assigned to the Active Directory organizational unit (OU) in which the computer or user are placed. (OUs are logical units that help organizing and managing a group of users, computers or other Active Directory objects.) If multiple policies are linked to an OU, they are processed in the order set by the administrator.

The resulting Group Policy settings applied to a given computer or user are known as the Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP). RSoP information may be displayed for both computers and users using the `gpresult` command.[7]

### Inheritance

[edit]

A policy setting inside a hierarchical structure is ordinarily passed from parent to children, and from children to grandchildren, and so forth. This is termed inheritance. It can be blocked or enforced to control what policies are applied at each level. If a higher level administrator (enterprise administrator) creates a policy that has inheritance blocked by a lower level administrator (domain administrator), this policy will still be processed.

Where a Group Policy Preference Settings is configured and there is also an equivalent Group Policy Setting configured, then the value of the Group Policy Setting will take precedence.

### Filtering

[edit]

WMI filtering is the process of customizing the scope of the GPO by choosing a (WMI) filter to apply. These filters allow administrators to apply the GPO only to, for example, computers of specific models, RAM, installed software, or anything available via WMI queries.

## Local Group Policy

[edit]

Local Group Policy (LGP, or LocalGPO) is a more basic version of Group Policy for standalone and non-domain computers, that has existed at least since Windows XP,[when?] and can be applied to domain computers.[citation needed] Prior to Windows Vista, LGP could enforce a Group Policy Object for a single local computer, but could not make policies for individual users or groups. From Windows Vista onward, LGP allow Local Group Policy management for individual users and groups as well,[1] and also allows backup, importing and exporting of policies between standalone machines via "GPO Packs" – group policy containers which include the files needed to import the policy to the destination machine.[2]

## Group Policy preferences

[edit]

Group Policy Preferences are a way for the administrator to set policies that are not mandatory, but optional for the user or computer. There is a set of group policy setting extensions that were previously known as PolicyMaker. Microsoft bought PolicyMaker and then integrated them with Windows Server 2008. Microsoft has since released a migration tool that allows users to migrate PolicyMaker items to Group Policy Preferences.[8]

Group Policy Preferences adds a number of new configuration items. These items also have a number of additional targeting options that can be used to granularly control the application of these setting items.

Group Policy Preferences are compatible with x86 and x64 versions of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista with the addition of the Client Side Extensions (also known as CSE).[9][10][11][12][13][14]

Client Side Extensions are now included in Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2.

## Group Policy Management Console

[edit]

Originally, Group Policies were modified using the Group Policy Edit tool that was integrated with Active Directory Users and Computers Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in, but it was later split into a separate MMC snap-in called the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). The GPMC is now a user component in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 and is provided as a download as part of the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista and Windows 7.[15][16][17][18]

## Advanced Group Policy Management

[edit]

Microsoft has also released a tool to make changes to Group Policy called Advanced Group Policy Management[19] (a.k.a. AGPM). This tool is available for any organization that has licensed the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (a.k.a. MDOP). This advanced tool allows administrators to have a check in/out process for modification Group Policy Objects, track changes to Group Policy Objects, and implement approval workflows for changes to Group Policy Objects.

AGPM consists of two parts - server and client. The server is a Windows Service that stores its Group Policy Objects in an archive located on the same computer or a network share. The client is a snap-in to the Group Policy Management Console, and connects to the AGPM server. Configuration of the client is performed via Group Policy.

## Security

[edit]

Group Policy settings are enforced voluntarily by the targeted applications. In many cases, this merely consists of disabling the user interface for a particular function.[20]

Alternatively, a malevolent user can modify or interfere with the application so that it cannot successfully read its Group Policy settings, thus enforcing potentially lower security defaults or even returning arbitrary values.[21]

## Later enhancements to Group Policy

[edit]

Group Policy was enhanced following its initial release in Windows 2000. For example, Windows XP has introduced a new feature called Group Policy Update which replaced the `secedit` command.[22] This feature allows an administrator to force a group policy update on all computers with accounts in a particular Organizational Unit. This overrides the default scheduled task on the computer which runs the `gpupdate` command within 90 minutes, adjusted by a random offset to avoid overloading the domain controller.[23]

Group Policy Infrastructure Status was introduced, which can report when any Group Policy Objects are not replicated correctly amongst domain controllers.[24]

Group Policy Results Report also has a new feature that times the execution of individual components when doing a Group Policy Update.[25]

## See also

[edit]

* Administrative Template
* Group Policy improvements in Windows Vista
* Workgroup Manager

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Tara Meyer (Aquent LLC) (25 July 2008). "Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Multiple Local Group Policy Objects". go.microsoft.com.
2. ^ a b Sigman, Jeff. "SCM v2 Beta: LocalGPO Rocks!". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
3. ^ "[MS-GPOD]: Group Policy Protocols Overview". Microsoft. Section 1.1.5 Group Policy Data Storage. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
4. ^ Gpupdate
5. ^ "Group Policy processing and precedence". Microsoft Corporation. 22 April 2012.
6. ^ "Group Policy - Apply to a Specific User or Group - Windows 7 Help Forums". www.sevenforums.com.
7. ^ Archiveddocs (18 April 2012). "Gpresult". technet.microsoft.com.
8. ^ "Group Policy Preference Migration Tool (GPPMIG)". Microsoft.
9. ^ "Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions for Windows XP (KB943729)". Microsoft Download Center.
10. ^ "Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions for Windows XP x64 Edition (KB943729)". Microsoft Download Center.
11. ^ "Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions for Windows Vista (KB943729)". Microsoft Download Center.
12. ^ "Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions for Windows Vista x64 Edition (KB943729)". Microsoft Download Center.
13. ^ "Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions for Windows Server 2003 (KB943729)". Microsoft Download Center.
14. ^ "Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition (KB943729)". Microsoft Download Center.
15. ^ "How to Install GPMC on Server 2008, 2008 R2, and Windows 7 (via RSAT)". 2009-12-23. Archived from the original on 2009-12-26. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
16. ^ Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista
17. ^ Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems
18. ^ Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7
19. ^ "Windows - Official Site for Microsoft Windows 10 Home & Pro OS, laptops, PCs, tablets & more". www.microsoft.com.
20. ^ Raymond Chen, "Shell policy is not the same as security"
21. ^ Russinovich, Mark (2019-06-26) [2005-12-12]. "Circumventing Group Policy as a Limited User". Microsoft Community Hub. Microsoft. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
22. ^ "How to Force Group Policy Update in Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 8 and 10". Help Desk Geek - Tech Tips from Trusted Tech Experts. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
23. ^ "Why your Windows group policy doesn't take effect immediately - IUKB". servicenow.iu.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
24. ^ "Updated: What's new with Group Policy in Windows 8". 17 October 2011.
25. ^ "Windows 8 Group Policy Performance Troubleshooting Feature". 23 January 2012.

## Further reading

[edit]

1. "Group Policy for Beginners". Windows 7 Technical Library. Microsoft. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
2. "Group Policy Management Console". Dev Center - Desktop. Microsoft. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
3. "Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Multiple Local Group Policy Objects". Windows Vista Technical Library. Microsoft. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
4. "Group Policy processing and precedence". Windows Server 2003 Product Help. Microsoft. 21 January 2005. Retrieved 22 April 2012.

## External links

[edit]

Wikiversity has learning resources about  Group Policy

* Official website
* Group Policy Team Blog Archived 2010-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
* Group Policy Settings Reference for Windows and Windows Server
* Force Gpupdate

* v
* t
* e

Microsoft Windows components

* APIs
* Architecture
* 9x
* NT
* Booting process
* Games

Management
tools|

* App Installer
* Command Prompt
* Control Panel
* Device Manager
* DirectX Diagnostic Tool
* Disk Cleanup
* Drive Optimizer
* Driver Verifier
* Event Viewer
* IExpress
* Management Console
* Netsh
* Performance Monitor
* PowerShell
* Recovery Console
* Resource Monitor
* Settings
* Sysprep
* System Configuration
* System File Checker
* System Information
* System Policy Editor
* System Restore
* Task Manager
* Windows Error Reporting
* Windows Ink
* Windows Installer
* Windows Update
* Windows Insider
* WinRE
* WMI

Apps|

* 3D Viewer
* Calculator
* Calendar
* Camera
* Character Map
* City Art Search
* Clipchamp
* Clock
* Copilot
* Edge
* Fax and Scan
* Feedback Hub
* Get Help
* Magnifier
* Mail
* Maps
* Media Player
* 2022
* Mesh
* Messaging
* Mobility Center
* Money
* Movies & TV
* Narrator
* Notepad
* OneDrive
* OneNote
* Paint
* PC Manager
* People
* Phone Link
* Photos
* Quick Assist
* Remote Desktop Connection
* Skype
* Snipping Tool
* Speech Recognition
* Sports
* Start
* Sticky Notes
* Store
* Tips
* Voice Recorder
* Weather
* Whiteboard
* Xbox

Shell|

* Action Center
* Aero
* AutoPlay
* AutoRun
* ClearType
* Explorer
* Search
* IFilter
* Indexing Service
* Namespace
* Saved search
* Special folder
* Start menu
* Task View
* Taskbar
* Windows Spotlight
* Windows XP visual styles

Services|

* BITS
* CLFS
* Error Reporting
* Multimedia Class Scheduler
* Service Control Manager
* Shadow Copy
* Task Scheduler
* Wireless Zero Configuration

File systems|

* CDFS
* DFS
* exFAT
* FAT
* IFS
* NTFS
* EFS
* Hard link
* links
* Mount Point
* Reparse point
* TxF
* ReFS
* UDF

Server|

* Active Directory
* Active DRM Services
* DFS Replication
* Distributed Transaction Coordinator
* DNS
* Domains
* Folder redirection
* Group Policy
* Hyper-V
* IIS
* MSMQ
* Network Access Protection
* Print Services for UNIX
* PWS
* Remote Desktop Services
* Remote Differential Compression
* Remote Installation Services
* Roaming user profiles
* Server Core
* SharePoint
* System Resource Manager
* Windows Deployment Services
* Windows Media Services
* WSUS

Architecture|

* Boot Manager
* Console
* CSRSS
* Desktop Window Manager
* Enhanced Write Filter
* Graphics Device Interface
* Hardware Abstraction Layer
* I/O request packet
* Imaging Format
* Kernel Transaction Manager
* Library files
* Logical Disk Manager
* LSASS
* MinWin
* NTLDR
* Ntoskrnl.exe
* Object Manager
* Open XML Paper Specification
* Portable Executable
* DLL
* EXE
* Registry
* Resource Protection
* Security Account Manager
* Server Message Block
* Shadow Copy
* SMSS
* System Idle Process
* USER
* WHEA
* Winlogon
* WinUSB

Security|

* Security and Maintenance
* AppLocker
* BitLocker
* Credential Guard
* Data Execution Prevention
* Defender
* Family features
* Kernel Patch Protection
* Mandatory Integrity Control
* Protected Media Path
* User Account Control
* User Interface Privilege Isolation
* Windows Firewall

Compatibility|

* COMMAND.COM
* Windows Subsystem for Linux
* WoW64

API|

* Active Scripting
* JScript
* VBScript
* WSH
* COM
* ActiveX
* ActiveX Document
* COM Structured storage
* DCOM
* OLE
* OLE Automation
* Transaction Server
* DirectX
* Native
* .NET
* Universal Windows Platform
* WinAPI
* Windows Mixed Reality
* Windows Runtime
* WinUSB

Games|

* Solitaire Collection
* Surf

Discontinued|

| Games|

* 3D Pinball
* Chess Titans
* FreeCell
* Hearts
* Hold 'Em
* InkBall
* Purble Place
* Solitaire
* Spider Solitaire
* Tinker

|

Apps|

* ActiveMovie
* Address Book
* Anytime Upgrade
* Backup and Restore
* Cardfile
* CardSpace
* CD Player
* Chat
* Contacts
* Cortana
* Desktop Gadgets
* Diagnostics
* DriveSpace
* DVD Maker
* Easy Transfer
* Edge Legacy
* Fax
* Food & Drink
* Groove Music
* Health & Fitness
* Help and Support Center
* HyperTerminal
* Imaging
* Internet Explorer
* Journal
* Make Compatible
* Media Center
* Meeting Space
* Messaging
* Messenger
* Mobile Device Center
* Movie Maker
* MSN Dial-up
* NetMeeting
* NTBackup
* Outlook Express
* Paint 3D
* Pay
* Phone Companion
* Photo Gallery
* Photo Viewer
* Program Manager
* Steps Recorder
* Syskey
* Travel
* WinHelp
* WordPad
* Write

Others|

* Desktop Cleanup Wizard
* File Protection
* Games for Windows
* HPFS
* Interix
* Media Control Interface
* MS-DOS 7
* Next-Generation Secure Computing Base
* POSIX subsystem
* ScanDisk
* Video for Windows
* Virtual DOS machine
* Windows on Windows
* Windows Services for UNIX
* Windows SideShow
* Windows System Assessment Tool
* Windows To Go
* WinFS

Spun off to
Microsoft Store|

* DVD Player
* File Manager
* Hover!
* Mahjong
* Minesweeper

* Category
* List

* v
* t
* e

Windows command-line programs and shell builtins

Ecosystem|

| Interpreters|

* COMMAND.COM
* Command Prompt
* PowerShell
* Recovery Console

|

Terminals|

* Windows Console
* Windows Terminal

File system navigation|

* cd (chdir)
* dir
* popd
* pushd
* tree

File management|

* attrib
* cacls
* cipher
* compact
* copy
* del (erase)
* deltree
* icacls
* mkdir (md)
* mklink
* move
* openfiles
* recover
* ren (rename)
* replace
* rmdir (rd)
* robocopy
* takeown
* xcopy

Archiving|

* expand
* extrac32
* extract
* makecab
* pax
* tar

Disk management|

* chkdsk
* convert
* defrag
* diskcomp
* diskcopy
* diskpart
* diskraid
* diskshadow
* drvspace
* fdisk
* format
* fsutil
* label
* manage-bde
* MSCDEX
* refsutil
* subst
* scandisk
* sys
* vol
* vssadmin

Processes|

* at
* exit
* kill
* runas
* sc
* schtasks
* shutdown
* start
* taskkill
* tasklist

Registry|

* assoc
* ftype
* reg
* regini
* regsvr32

User environment|

* chcp
* cmdkey
* date
* graftabl
* mode
* path
* set
* setver
* setx
* time
* title
* ver
* where
* whoami

File contents|

* comp
* edit
* edlin
* fc
* find
* findstr
* print
* type

Scripting|

* choice
* clip
* cscript
* doskey
* echo
* for
* forfiles
* goto
* if
* more
* pause
* prompt
* rem
* timeout

Networking|

* arp
* bitsadmin
* curl
* getmac
* hostname
* ipconfig
* nbtstat
* net
* netsh
* netstat
* nslookup
* PathPing
* ping
* rpcping
* route
* scp
* setspn
* sftp
* ssh
* ssh-add
* ssh-agent
* ssh-keygen
* ssh-keyscan
* tracert
* winrm
* winrs

Maintenance and care|

* auditpol
* dism
* dispdiag
* driverquery
* eventcreate
* eventtriggers
* gpresult
* gpupdate
* logman
* mofcomp
* msiexec
* ntbackup
* pentnt
* pnpunattend
* pnputil
* REAgentC
* relog
* sfc
* sxstrace
* systeminfo
* tpmtool
* tpmvscmgr
* tracerpt
* typeperf
* w32tm
* WBAdmin
* wecutil
* wevtutil
* winmgmt
* winsat
* wmic

Boot management|

* bcdedit
* bootcfg
* bootsect
* fixboot
* fixmbr

Software development|

* break
* debug
* exe2bin
* QBasic
* wsl

Miscellaneous|

* cls
* dpath
* help

* List of DOS commands
* Environment variables
* Windows Support Tools

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template