Microsoft inculcated the Group Policy Editor in Windows 7 and has continued it to Windows 10. This tool is an important one as it helps users alter the administrative features of the Windows Operating System. It is generally used by Administrators who can create or modify passwords for a large number of computers in the network and also assign rights to users with regards to applications and settings.
How To Use The Local Group Policy Editor
The GPE is a hidden tool, and there are no shortcuts or icons available for the same. If you wish to open it, then you can use any one of the following methods:
Method 1: Open RUN dialog box (Windows + R) and type ‘gpedit.msc’ in the text space.
Method 2: Type Group Policy Editor in the search box on the taskbar and choose the relevant result.
Method 3: Open Command Prompt and type ‘gpedit.msc’. Press the Enter button to execute.
Method 4: Open Power Shell and type ‘gpedit.msc’.
What features Can Be Tweaked With The Group Policy Editor (GPE)?
Now that you know how to open the GPE, let us discuss some of the tasks that can be carried out with this fantastic inbuilt Window’s tool. The complete list would not be feasible as the possibilities with the GPE are limitless.
Group Policy Editors are important while setting up a network in an organization. For example, this tool helps set up a similar wallpaper on all the computers connected to a network that cannot be changed. It also can control any app functions and limit it to certain features only. Some of the real-world examples are:
Prevent the use of external USB storage devices to prevent data leaks.
Prevent users from accessing the control panel to make any significant changes in the settings.
Modify startup items like VPN and Antivirus, which would launch as the session reboots.
Most Important, turn off GPE edit in all computers so that users cannot change any of the pre-set settings.
The above settings are just examples taken from an organization, but as I mentioned earlier, the possibilities are limitless.
Do All Editions Of Windows 10 Have The GPE?
Unfortunately No! Microsoft has provided the facilities of the Group Policy Editor only to the Windows 10 Pro for professionals and to Businesses that use Windows 10 Enterprise. The officials at Microsoft figured that a basic user with Windows 10 home edition would not require using a powerful tool like GPE and decided to eliminate this feature. However, there is a small tweak that can let you fix this and enable the Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 Home.
How To Access The Group Policy Editor On Windows 10 Home Edition?
Method 1 –
The steps to access GPE are pretty simple, and you need to follow them precisely, as mentioned below:
Step 1: Log into your computer with the Administrator account as these changes would require admin permissions to execute.
Step 2: Download the batch file which has been carefully programmed to open the GPE.
Step 3: Once the file has been downloaded, unzip it, and then you can make a right-click and choose “Run as Administrator “from the contextual menu.
Step 4: Once the file starts running, it will open the command prompt and auto-install certain files that will facilitate running the Group Policy Editor on Windows 10 Home edition.
Step 5: Restart your computer and use any of the four methods described above to access the GPE on your computer.
Method 2 –
If you are still unable to find gpedit.msc on your system or if the previous way didn’t work out then you can try out these steps –
1. Open Notepad and type the code as mentioned in the screenshot below.
@echo off
pushd “%~dp0”
dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientExtensions-Package~3.mum >List.txt dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientTools-Package~3.mum >>List.txt
for /f %%i in (‘findstr /i . List.txt 2^>nul’) do dism /online /norestart /add-package:”%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\%%i” pause
Then save the file as Enabler.bat
2. Right-click on this file and click on Run as Administrator.
3. A command window will now open and this BAT file will run. Once the installation completes, press any key.
Now try opening gpedit.msc
The Final Word On How To Enable Group Policy Editor On Windows 10 Home Edition
Being a Windows 10 Home User means, you won’t be able to set up a vast network and use GPE on your client computers. But there are a lot of other features that can be used, especially when more than one user is using your computer. You can always restrict them from making specific changes, and the best part is they would never come to know about who imposed these restrictions.
For any queries or suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below. We would love to get back to you with a solution. We post regularly on tips and tricks along with solutions to common issues related to technology.