Do Group Policies Not Work By Default?


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win9598xp7

Member
Local time
1:08 PM
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OS
Windows 11
I've tried using Group Policy Editor on my new Windows 11 Pro install to customize a few things, but nothing I do there seems to work. When I set certain changes to "Enable" then apply/restart, there is no change.

Is this because Group Policy Editor isn't set up to actually manage anything on my PC (since this is a home desktop and not a work one)?

I ran across this random post online (researching an unrelated issue), and I saw someone say this about the Group Policy Editor. Could this be why nothing seems to change on my system when applying Group Policy Settings?

...is through a group policy, but unless your Windows instance is connected to an Active Directory domain, it cannot be used.
Click to expand...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Just a comment, the quote posted is not complete enough to show the context of what it applied to.

I don't have any issue with my Pro machines and am not connected to an AD domain, just a LAN and the Internet.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
So far all my group policies work as expected and have persisted through every WU so no issues here.
It might be helpful if we knew which policies your are trying to set.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Group policy works fine on a Windows 11 Pro machine that is not connected to a domain. A home computer in a workgroup can make use of it just fine.

Problem with group policy for many, is it can be a bit complex and hard to understand. Might have one setting where you set something, but another setting that overwrites the thing you changed back to the default.

What are you attempting to do? Somebody here might be able to guide you.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
pparks1 said:
Group policy works fine on a Windows 11 Pro machine that is not connected to a domain. A home computer in a workgroup can make use of it just fine.

Problem with group policy for many, is it can be a bit complex and hard to understand. Might have one setting where you set something, but another setting that overwrites the thing you changed back to the default.

What are you attempting to do? Somebody here might be able to guide you.
Click to expand...

OK, so for example, below are a few of the settings I've tried experimenting with to tweak my Start Menu. I go into these options in Group Policy Editor and set them from "Not Configured" to "Enabled" to trigger the desired effect described in the menu. But no changes happen...
  1. Remove search bar from Start Menu
  2. Remove recommended from Start Menu
  3. Disable preview of open items in Taskbar
Any thoughts?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Policy changes for users require a logout and log back in. For computer settings, you need a reboot. Unlike control panel, or settings, they are not always applied immediately.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    CCL Online
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700 3.2GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z370P
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidea Geforce GTX 1070
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    IIlama Prolite E2783QSU
win9598xp7 said:
OK, so for example, below are a few of the settings I've tried experimenting with to tweak my Start Menu. I go into these options in Group Policy Editor and set them from "Not Configured" to "Enabled" to trigger the desired effect described in the menu. But no changes happen...
  1. Remove search bar from Start Menu
  2. Remove recommended from Start Menu
  3. Disable preview of open items in Taskbar
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Hide Recommended doesn't work on Pro. This GPO only applies to Education or Enterprise editions.

You'll need a 3rd-party UI mod tool for this one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
garlin said:
Hide Recommended doesn't work on Pro. This GPO only applies to Education or Enterprise editions.

You'll need a 3rd-party UI mod tool for this one.
Click to expand...

That's good to know. But I don't think I've ever got any of my tweaks in Group Policy to take effect. Can you give me one or two Group Policy changes I can test, that you know will work on Windows 11 Pro?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
A relatively safe one to test is Windows Components / AutoPlay Policies / Default behavior for AutoRun.

If you have an ISO or USB drive that set to auto-run (or auto-play), you should be able to disable that behavior.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
The very first one I do-option 1
www.elevenforum.com

Enable or Disable Include Drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable including drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows Update will include drivers when available in Windows 11 by default. You can enable the Do not include drivers with Windows Updates policy to not include drivers...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Computer > all > configure automatic updates > set it to “2”.

You’ll know it works when you get toast notifications telling you updates are available instead of it just auto installing them.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
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