How To Enable gpedit.msc In Windows 10?

The Group Policy is one of the several features that are included in the Windows 10 Home Edition. The Group Policy can be used for a wide range of uses such as local computer settings, network settings, and user configuration.

However, it is not activated but disabled by default. If you want to use this feature, you can override the default setting and enable the feature. How?

Download the Group Policy Enabler specifically designed for Windows 10 and install it on your system to give you access to the policy.

This is important because Microsoft didn’t include the Group Policy feature by default. The Group Policy will be automatically configured by the installer after its installation.

Guidelines To Install The Group Policy On Windows 10

After downloading the installer, check the downloaded batch file and do the following:

• Right-click the batch file.
• Click “Run as administrator.”

As soon as you click “Run as administrator,” the batch file will be automatically installed. The installation process will take you a couple of moments before the Group Policy feature is installed on your Windows 10.

When the installation is over, you can close the command prompt by pressing any key whenever you are prompted to do so.

Note that it is mandatory that you use the “Run as administrator” option to launch the batch file. If you want to use the double-click shortcut, it won’t work as desired but will only throw an error message.

This is because the feature is designed to be launched by an administrator and not someone else.

After clicking any key to proceed, you should head to Run and continue from there.

• Click the Start button.
• Type “Run” in the search box. That will launch it.
• Type “gpedit.msc” in the “Run” box and hit the “Enter” key.
• As soon as you hit the key, the editor window will be opened.

Once the window is displayed, the process has been completed.

If you wish, you may restart your computer if the Group Policy is not working perfectly well, although that may be unnecessary.

You should also note that no third-party software is needed for the installation. It is based on Windows 10’s built-in feature.

You may be wondering why you have to go through this process to enable this feature since it is not added to the Operating System by default.

Benefits Of Installing Gpedit.msc in Windows 10

Well, you can perform a wide range of beneficial tasks with the help of the Group Policy. Some of these tasks are highlighted below:

1. Restrict Access To Your Control Panel

The Control Panel is one of your computer’s major components. It serves a lot of purposes that may contribute to the general performance of a computer. Thus, it is a component of your computer that deserves to be guarded jealously.

Therefore, to prevent any unauthorized person from having unrestricted access to your Control Panel, you can restrict access to it through the Group Policy.

There are two ways to go about this.

1. Block the Control Panel completely if you don’t want a third party to have access to it.

To block it completely, do this:

• Type “gpedit.msc” in the Run bar.
• Click “User Configuration.”
• Then click “Administrative Templates.”
• Choose “Control Panel.”
• Then choose “Prohibit access to Control Panel and PC Setting.”
• This will block other users from having access to your Control Panel.

     2. On the other hand, you may decide to restrict people from having access to a portion of the Control Panel.

This is how to go about it:

• Click “User Configuration.”
• Click “Administrative Templates.”
• Click “Control Panel.”

You have to options to choose from here: “Show only specified Control Panel Item” and “Hide specified Control Panel items.”

With these options, you can either show the Control Panel item of your choice or hide whatever item pleases you. Microsoft provides a list of canonical names you can use to make the restriction.

2. Software Installation Prevention

If you are not the only person with access to your personal computer, it is advisable that you prevent other users from installing unsolicited software programs on the system.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to “Computer Configurations.”
• Click “Administrative Templates.”
• Click “Windows Components.”
• Click “Windows Installer.”
• Click “Turn off Windows Installer.”

This is a good way to monitor your personal computer and prevent the installation of harmful programs on your computer.

3. Disable Automatic Driver Updates

Windows usually run automatic driver updates on personal computers. Most times, this is without the knowledge or the expressed permission of the user.

If for any reason you are not comfortable with this feature, you can turn it off using the Group Policy feature.

Follow these steps to disable the automatic updates:

• Go to “Computer Configuration.”
• Click “Administrative Templates.”
• Click “System.”
• Click “Device Installation.”
• Click “Device Installation Restrictions.”
• Click “Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device IDs.”

Note that before you can use the automatic driver update prevention feature, you must provide the hardware IDs for all the devices whose update you want to prevent.

This article “Take Back Control of Over Driver Updates in Windows 10” will be of help in getting the Device Manager that will give you the hardware IDs.

4. You Can Restrict Access To Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is undoubtedly a very important part of your personal computer. You may use it for a lot of purposes, especially if you are adept at using it.

However, just like the Control Panel, it may be abused by the wrong person. Thus, it may be necessary that you prevent access to it as well.

You can enforce this restriction by doing these:

• Go to “User Configuration.”
• Click “Administrative Templates.”
• Click “System.”
• Click “Prevent access to the command prompt.”

This will automatically disable cmd.exe and prevent any third party from using the command prompt without restrictions.

Bottom line

It will only take you a couple of minutes to enable gpedit.msc in Windows 10. The multiple tasks you can perform on your Windows 10 with the Group Policy make it a great addition to it. I hope you understood the method of enabling gpedit.msc in Windows 10 and the benefits of activating the Group policy!