The fastest way to open the Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 is to press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. You can also search for Edit group policy in the Start menu. The Group Policy Editor is included in Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise and Education, but not in Windows 10 Home, which is why you may see “Windows cannot find gpedit.msc.”
Below are all the ways to open it, how to use it safely, how to apply changes right away, and what to do on Windows 10 Home.
Ways to open the Group Policy Editor
| Method | Steps |
|---|---|
| Run box | Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, Enter |
| Start menu search | Type “Edit group policy” and click the result |
| Command Prompt or PowerShell | Type gpedit.msc and press Enter |
| File Explorer | Type gpedit.msc in the address bar and press Enter |
| Microsoft Management Console | Run mmc, then File > Add/Remove Snap-in > Group Policy Object Editor |
| Desktop shortcut | Right-click the desktop > New > Shortcut, enter gpedit.msc, and name it |
You need to be signed in with an administrator account to make changes.
Find your way around
- Computer Configuration holds policies that apply to the whole PC and every user, such as Windows Update and security settings.
- User Configuration holds policies for signed-in users, such as desktop and Start menu restrictions.
- Under each, Administrative Templates contains most of the settings people change.
Double-click a policy to open it, choose Enabled, Disabled or Not Configured, and read the help text on the right before changing anything. Not Configured means Windows uses its default behavior.
Find a specific setting
Right-click Administrative Templates and choose Filter Options. Check Enable Keyword Filters, type a word such as “USB” or “update,” and click OK. Then open All Settings under Administrative Templates to see the matching policies.
Apply changes right away
Most policies apply after a restart or sign-out. To apply them immediately, open Command Prompt as administrator and run gpupdate /force.
Windows 10 Home: gpedit.msc not found
Windows 10 Home doesn’t include the Group Policy Editor. Your options:
- Use Settings or Registry Editor. Many policies correspond to registry values you can change with regedit. Back up the registry first.
- Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
- Be careful with scripts found online that claim to add gpedit to Home. They aren’t supported by Microsoft and many policies won’t actually take effect on Home.
Use Group Policy safely
- Change one setting at a time and note what you changed.
- Create a restore point first in System Properties > System Protection.
- On work PCs, domain policies from your IT department override local ones.
- Set a policy back to Not Configured to undo it.
Related: enable USB blocked by Group Policy in Windows 10.
Related: remove Group Policy settings from Windows 10.
Related: Enable long paths in Windows 11.
Related: How to disable Windows Ink in Windows 11.
Related: How to sign in to another domain in Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Is Group Policy Editor the same in Windows 11?
Yes. The same gpedit.msc command opens it in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise and Education.
How do I see which policies are applied?
Run gpresult /r in Command Prompt, or open rsop.msc to view the resulting set of policies.
Why is a policy grayed out in Settings?
Settings pages show “Some settings are managed by your organization” when a policy controls them. Change or reset the policy to unlock them.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.