How to Open Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 11

To open Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 11, press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. The console opens with Computer Configuration and User Configuration. This tool is included in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education; Windows 11 Home does not include it.

These steps apply to all current Windows 11 versions and to Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. Opening the editor doesn’t change any settings. You need an administrator account to change policies, and on a work or school PC, check with IT first.

Check your Windows edition first

Open Settings > System > About, then look under Windows specifications for Edition. Microsoft’s guide to finding Windows device information explains this location. Edition, such as Home or Pro, is different from the version number, such as 26H2.

Microsoft’s system configuration tools guide confirms that Home lacks Local Group Policy Editor. If you have Home, no way of launching gpedit.msc will add it. See the Home section below for what to do instead.

Registry Editor is included in Home, and many policies have a matching registry value; here’s how to open Registry Editor in Windows 11.

This guide covers the local editor on one Windows 11 computer. It does not install Group Policy tools on Home or change policies for an entire organization.

Open Local Group Policy Editor with Run

1. Press Windows + R. The Run box opens. If the shortcut is unavailable, see our other ways to open Run in Windows 11.
2. Type gpedit.msc in the Open field. Include the period and msc ending; do not type quotation marks.
3. Press Enter or select OK. If a User Account Control prompt appears, select Yes. On a standard account, Windows asks for an administrator’s password instead.
4. Check the window title for Local Group Policy Editor. Under Local Computer Policy, expand Computer Configuration or User Configuration to begin browsing.

Other ways to open the same editor

Every route below opens the same console and has the same edition requirement. Pick whichever is already open on your screen.

Starting point	What to do
Start or search	Press Windows + S, type Edit group policy, and select the result.
Settings	Press Windows + I, type Edit group policy in the search box, and select the result.
Control Panel	Open Control Panel, type group policy in the search box at the top right, and select Edit group policy under Windows Tools.
File Explorer	Press Windows + E, click the address bar, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Task Manager	Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, select Run new task, type gpedit.msc, and select OK.
Command line	In Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Windows Terminal, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
System32 folder	In File Explorer, go to C:\Windows\System32 and double-click gpedit.msc.

Task Manager is useful when the taskbar or Start menu isn’t responding, since it opens with a key press.

Create a desktop shortcut

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose New > Shortcut.
2. Type %windir%\System32\gpedit.msc as the location and select Next.
3. Name it Local Group Policy Editor and select Finish. Double-click the new icon to open the editor.

To keep it in Start, right-click the shortcut, select Show more options, and choose Pin to Start.

Open it inside Microsoft Management Console

Microsoft’s archived instructions for opening the local editor also describe loading it as a snap-in. This route matters when you want policy that applies only to some accounts.

1. Press Windows + R, type mmc, and press Enter. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
2. Select File > Add/Remove Snap-in.
3. Select Local Group Policy Editor (some versions list it as Group Policy Object Editor) and choose Add.
4. To edit the whole computer, leave Local Computer in place. To target accounts, select Browse, open the Users tab, and pick Administrators, Non-Administrators, or one user.

5. Select Finish, then OK. The policy tree for that object appears inside MMC.

Use File > Save As to keep this console as a file you can open again. MMC is an alternative console arrangement, not a way to make the editor available on Home.

Find and inspect a policy

Computer Configuration contains settings that apply to the PC for everyone who signs in; User Configuration contains settings for user accounts. Microsoft’s Group Policy overview explains how local settings relate to policies managed through Active Directory. When a domain policy and a local policy disagree, the domain policy wins.

Follow the exact path in the documentation for the setting you need. A policy with a similar name in the other branch can do something different.

For a worked example of one Computer Configuration policy, see how to disable the lock screen in Windows 11.

Administrative Templates has Filter Options, including keyword filters for titles and help text. Microsoft’s archived local Administrative Templates reference documents those controls. Filtering is not a universal search across every kind of policy; clear an active filter if expected template settings disappear.

If you need to change a setting

Before you change a policy, write down its path and current setting so you can set it back later.

1. Double-click the Administrative Template policy you want. Its dialog opens with the description and current setting.
2. Read what Enabled, Disabled, and Not Configured mean for that particular policy. They are policy states, not universal on/off buttons for the feature named in the title.
3. Select the documented state and fill any required options. Choose OK to save, or Cancel to leave unsaved edits behind.
4. Some policy changes need you to sign out or restart before they take effect. Afterward, check that the feature actually behaves the way you wanted.

A policy you set locally is enforced. The matching control in Settings may show as greyed out with a note that some settings are managed by your organization, even on a home PC.

If a policy refresh is specifically needed, gpupdate applies changed policies by default. gpupdate /force reapplies all policies. Microsoft’s gpupdate reference explains the difference and cases needing sign-out or restart. Save your work first, and follow your administrator’s instructions on managed devices.

If you have Windows 11 Home

Microsoft does not offer a supported way to add Local Group Policy Editor to Home. Scripts and downloads that claim to install it are not Microsoft tools, and policies set that way may be ignored. You have two supported options:

• Use Settings or the app’s own options. Many common goals, such as pausing updates or hiding taskbar items, have a control in Settings.
• Upgrade to Pro. Microsoft’s Home to Pro upgrade guide uses Settings > System > Activation. Expand Upgrade your edition of Windows, then select Open Store to buy Pro, or Change next to Change product key if you already have a Pro key. Your Home copy must be activated first.

Open Local Group Policy Editor in Windows 10

Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education use the same steps: press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Then expand Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration or User Configuration. As on Windows 11, the Home edition doesn’t include the editor, as Microsoft’s configuration-tools guide confirms. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so plan a move to Windows 11 if your PC is eligible.

Troubleshooting

Windows cannot find gpedit.msc

Check the spelling and your edition in About. On Home, the console isn’t included. On an edition that has it, try the Start search route to see whether it was a typing problem. If both fail, write down the error and contact Windows support or your IT team. Don’t download an unofficial replacement console.

The editor says you need administrative rights

Sign in with an administrator account, or enter an administrator’s password at the prompt. On a work or school PC, IT may block the editor entirely.

The editor opens, but a setting is missing

Check the documented policy path, Windows version, and the product the policy controls. Remove an Administrative Templates filter if you enabled one. A guide for a different version or an application with separate templates may describe a setting your current console does not contain.

A saved change has no visible effect

Some policies only apply after you sign out or restart. On a work or school PC, an organization policy can override your local setting, so ask IT.

Common questions

Does Not Configured undo every change?

No. For an Administrative Template, it leaves that policy unspecified at this level; it is not a promise to restore every earlier application setting. Reopen the same policy and restore the state and options you recorded. Follow its description for any further recovery steps.

Is gpedit.msc the domain management console?

No. It opens local policy on one PC. Domain administrators use the Group Policy Management Console to edit organizational policies. The local editor doesn’t give you control over your employer’s domain policies.

Can I pin Local Group Policy Editor to the taskbar?

Create the desktop shortcut above and pin it to Start, or keep the shortcut on the desktop. Typing gpedit.msc in Run is often just as quick.

Does opening the editor change anything?

No. Browsing policies is read only. Changes happen only when you select a state in a policy dialog and choose OK or Apply.

Next, look up the exact policy path for the setting you want before you open the editor.