The Group Policy Editor is a tool that IT administrators can use on Windows 10 and 11 to modify advanced (system and app) settings to regulate and restrict the environment for users to adhere to organizational policies. Additionally, more experienced users frequently utilize the tool to modify the desktop environment by activating and removing specific features. In this article, we shall discuss how to search Group Policy for a specific Setting in Windows 10 and 11. Please see How to disable IE via Group Policy or Windows Registry Settings and Unable to find File Explorer in the Group Policy Editor when resolving security tab missing under properties.
Although customizing advanced settings is made simple by the policy editor, Windows 10 and 11 have a huge number of policies that may be hard to locate if you don’t know where to look.
But if you have to use the Group Policy Editor to change system settings and you’re unsure of the policy’s location or specific name, the console has a search function that lets you find almost any setting fast. To search for details about specific settings, you may also utilize the Microsoft Group Policy search website.
How to search Group Policy
A Group Policy Object can be accessed in several different ways. You can use any of the following methods:
- Using Group Policy Filter on the computer
- Using Group Policy Search Website
- NIT-GPOSearch Tool
- Offline Group Policy Sheet
Other related guides on group policy: How to block upgrade to Windows 11 through Local Group Policy or Registry Editor from Windows 10, and How to disable Lock Screen on Windows 10 via Local Group Policy Editor.
How to search for a specific policy using Group Policy Filter
To find a specific or set of policies in Group Policy Search, use these steps:
Press Windows key + R key to open the Run dialog box and enter gpedit.msc to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Under the “Computer Configuration” or “User Configuration” branch, right-click the topic you want to search (for example, Administrative Templates) and select Filter Options.
Select the type of policy settings to display, including Managed, Configured, and Commented. Check the Enable Keyword Filters option.
In the “Filter for words field,” enter the search keyword(s) and the Any option selected. For example, “BitLocker” to all the available settings for BitLocker.
If you want to narrow down the search, you can limit the search using the Within options, including Policy Setting Title, Help Text, and Comment.
- If you want, you can check the Enable Requirements Filters option.
- Select the platform and application filters. For example, Windows 10 operating systems. And click the OK button.
- Select the All Settings item from the left pane.
Once you complete the steps, all the policies matching the search query will appear on the right side, which you can then open to edit as necessary.
If you want to remove the filter, right-click the All Settings, and select the Filter On option, or close the Group Policy Editor.
However, you can keep choosing the Filter On option to repeatedly run the same find query as long as you don’t reset the filters on the “Filter Options” tab.
How to search for a specific policy using a group policy search website
Microsoft also hosts a website in the Azure cloud that includes an up-to-date database with all the available policies for various products, including Windows 10.
To search for a policy on the Microsoft website, use these steps:
Visit the Group Policy Search website. Type a keyword or phrase (for example, BitLocker) in the search box and press Enter. Scroll right, and under the “Search result” column, select the category containing the policy (if applicable).
Select the policy from the middle to learn more about the policy, including its path in the Group Policy Editor.
Although the website is useful, you have to know the Group Policy Search you want since the result may include settings for various products, including Windows, Windows Server, and Office, among others.
How to search using NIT-GPOSearch Tool
It is a free tool with a significant benefit. Additionally, it can show the registry keys for a policy. Every Group Policy has a registry entry, and knowing the policy’s registry entry and the policy itself may be helpful.
Launch the program from the application menu after installation. A search bar will be available for you to enter the policy’s description. It will search C:\Windows\Policy Definitions for the policy name. This folder contains all the policies in admx and adml format.
A preview will appear when you hover over each and provide additional information about the Group Policy Search. Overall, it’s a great solution, but give some time for the search because it might be slow.
How to search for a specific policy using the GP Reference Sheet
Microsoft offers an official Excel sheet with all the policies for its supported Windows versions and the online database. The Excel spreadsheet is available for free download from the Microsoft website and may be carried about.
This strategy is beneficial when you don’t have access to the Internet, or it is restricted. The Excel file includes all the information, including policy explanation, target registry key, policy scope, etc., just like the online database.
Use the regular keyboard shortcut CTRL + F keyword to find a specific Group Policy Search.
Conclusion
There you have all the methods to quickly sort through the group policy editor. I hope you found this blog post helpful. Please let me know in the comment session if you have any questions on Group Policy Search.
I hope you found this article useful on how to search Group Policy for a specific Setting in Windows 10 and 11. Please feel free to leave a comment below.