Allow theme files from network locations
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Desktop Description
This policy setting determines whether remote paths can be used for resources inside of a Windows desktop theme (.theme/.themepack) file. If you enable this policy setting, theme files can reference resources (such as images, sounds, and icons) located on network shares or other remote locations. Users will be able to apply themes that contain remote resources. If you disable this policy setting, theme files cannot use remote resources. Any theme file that references remote resources will fail to load those resources, and only local resources will be displayed. If you do not configure this policy setting, the default behavior is to block remote resources in theme files for security reasons.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Themes Value name: EnableThemeFileRemoteResource
Enabled: EnableThemeFileRemoteResource = 1
Disabled: EnableThemeFileRemoteResource = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_Desktop/EnableThemeFileRemoteResource Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Allow theme files from network locations
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Themes]
"EnableThemeFileRemoteResource"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow theme files from network locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Themes'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableThemeFileRemoteResource' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_Desktop/EnableThemeFileRemoteResource
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow theme files from network locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Themes' -Name 'EnableThemeFileRemoteResource' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow theme files from network locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Themes'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableThemeFileRemoteResource' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow theme files from network locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow theme files from network locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Themes' -Name 'EnableThemeFileRemoteResource' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow theme files from network locations
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows 11 Version 22H2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Themes'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableThemeFileRemoteResource' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.