Use certificate for on-premises authentication
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows 10
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Hello for Business User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Hello for Business Description
Use this policy setting to configure Windows Hello for Business to enroll a sign-in certificate used for on-premises authentication. If you enable this policy setting, Windows Hello for Business enrolls a sign-in certificate that is used for on-premises authentication. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Windows Hello for Business will use a key or a Kerberos ticket (depending on other policy settings) for on-premises authentication. NOTE: Disabling or not configuring this policy setting and enabling the "Use Windows Hello for Business" policy setting requires the environment to have one or more Windows Server 2016 domain controllers to prevent Windows Hello for Business authentication from failing.
Registry
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork Value name: UseCertificateForOnPremAuth
Enabled: UseCertificateForOnPremAuth = 1
Disabled: UseCertificateForOnPremAuth = 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. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Use certificate for on-premises authentication
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Windows 10
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork]
"UseCertificateForOnPremAuth"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use certificate for on-premises authentication
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'UseCertificateForOnPremAuth' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use certificate for on-premises authentication
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 10
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork' -Name 'UseCertificateForOnPremAuth' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use certificate for on-premises authentication
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'UseCertificateForOnPremAuth' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use certificate for on-premises authentication
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 10
# 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: Use certificate for on-premises authentication
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 10
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork' -Name 'UseCertificateForOnPremAuth' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Use certificate for on-premises authentication
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PassportForWork'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'UseCertificateForOnPremAuth' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.