Disable password strength validation for Peer Grouping
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Vista
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Network\Microsoft Peer-to-Peer Networking Services Description
By default, when a Peer Group is created that allows for password-authentication (or the password for such a Group is changed), Peer Grouping validates that the password meets the password complexity requirements for the local system. Thus, it will not allow any passwords to be used for a Peer Group that are weaker than what would be allowed for a login password. This setting controls this validation behavior. If set to 1, then this validation will not be performed and any password will be allowed. If set to 0, the validation will be performed.
Registry
HKLM
Software\policies\Microsoft\Peernet Value name: IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups
Enabled: IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups = 1
Disabled: IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups = 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: Disable password strength validation for Peer Grouping
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Vista
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\policies\Microsoft\Peernet]
"IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable password strength validation for Peer Grouping
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\policies\Microsoft\Peernet'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups' -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: Disable password strength validation for Peer Grouping
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\policies\Microsoft\Peernet' -Name 'IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable password strength validation for Peer Grouping
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\policies\Microsoft\Peernet'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable password strength validation for Peer Grouping
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
# 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: Disable password strength validation for Peer Grouping
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\policies\Microsoft\Peernet' -Name 'IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable password strength validation for Peer Grouping
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\policies\Microsoft\Peernet'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'IgnoreDomainPasswordPolicyForNewGroups' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.