Configure Local Users and Groups preference extension policy processing
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Group Policy Description
This policy setting allows you to configure when preference items in the Local Users and Groups preference extension are updated. If you enable this policy setting, you can configure processing options for Local User and Local Group preference items. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Local User and Local Group preference items are allowed to process across a slow network connection, to be applied during background processing, and to process even if the Group Policy objects (GPOs) are unchanged. By default, background processing priority is "Idle." Notes: 1. The "Allow processing across a slow network connection" option updates preference items even when the update is transmitted across a slow network connection, such as a telephone line. Updates across slow connections can cause significant delays. 2. The "Do not apply during periodic background processing" option prevents the system from updating affected preference items in the background while the computer is in use. When background updates are disabled, preference item changes do not take effect until the next user logon or system restart. 3. The "Process even if the Group Policy objects have not changed" option updates and reapplies the preference items even if the preference items have not changed. Many policy implementations specify that they are updated only when changed. However, you might want to update unchanged preference items, such as reapplying a desired preference setting in case a user has changed it.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509} 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: Configure Local Users and Groups preference extension policy processing
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}]
"NoSlowLink"=dword:00000001
"NoBackgroundPolicy"=dword:00000000
"NoGPOListChanges"=dword:00000001
"BackgroundPriorityLevel"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Local Users and Groups preference extension policy processing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoSlowLink' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoBackgroundPolicy' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoGPOListChanges' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BackgroundPriorityLevel' -Value 0 -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: Configure Local Users and Groups preference extension policy processing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}' -Name 'NoSlowLink' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}' -Name 'NoBackgroundPolicy' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}' -Name 'NoGPOListChanges' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}' -Name 'BackgroundPriorityLevel' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Local Users and Groups preference extension policy processing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoSlowLink' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoBackgroundPolicy' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoGPOListChanges' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BackgroundPriorityLevel' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Local Users and Groups preference extension policy processing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
# 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: Configure Local Users and Groups preference extension policy processing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}' -Name 'NoSlowLink' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}' -Name 'NoBackgroundPolicy' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}' -Name 'NoGPOListChanges' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}' -Name 'BackgroundPriorityLevel' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure Local Users and Groups preference extension policy processing
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{17D89FEC-5C44-4972-B12D-241CAEF74509}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoSlowLink' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoBackgroundPolicy' -Value 0 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoGPOListChanges' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BackgroundPriorityLevel' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.