Permit use of Files preference extension
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
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Management Console\Restricted/Permitted snap-ins\Group Policy\Preference snap-in extensions Description
This policy setting allows you to permit or prohibit use of the Files preference extension. When a preference extension is prohibited, it does not appear in the Group Policy Management Editor window of the GPMC. If you enable this policy setting, you permit use of the preference extension. Enabling this policy setting overrides the "Restrict users to the explicitly permitted list of snap-ins" policy setting. If you disable this policy setting, you prohibit use of the preference extension. If you do not configure this policy setting, you permit use of the preference extension unless restricted by the "Restrict users to the explicitly permitted list of snap-ins" policy setting.
Registry
HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\MMC\{3BAE7E51-E3F4-41D0-853D-9BB9FD47605F} Value name: Restrict_Run
Enabled: Restrict_Run = 0
Disabled: Restrict_Run = 1
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: Permit use of Files preference extension
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MMC\{3BAE7E51-E3F4-41D0-853D-9BB9FD47605F}]
"Restrict_Run"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Permit use of Files preference extension
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MMC\{3BAE7E51-E3F4-41D0-853D-9BB9FD47605F}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Restrict_Run' -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: Permit use of Files preference extension
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MMC\{3BAE7E51-E3F4-41D0-853D-9BB9FD47605F}' -Name 'Restrict_Run' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Permit use of Files preference extension
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MMC\{3BAE7E51-E3F4-41D0-853D-9BB9FD47605F}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Restrict_Run' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Permit use of Files preference extension
# 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: Permit use of Files preference extension
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MMC\{3BAE7E51-E3F4-41D0-853D-9BB9FD47605F}' -Name 'Restrict_Run' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Permit use of Files preference extension
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional with SP2
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\MMC\{3BAE7E51-E3F4-41D0-853D-9BB9FD47605F}'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Restrict_Run' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.