Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Security Account Manager Description
This policy enables an administrator to configure the remote usage of change user password RPC methods in security account manager(SAM). When the policy is enabled, following options are supported: Block all change password RPC methods: block remote usage of all the security account manager(SAM) change password RPC methods. Allow strong encryption change password RPC method: allow remote use of the change password RPC method which uses strong encryption and blocks remote use of weak encryption methods. Allow all change password RPC methods: allows remote usage of all the change password RPC methods irrespetive of the encryption. Default policy: 1. Domain member computers - block all change password RPC methods. 2. Domain controllers - allow strong encryption change password RPC method. Note: If the policy is disabled or not configured, the machine will use the default policy.
Registry
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM 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 SAM change password RPC methods policy
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM]
"SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy"=dword:00000002More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -Value 2 -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 SAM change password RPC methods policy
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -Expected 2 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -Value 2 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
# 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 SAM change password RPC methods policy
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -Expected 2 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -Value 2 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.