Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers
Verified with Windows Security Options 25H2 — updated on July 13, 2026
Security policy
This is a Security Options policy (Windows Settings > Security Settings), applied by the security engine — not an Administrative Template (ADMX). In GPMC/gpedit it is configured under Local Policies > Security Options.
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\Devices Description
This setting controls whether non-administrators may install printer drivers. It is enabled by default on domain controllers and disabled by default on member computers. Enabling it reduces the risk of untrusted driver installation but can prevent users from adding printers that require a new driver.
Registry
HKLM
System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers Value name: AddPrinterDrivers
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. ⓘ
Security policy setting: a domain GPO (Security Settings) can overwrite this registry value at the next policy refresh. Prefer configuring it via GPMC > Security Options.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers
; State: Enabled
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers]
"AddPrinterDrivers"=dword:00000001
"AddPrinterDrivers"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -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: Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers
# State: Enabled
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers' -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers' -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers
# State: Enabled
# 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: Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers
# State: Enabled
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers' -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers' -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AddPrinterDrivers' -Value 0 -Type DWord