UAC: Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
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\UAC Description
This setting allows UIAccess applications to display elevation prompts on the interactive desktop instead of the secure desktop. It is disabled by default on Windows clients. Enabling it can support remote-assistance and accessibility workflows, but exposes the prompt to processes running on the user desktop.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System Value name: EnableUIADesktopToggle
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: UAC: Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
; State: Enabled
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"EnableUIADesktopToggle"=dword:00000001
"EnableUIADesktopToggle"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: UAC: Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -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: UAC: Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: UAC: Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: UAC: Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
# 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: UAC: Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: UAC: Allow UIAccess applications to prompt for elevation without using the secure desktop
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'EnableUIADesktopToggle' -Value 0 -Type DWord