Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon
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\Recovery console Description
This setting allows Recovery Console access without first supplying the local Administrator password. It is disabled by default. Enabling it simplifies offline recovery but gives anyone with physical or console access a more powerful path into the installation.
Registry
Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole Value name: SecurityLevel
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: Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon
; State: Enabled
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole]
"SecurityLevel"=dword:00000001
"SecurityLevel"=dword:00000000 More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Value 0 -Type DWord Intune 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: Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole' -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole' -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Value 0 -Type DWord SCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon
# 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: Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole' -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole' -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Recovery console: Allow automatic administrative logon
# State: Enabled
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'SecurityLevel' -Value 0 -Type DWord