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Allow signature keys valid for Logon

Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026

Windows 11 25H2

Supported on: At least Windows Vista

Path in the GPO console

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Smart Card

Description

This policy setting lets you allow signature key-based certificates to be enumerated and available for logon. If you enable this policy setting then any certificates available on the smart card with a signature only key will be listed on the logon screen. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, any available smart card signature key-based certificates will not be listed on the logon screen.

Registry

HKLM SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SmartCardCredentialProvider

Value name: AllowSignatureOnlyKeys

Enabled: AllowSignatureOnlyKeys = 1

Disabled: AllowSignatureOnlyKeys = 0

MDM / Intune (CSP)

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_Smartcard/AllowSignatureOnlyKeys
Device Since Windows 10, version 2004 with KB5005101 [10.0.19041.1202] and later | Windows 10, version 20H2 with KB5005101 [10.0.19042.1202] and later | Windows 10, version 21H1 with KB5005101 [10.0.19043.1202] and later | Windows 11, version 21H2 [10.0.22000] and later Official mapping (Microsoft Learn)

Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)

Export Builder

BETA

Configure 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: Allow signature keys valid for Logon
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Vista

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SmartCardCredentialProvider]
"AllowSignatureOnlyKeys"=dword:00000001
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow signature keys valid for Logon
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Vista

$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SmartCardCredentialProvider'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowSignatureOnlyKeys' -Value 1 -Type DWord

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