Allow user profile registry hives and AppData from non-standard paths
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on September 15, 2026 Supported on: At least Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 2004
Shipped in a Windows update: not in the official ADMX package (Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 Oct 2025 Update), present no later than KB5124008 (build 26200.9445).
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\User Profiles Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System - Value name:
-
AllowNonStandardUserProfilePathsREG_DWORD - Enabled:
1- Disabled:
0
Description
This policy setting controls whether user profile registry hives and AppData folder locations are allowed to accept non-standard path formats. If you enable this policy setting, user profile locations accept a wider range of file path formats. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, user profile locations accept only standard Windows folder paths. Note: Enabling this setting can expose the system to security risks. Enable it only if a specific application in your organization requires it, and only after evaluating all the risks for your environment.
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: Allow user profile registry hives and AppData from non-standard paths
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 2004
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System]
"AllowNonStandardUserProfilePaths"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow user profile registry hives and AppData from non-standard paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 2004
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowNonStandardUserProfilePaths' -Value 1 -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: Allow user profile registry hives and AppData from non-standard paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 2004
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System' -Name 'AllowNonStandardUserProfilePaths' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow user profile registry hives and AppData from non-standard paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 2004
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowNonStandardUserProfilePaths' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow user profile registry hives and AppData from non-standard paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 2004
# 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: Allow user profile registry hives and AppData from non-standard paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 2004
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System' -Name 'AllowNonStandardUserProfilePaths' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow user profile registry hives and AppData from non-standard paths
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 Version 2004
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowNonStandardUserProfilePaths' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.