Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Defender Antivirus Description
This policy setting controls whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins. For end users (that are not Local Admins) exclusions are not visible, whether or not this setting is enabled. Disabled(Default): If you disable or do not configure this setting, Local Admins will be able to see exclusions in the Windows Security App or via PowerShell. Enabled: If you enable this setting, Local Admins will no longer be able to see the exclusion list in Windows Security App or via PowerShell. Note: Applying this setting will not remove exclusions, it will only prevent them from being visible to Local Admins. This is reflected in Get-MpPreference.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Value name: HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins
Enabled: HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins = 1
Disabled: HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins = 0
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: Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender]
"HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins' -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: Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
# 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: Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Control whether or not exclusions are visible to Local Admins
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1607
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'HideExclusionsFromLocalAdmins' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.