The Local Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool that gives users running Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise a relatively easy way to customize advanced options that are usually not configurable through the Settings app (or Control Panel).
However, on a shared computer scenario, no matter whether you use "Computer Configuration" or "User Configuration," policy changes will always apply to every user account on your device, and there isn't an option to assign those changes to specific users.
If you're looking to change advanced settings on Windows 10, but you want to apply them to a specific user or group, you can still accomplish this task using the Microsoft Management Console (mmc.exe).
In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to apply policy changes only to a particular user or group.
How to apply policy changes to specific users
To customize advanced settings for other users on Windows 10, and not globally, use the following steps:
- Open Start.
- Search for mmc.exe and click the result.
- Click on File.
Select the Add/Remove Snap-in option.
- Under "Available snap-ins," select Group Policy Object Editor.
Click the Add button.
Click the Browse button.
- Click the Users tab, which will display the users and groups compatible with Local Group Policy.
Depending on what you're trying to accomplish, select the user or group of users to which you want to apply a particular setting. (For the purpose of this guide, we'll be selecting a specific user account.)
- In the case that you're trying to change settings for users with a Standard user account, select Non-Administrators from the list.
- Click OK.
Click Finish.
- Click OK.
- Click File.
- Select the Save As option.
- Pick a name and save the console in a location you'll remember.
Once you complete the steps, you can make policy changes as you would normally, but using the console you just created the changes will only apply to the user or group you specified with the steps mentioned above.
Here are a few examples you can use to try these steps:
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- How to disable access to Windows 10's Settings app and Control Panel
This guide focuses on Windows 10, but you can use the same instructions for Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and earlier versions.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
