How to clear the group policy cache on a machine
This guide provides multiple methods to reset or clear Group Policy settings on a Windows computer. Please note that these operations can have significant impacts on your system configuration. It’s recommended to create a system restore point before proceeding and to have administrator privileges.
Option 1: Manually Delete Group Policy Folders
This method involves manually deleting the Group Policy folders and forcing a policy update.
- Press
Windows Key + R
to open the Run dialog. - Type
%windir%\system32\GroupPolicy
and press Enter. - In the opened File Explorer window, locate and delete the following folders:
Machine
User
- Next, open another Run dialog and enter
%windir%\system32\GroupPolicyUsers
. - Delete all contents of this folder as well.
- Restart your computer to reapply the group policies.
- After restart, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
gpupdate /force
Alternative: Using PowerShell
For a quicker method, you can use PowerShell to remove the Group Policy folders:
- Open PowerShell as Administrator.
- Run the following commands:
Remove-Item "$env:windir\system32\GroupPolicy" -Force -Recurse
Remove-Item "$env:windir\system32\GroupPolicyUsers" -Force -Recurse
- Restart your computer and run
gpupdate /force
in an elevated Command Prompt.
Option 2: Delete Registry Keys
This method involves manually deleting specific registry keys related to Group Policy.
WARNING: Editing the registry can be risky. Make sure to back up your registry before proceeding.
- Press
Windows Key + R
, typeregedit
, and press Enter to open Registry Editor. - Navigate to and delete the following keys:
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft
HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
- Restart your computer.
- After restart, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
gpupdate /force
Option 3: Domain-Related Method
If your computer is part of a domain and you’re still experiencing issues, you can try this method:
- Open System Properties (Right-click on ‘This PC’ or ‘My Computer’ and select ‘Properties’).
- Click on ‘Change settings’ next to the computer name.
- In the ‘Computer Name’ tab, click ‘Change’.
- Select ‘Workgroup’ and enter any name (e.g., ‘WORKGROUP’).
- Restart your computer when prompted.
- After restart, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
gpupdate /force
- Repeat steps 1-3, but this time rejoin your domain.
- Restart your computer again.
Additional Steps
After performing any of these methods, you may want to:
- Clear the Group Policy cache:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Run:
RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
- Run:
RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers"
- Reset Group Policy to default:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Run:
secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\inf\defltbase.inf /db defltbase.sdb /verbose
Remember to always exercise caution when making system-level changes. If you’re unsure about any step, consult with your IT department or a qualified professional.