Will Installing 'Group Policy' on Home Edition Cause Problems?

yahanna · 17 Jun 2018

I got win 10 home edition. Of course it doesnt come with Group Policy since I dont have the pro edition. But I can install it. But if I do will it give problems?

spunk · 17 Jun 2018

It shouldn't be a problem: How to Install Group Policy Editor in Windows 10 Home Edition

Brink · 17 Jun 2018

Just to note, while you will be able to successfully install the Local Group Policy Editor on an unsupported edition of Windows 10, it won't actually apply any configured policies.

You can set policies via Registry Editor instead though.

Download Group Policy Settings Reference Spreadsheet Windows 1803 from Official Microsoft Download Center

yahanna · 17 Jun 2018

Brink said:

Just to note, while you will be able to successfully install the Local Group Policy Editor on an unsupported edition of Windows 10, it won't actually apply any configured policies.

You can set policies via Registry Editor instead though.

Download Group Policy Settings Reference Spreadsheet Windows 1803 from Official Microsoft Download Center

Hi brink,

I'm confused. Are you saying GPE installed in home is useless since I won't be able to make any settings changes? And the only way to make policy changes is through the registry from the spreadsheet?

If that's the case, can I use the regisrty info from the spreadsheet without installing GPE? Or do I need GPE?

Steve C · 18 Jun 2018

yahanna said:

I got win 10 home edition. Of course it doesnt come with Group Policy since I dont have the pro edition. But I can install it. But if I do will it give problems?

I found quite a cheap upgrade key to Pro on Amazon - but be careful to check out the supplier since there are some dodgy dealers.

cereberus · 18 Jun 2018

yahanna said:

Hi brink,

I'm confused. Are you saying GPE installed in home is useless since I won't be able to make any settings changes? And the only way to make policy changes is through the registry from the spreadsheet?

If that's the case, can I use the regisrty info from the spreadsheet without installing GPE? Or do I need GPE?

You do not need GPE - just edit registry direct.

Brink · 18 Jun 2018

yahanna said:

Hi brink,

I'm confused. Are you saying GPE installed in home is useless since I won't be able to make any settings changes? And the only way to make policy changes is through the registry from the spreadsheet?

If that's the case, can I use the regisrty info from the spreadsheet without installing GPE? Or do I need GPE?

Correct, GPE would be useless in an unsupported edition. You would only need to use Registry Editor.

reddice · 18 Jun 2018

When I first got W10 I missed Pro as my laptop only had pro so I was a bit peeved that MS did not offer a upgrade from W8 to W10 Pro like they did with W7. There were only certain tweaks that I needed to do and every darn solution required GPE and Pro until I started to use Winaero Tweaker. Now I don't miss Pro.