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Updated on September 5, 2025
Windows computer administrators have to choose how to set up user and computer settings. They can use either Group Policy or Local Policy. Both tools control how a system works, but they are used in very different ways.
Understanding these differences is key to keeping a network secure and organized. Group Policy provides central control for a whole network of computers, while Local Policy only works on a single machine. This difference affects everything from security to fixing problems.
This article will help you understand when to use each tool and how they work together in your Windows system.
Key Terms to Know
- Group Policy Object (GPO): A set of rules stored on a central server. It manages users and computers across an entire network.
- Local Group Policy Object (LGPO): A set of rules stored on an individual computer. It only affects that one machine.
- Domain Controller: A central server that manages a network. It controls which users and computers can connect and sends out GPOs.
- Precedence: The order in which policies are applied. The policy with higher precedence wins if there’s a conflict.
- Active Directory (AD): Microsoft’s main tool for organizing all the computers, users, and other resources on a network.
How to Modernize Your AD Instance
The IT Professional’s Roadmap to Augmenting or Replacing AD
Group Policy: Centralized Control
How it Works
Group Policy is for a whole network. A GPO can apply to all users and computers that are part of a network with an Active Directory. This central approach makes sure all the computers have the same security settings.
When a computer on the network starts up or a user logs in, the computer automatically gets and applies GPOs from the central server. The rules are applied based on where the computer is in the network’s organization.
How to Manage it
GPOs are created and managed using a special tool on a Windows Server. All changes are made on the central server and are then copied to other servers on the network.
Administrators can link GPOs to different parts of the network’s structure. This allows them to control which users and computers get which settings.
Which Rule Wins?
Group Policy has a higher precedence than Local Policy. This means that if a setting is set in both a GPO and an LGPO, the GPO’s rule will be the one that is used. A central rule will always override a local one. This makes sure that the central team has the final say over all computers.
Local Policy: For a Single Computer
How it Works
Local Policy only works on a single computer. It is used for machines that are not part of a larger network. It is also useful for when you need a specific rule for one computer that is different from the network’s rules.
How to Manage it
Local Policy is managed with a tool called the Local Group Policy Editor. This tool is on most Windows computers. All changes are made directly on that one computer and are not sent to any other machines on the network. An administrator has to physically go to each computer or use a special remote tool to change its local policy.
Which Rule Wins?
Local Policy has the lowest precedence. It is applied first. This means that any rule set by a central GPO will override a conflicting Local Policy rule.
Fixing Problems and Things to Consider
- Policy Conflicts: The most common problem is when a local rule is different from a central rule. Remember, the central rule from the GPO always wins. You can use a special tool to see which rules are actually being applied.
- Non-Replication: Changes made to a local policy on one computer do not go to any other computers. This can cause some machines to have different settings than others. It’s a good idea to write down any local changes you make.
- Precedence Order: Remember that the central rules (GPOs) always override the local rules (LGPOs). This is the most important thing to remember when you are trying to figure out why a policy isn’t working as you expected.
Making the Right Choice
Choose Group Policy for managing a whole network where all computers need to have the same rules. Use Local Policy for single computers or when you need a rule that only applies to one machine.
Understanding both of these tools lets you design a system that meets your company’s security and management needs while keeping things running smoothly.
