How to Reset Local Group Policies and Security Policies in Windows

Group policies and security policies in Windows allow administrators to control various system configurations. At times, there may be a need to reset these settings, especially if they’re causing system issues. In this guide, we’ll explain how to reset local group policies and security policies in Windows.

Why You May Need to Reset Group Policies

Resetting local group policies can be useful in the following scenarios:

  • Errors in settings causing system instability;
  • Removing policy restrictions that interfere with program functionality;
  • Preparing a computer for a new configuration or transfer to another user;
  • Fixing issues after manual policy changes.

Methods to Reset Local Group Policies and Security Policies

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

One of the simplest ways to reset group policies is by using Command Prompt.

  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
  2. To reset group policy settings, enter the following command:
RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
  1. To reset security policies, use this command:
secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\inf\defltbase.inf /db defltbase.sdb /verbose

These commands will remove current group policy settings and reset system security parameters to their default state.

Method 2: Resetting Through the Local Group Policy Editor

Another approach is manually removing settings through the Local Group Policy Editor:

  1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to Computer Configuration and User Configuration, and locate all manually modified settings.
  3. Set these settings back to “Not Configured” to disable the policy.

This method is useful if you only need to reset specific settings without affecting the entire system configuration.

Method 3: Editing the Registry

Warning: Editing the registry can lead to unexpected consequences, so proceed with caution and back up the registry first.

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Go to the following paths and delete the GroupPolicy folders:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\

Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.