In this post, we will see how to backup and restore Group Policy Objects and Settings in Windows 11/10 or Windows Server. To do this, you will need to download and install Group Policy Management Console first.
Backup and Restore Group Policy Objects in Windows
Once you have done this, Run gpmc.msc and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Management Console or GPMC. Do note that you will have to be logged in using domain credentials.
As mentioned in our last post, the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) is not to be confused with the Group Policy Management Console (gpmc.msc). GPEDIT works with the registry settings of your local system, whereas GPMC is a server administration tool for domain-based networks.
To back up all the Group Policy Objects or settings, in the console tree, expand the forest or domain that contains the GPOs you want to back up. Next, right-click the Group Policy Objects container.
In the context menu that opens, select Back Up All. You will be asked to enter the path to the location at which you want to store the backup. Enter the path or browse to the folder location. Type a description and then finally click Backup.
The backup operation will start and complete in its due course.
To back up a specific Group Policy Object, right-click the specific GPO and click Back Up.
Manage GPO backups
To manage GPO backups, right-click the Group Policy Objects container and select Manage Backups dialog box, click Browse, locate the folder that contains your GPO backups, and then click OK.
Restore Group Policy Object
To restore a Group Policy Object, in the GPMC console tree, expand the forest or domain that contains the GPOs you want to restore.
Next, expand the Group Policy Objects container, right-click the GPO you want to restore to a previous version, and then click Restore from Backup.
The Restore Group Policy Object Wizard will appear.
Follow the on-screen instructions and click Finish.
To restore a deleted Group Policy Object, select the Manage Backups option from the context menu > Click Browse > Locate the file system that contains your backed-up GPOs. Select the GPO that you want to restore, and then click Restore.
Those not familiar may want to have a look at this Group Policy for Beginners Guide.
I hope this helps!
Which tool is used to Backup only a GPO?
You may use the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to back up a specific Group Policy Object in Windows. GPMC provides a user-friendly interface for managing and backing up individual GPOs. Alternatively, you may use PowerShell to back up a GPO to a specific directory. Open PowerShell with administrative privileges and execute the following command: backup-gpo -Name [GPO_Name] -Path [GPO_Path]-Comment "Weekly Backup".
Where are GPO policy files stored?
The SYSVOL directory and the Active Directory database are the two primary locations where GPO policy files are stored. The SYSVOL directory stores the server copy of the domain’s public files, whereas the Active Directory database (NTDS.dit) stores the actual settings for each GPO. To view GPO files within the SYSVOL Folder, open File Explorer and navigate to \\<domain>\SYSVOL\<domain>\Policies. To view GPO files within the Active Directory database, open ADSI Edit (Administrative Tools) and navigate to CN=Policies,CN=System,<domain>.
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