Run Windows PowerShell scripts first at computer startup, shutdown

Policy ID
Run_Computer_PS_Scripts_First
Scope
Computer Configuration
Supported on
At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Source
Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category
System › Scripts

Description

This policy setting determines whether Windows PowerShell scripts are run before non-Windows PowerShell scripts during computer startup and shutdown. By default, Windows PowerShell scripts run after non-Windows PowerShell scripts.

If you enable this policy setting, within each applicable Group Policy Object (GPO), Windows PowerShell scripts are run before non-Windows PowerShell scripts during computer startup and shutdown.

For example, assume the following scenario:

There are three GPOs (GPO A, GPO B, and GPO C). This policy setting is enabled in GPO A.

GPO B and GPO C include the following computer startup scripts:

GPO B: B.cmd, B.ps1
GPO C: C.cmd, C.ps1

Assume also that there are two computers, DesktopIT and DesktopSales.
For DesktopIT, GPOs A, B, and C are applied. Therefore, the scripts for GPOs B and C run in the following order for DesktopIT:

Within GPO B: B.ps1, B.cmd
Within GPO C: C.ps1, C.cmd

For DesktopSales, GPOs B and C are applied, but not GPO A. Therefore, the scripts for GPOs B and C run in the following order for DesktopSales:

Within GPO B: B.cmd, B.ps1
Within GPO C: C.cmd, C.ps1

Note: This policy setting determines the order in which computer startup and shutdown scripts are run within all applicable GPOs. You can override this policy setting for specific script types within a specific GPO by configuring the following policy settings for the GPO:

Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)\Startup
Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)\Shutdown

Registry

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  • RunComputerPSScriptsFirstREG_DWORD

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