Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy: registry value SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicyComputerHKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM

Policy ID: SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: -
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: System › Security Account Manager

Registry

SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Options for Sam password change RPC method policy:

Options
Item	Stored value
Block all change password RPC methods	1
Allow strong encryption change password RPC method only	2
Allow all change password RPC methods	3

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM]

; Options (use only one)
; Block all change password RPC methods
"SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy"=dword:00000001
; Allow strong encryption change password RPC method only
"SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy"=dword:00000002
; Allow all change password RPC methods
"SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy"=dword:00000003

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Block all change password RPC methods
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM" /v "SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Allow strong encryption change password RPC method only
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM" /v "SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Allow all change password RPC methods
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM" /v "SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Block all change password RPC methods
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Allow strong encryption change password RPC method only
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Allow all change password RPC methods
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null