Configure Client BranchCache Version Support: registry value PreferredContentInformationVersionComputerHKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\Service\Versioning

Policy ID: SetDowngrading
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Network › BranchCache

Registry

PreferredContentInformationVersion

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\Service\Versioning Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Select from the following versions:

Options
Item	Stored value
Windows Vista with BITS 4.0 installed, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2	1
Windows 8	2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\Service\Versioning]

; Options (use only one)
; Windows Vista with BITS 4.0 installed, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2
"PreferredContentInformationVersion"=dword:00000001
; Windows 8
"PreferredContentInformationVersion"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Windows Vista with BITS 4.0 installed, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\Service\Versioning" /v "PreferredContentInformationVersion" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Windows 8
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\Service\Versioning" /v "PreferredContentInformationVersion" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\Service\Versioning' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Windows Vista with BITS 4.0 installed, Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 R2
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\Service\Versioning' -Name 'PreferredContentInformationVersion' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Windows 8
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\Service\Versioning' -Name 'PreferredContentInformationVersion' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null