Primary DNS suffix devolution level: registry value EnableDevolutionLevelControl and 1 moreComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient

Policy ID: DNS_DomainNameDevolutionLevel
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows 2000
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Network › DNS Client

Registry

EnableDevolutionLevelControl

-Computer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient Current key

DomainNameDevolutionLevel

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Set the primary DNS suffix devolution level
Value type: REG_DWORD
Minimum value: 2
Maximum value: 4294967200

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient]

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"DomainNameDevolutionLevel"=dword:<enter value>

CMD

:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient" /v "DomainNameDevolutionLevel" /t REG_DWORD /d "<enter value>" /f

PowerShell

# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient' -Name 'DomainNameDevolutionLevel' -PropertyType DWord -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null