Enable Protected Event Logging: registry value EnableProtectedEventLogging and 1 moreComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging

Policy ID: EnableProtectedEventLogging
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Event Logging

Registry

EnableProtectedEventLogging

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging Current key

Enabled value: 1
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"EnableProtectedEventLogging"=dword:00000001
; Disabled
"EnableProtectedEventLogging"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging" /v "EnableProtectedEventLogging" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging" /v "EnableProtectedEventLogging" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging' -Name 'EnableProtectedEventLogging' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging' -Name 'EnableProtectedEventLogging' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

EncryptionCertificate

REG_MULTI_SZComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: -
Value type: REG_MULTI_SZ
Required: true

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging]

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
; hex(2) and hex(7) data must be written as hexadecimal (UTF-16LE)
"EncryptionCertificate"=hex(7):<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\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging" /v "EncryptionCertificate" /t REG_MULTI_SZ /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\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EventLog\ProtectedEventLogging' -Name 'EncryptionCertificate' -PropertyType MultiString -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null