Do not sync start settings: registry value DisableStartLayoutSettingSync and 1 moreComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync

Policy ID: DisableStartLayoutSettingSync
Scope: Computer Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Windows Components › Sync your settings

Registry

DisableStartLayoutSettingSync

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync Current key

Enabled value: 2
Disabled value: 0

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync]

; Options (use only one)
; Enabled
"DisableStartLayoutSettingSync"=dword:00000002
; Disabled
"DisableStartLayoutSettingSync"=dword:00000000

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Enabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync" /v "DisableStartLayoutSettingSync" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Disabled
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync" /v "DisableStartLayoutSettingSync" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# Enabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync' -Name 'DisableStartLayoutSettingSync' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Disabled
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync' -Name 'DisableStartLayoutSettingSync' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null

DisableStartLayoutSettingSyncUserOverride

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync Current key

Checked: 0
Unchecked: 1
Element: Allow users to turn "start layout" syncing on.
Value type: REG_DWORD

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync]

; Options (use only one)
; Checked
"DisableStartLayoutSettingSyncUserOverride"=dword:00000000
; Unchecked
"DisableStartLayoutSettingSyncUserOverride"=dword:00000001

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Checked
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync" /v "DisableStartLayoutSettingSyncUserOverride" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
:: Unchecked
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync" /v "DisableStartLayoutSettingSyncUserOverride" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# Checked
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync' -Name 'DisableStartLayoutSettingSyncUserOverride' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
# Unchecked
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync' -Name 'DisableStartLayoutSettingSyncUserOverride' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null