Enable Group Policy Caching for Servers: registry value EnableLogonOptimizationOnServerSKU and 2 moreComputerHKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System

Policy ID: EnableLogonOptimizationOnServerSKU
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: System › Group Policy

This policy setting allows you to configure Group Policy caching behavior on Windows Server machines.
If you enable this policy setting, Group Policy caches policy information after every background processing session. This cache saves applicable GPOs and the settings contained within them. When Group Policy runs in synchronous foreground mode, it refers to this cache, which enables it to run faster. When the cache is read, Group Policy attempts to contact a logon domain controller to determine the link speed. When Group Policy runs in background mode or asynchronous foreground mode, it continues to download the latest version of the policy information, and it uses a bandwidth estimate to determine slow link thresholds. (See the “Configure Group Policy Slow Link Detection” policy setting to configure asynchronous foreground behavior.)
The slow link value that is defined in this policy setting determines how long Group Policy will wait for a response from the domain controller before reporting the link speed as slow. The default is 500 milliseconds.
The timeout value that is defined in this policy setting determines how long Group Policy will wait for a response from the domain controller before determining that there is no network connectivity. This stops the current Group Policy processing. Group Policy will run in the background the next time a connection to a domain controller is established. Setting this value too high might result in longer waits for the user at boot or logon. The default is 5000 milliseconds.
If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the Group Policy client will not cache applicable GPOs or settings that are contained within the GPOs. When Group Policy runs synchronously, it downloads the latest version of the policy from the network and uses bandwidth estimates to determine slow link thresholds. (See the “Configure Group Policy Slow Link Detection” policy setting to configure asynchronous foreground behavior.)

See the full description on the Group Policy page ›

Registry

EnableLogonOptimizationOnServerSKU

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System 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\System]

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

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

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

PowerShell

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

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

SyncModeSlowLinkThresholdOnServerSKU

REG_DWORDComputer

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

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Slow link value:[number field] milliseconds
Value type: REG_DWORD
Maximum value: 300000

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

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

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"SyncModeSlowLinkThresholdOnServerSKU"=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\System" /v "SyncModeSlowLinkThresholdOnServerSKU" /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\System' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System' -Name 'SyncModeSlowLinkThresholdOnServerSKU' -PropertyType DWord -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null

SyncModeNoDCThresholdOnServerSKU

REG_DWORDComputer

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

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Timeout value: [number field] milliseconds
Value type: REG_DWORD
Maximum value: 600000

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

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

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"SyncModeNoDCThresholdOnServerSKU"=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\System" /v "SyncModeNoDCThresholdOnServerSKU" /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\System' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System' -Name 'SyncModeNoDCThresholdOnServerSKU' -PropertyType DWord -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null