NTFS default tier: registry value NtfsDefaultTierComputerHKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies

Policy ID: NtfsDefaultTier
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: System › Filesystem › NTFS

Registry

NtfsDefaultTier

REG_DWORDComputer

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: NTFS default tier options

Options
Item	Stored value
Capacity tier	1
Performance tier	2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies]

; Options (use only one)
; Capacity tier
"NtfsDefaultTier"=dword:00000001
; Performance tier
"NtfsDefaultTier"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Capacity tier
reg add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies" /v "NtfsDefaultTier" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Performance tier
reg add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies" /v "NtfsDefaultTier" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# Capacity tier
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies' -Name 'NtfsDefaultTier' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Performance tier
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Policies' -Name 'NtfsDefaultTier' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null