Group Policy
The latest Group Policy coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Windows 11 25H2 introduces Group Policy app removal—but does it beat Winhance for debloating?
Microsoft is giving IT administrators a long-awaited official tool to strip unwanted inbox apps from Windows 11, but only for the Enterprise and Education editions—and only with the upcoming 25H2...
Windows 11 Revives Dockable Copilot Sidebar with New Admin Block Policies
Microsoft is reviving a dockable Copilot sidebar in Windows 11, undoing a short-lived move that turned the AI assistant into a standalone web app. The returning sidebar snaps to the left or right...
Windows 11 New Policy Lets IT Admins Remove Copilot App for 28 Days
Microsoft has given IT administrators a powerful new lever to control AI on Windows 11 devices: a policy that not only removes the Copilot app but also blocks users from reinstalling it for 28 days....
How to Secure Windows 11 Pro for Hybrid Teams Using Built-in RDP, Dynamic Lock, and Group Policy
Microsoft's built-in tools in Windows 11 Pro can transform a standard PC into a secure, remotely accessible workstation, slashing the need for costly third-party software. A recent Windows Central...
Windows 11 Education, LTSC & IoT Editions Give You Back Full Privacy Control
Microsoft released Windows 11 with a clear consumer focus, but by May 2026 the operating system’s true breadth is visible only when you look past the familiar Home and Pro SKUs. Alongside those...
Windows 11 DoH Falls Back to Plain DNS by Default—Here’s How to Lock It Down
Reports circulating in enthusiast communities have reignited a debate: does Windows 11 silently revert to unencrypted DNS when its encrypted DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) fails? The answer isn't a simple yes...
Microsoft expands Windows 11 IT policy to remove more preinstalled Store apps
Enterprise IT administrators can now strip out far more of Windows 11’s preinstalled Microsoft Store apps with a single policy. Microsoft has expanded the RemoveDefaultMicrosoftStorePackages...
Windows 11 24H2/25H2 April Update Adds Policy to Auto-Remove Default Store Apps via Intune
Microsoft shipped its April 2026 non-security preview update for Windows 11, and the headliner for IT administrators is a new dynamic policy that controls removal of built-in Store apps. Available on...
Microsoft’s Copilot Cleanup: New Policy Lets Admins Uninstall the Windows 11 Copilot App
Microsoft quietly slipped a new administrative control into the April 2026 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 version 25H2: a policy that lets enterprises remove the Microsoft Copilot app from...
Windows 11’s SCOOBE Prompts Ambush Business PCs—Here’s How IT Can Shut Them Down
Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 behavior is setting off alarm bells for employees and IT administrators alike: long after a PC has been fully configured, a full-screen prompt declares, “You’re...
Microsoft Patches Windows Server Bug Causing Unwanted 2025 Upgrade Routing
Microsoft has resolved a critical Windows Server update issue that was automatically routing some Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server 2022 installations to Windows Server 2025. The bug, which...
Windows 10 Update Control: Balancing Security and Stability After End of Free Support
Windows 10's update management has entered a critical phase now that the operating system has passed its free support era. The tension between maintaining security through regular updates and...