How to Check Applied Group Policy Objects (GPOs) on a Computer

Introduction

Understanding how to check Group Policy Objects (GPO) applied on a computer can help troubleshoot issues and ensure the desired configurations are in place. Group Policy is a feature in Microsoft Windows that allows administrators to manage and configure settings for users and computers in a centralized manner.

Checking GPO applied on a computer

There are several methods to check GPO applied on a computer. In this section, we will discuss three commonly used methods.

Method 1: Using the Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is a powerful tool that can be used to check GPO applied on a computer. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key + R, typing “cmd,” and then pressing Enter.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type “gpresult /r” (without quotes) and press Enter.

3. Wait for the command to finish running. It will display a list of applied GPOs along with other information like the user and computer information.

4. Analyze the output to determine which GPOs are applied and whether they are applied successfully.

Method 2: Using the Group Policy Results Wizard

The Group Policy Results Wizard is a graphical tool that provides an easy way to check GPO applied on a computer. Here’s how to use it:

1. Press the Windows key + R, type “rsop.msc,” and press Enter to open the Group Policy Results Wizard.

2. In the Group Policy Results Wizard window, click on “Next” to begin the process.

3. Select the “Another computer” option and enter the computer’s name or browse for it.

4. Choose the user for which you want to check GPOs, or leave it blank to include all users.

5. Click on “Finish” to generate the Group Policy Results report.

6. The report will display the applied GPOs, their settings, and any errors or warnings associated with them.

Method 3: Using the Group Policy Management Console

The Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is a powerful tool for managing and monitoring Group Policy in a Windows environment. Follow these steps to check GPO applied on a computer using the GPMC:

1. Press the Windows key + R, type “gpmc.msc,” and press Enter to open the Group Policy Management Console.

2. Expand the forest and domain where the computer is located.

3. Navigate to the “Group Policy Results” node.

4. Right-click on “Group Policy Results” and select “Group Policy Results Wizard.”

5. Follow the steps in the Group Policy Results Wizard to generate the report.

6. The report will provide detailed information about the applied GPOs, their settings, and any errors or warnings.

By utilizing these methods, you can easily check the GPOs applied on a computer and ensure that the desired configurations are in place. This knowledge will help you troubleshoot any issues and maintain a well-managed IT environment.

Using gpresult Command

One of the easiest ways to check the Group Policy Objects (GPOs) applied to a computer is by using the gpresult command in either Command Prompt or PowerShell. This command allows you to generate a detailed report that includes all the GPOs currently applied to the computer.

To use the gpresult command, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt or PowerShell

To begin, open either Command Prompt or PowerShell on your computer. You can do this by searching for “Command Prompt” or “PowerShell” in the Windows search bar and clicking on the corresponding application.

Step 2: Run the gpresult Command

Once you have opened Command Prompt or PowerShell, you are ready to run the gpresult command. Simply type “gpresult” followed by the appropriate parameters, and then press Enter.

The basic syntax of the gpresult command is as follows:

gpresult /


Here are some commonly used parameters:


  
/r or /user <username>: Retrieves the GPOs applied to a specific user.
  
/scope <computer> or /scope <user>: Specifies whether to view the GPOs applied to the computer or the current user.
  
/h <filename>: Saves the gpresult report as an HTML file.
  
/s <computername>: Retrieves the gpresult from a remote computer.


For example, if you want to generate an HTML report of the GPOs applied to the current user, you can use the following command:

gpresult /h C:\GPO_Report.html

This command will create a file named "GPO_Report.html" on your C: drive, which you can then open in a web browser to view the GPO results.
Step 3: Interpret the GPO Report
Once you have executed the gpresult command, you will receive a detailed report showing all the GPOs applied to the computer or user, depending on the parameters you specified. This report includes information such as the GPO name, scope, applied time, and other relevant details.

You can analyze this report to understand which GPOs are currently in effect and how they are affecting the computer or user. This can be useful for troubleshooting GPO-related issues or verifying the successful application of specific GPOs.
By using the gpresult command, you can easily check the GPOs applied to a computer or user, providing valuable insights into the current Group Policy configuration. Whether you are an IT professional or a regular computer user, this command can help you understand the GPOs that are influencing your system settings and user experience.
Filtering gpresult Output



When troubleshooting Group Policy issues on a computer, it is often helpful to filter the gpresult output to provide more targeted information. By using various parameters such as user or computer scope, specific organizational units, or security groups, you can effectively narrow down the results and focus on the relevant Group Policy settings applied to the computer.
One common parameter to use when filtering gpresult output is the user or computer scope. By specifying the /user or /computer parameter followed by the appropriate username or computer name, you can limit the output to only the Group Policy settings applied to that specific user or computer. This can be particularly useful when troubleshooting issues that are specific to a particular user or computer.
Another way to filter the gpresult output is by specifying a specific organizational unit (OU). An organizational unit is a container within Active Directory where you can organize users, computers, and other objects. By using the /ou parameter followed by the distinguished name (DN) of the desired OU, you can narrow down the results to only the Group Policy settings applied to users or computers within that specific OU.
Furthermore, you can also filter the gpresult output based on security groups. Security groups are collections of users, computers, or other groups that are used to assign permissions and access controls in Active Directory. By using the /gpcontainer parameter followed by the security group's name, you can restrict the output to only the Group Policy settings applied to users or computers within that particular security group.
For example, if you wanted to filter the gpresult output to only show the Group Policy settings applied to a specific user named "John Doe," you would use the following command:
```

gpresult /user "John Doe"

```
If you wanted to filter the output to only show the Group Policy settings applied to a specific OU named "Sales," you would use the following command:
```

gpresult /ou "OU=Sales,DC=yourdomain,DC=com"

```
Similarly, if you wanted to filter the output to only show the Group Policy settings applied to a specific security group named "Marketing Team," you would use the following command:
```

gpresult /gpcontainer "Marketing Team"

```
By filtering the gpresult output using these parameters, you can obtain more targeted information about the Group Policy settings applied to a computer. This can be highly beneficial when troubleshooting Group Policy-related issues or when you need to verify that the appropriate Group Policy settings are being applied to specific users or computers in your organization.
Overall, filtering the gpresult output provides a more focused view of the Group Policy settings and simplifies the troubleshooting process. Whether you need to troubleshoot a specific user or computer, analyze Group Policy settings within a specific OU, or inspect settings applied to a particular security group, utilizing these filtering parameters can significantly enhance your ability to manage and troubleshoot Group Policy settings effectively.
Inspecting Event Viewer Logs



When troubleshooting Group Policy Object (GPO) issues or simply wanting to verify that the correct policies are applied to your computer, inspecting the Event Viewer logs can provide valuable information. The Event Viewer is a built-in Windows tool that logs various system events, including GPO application.
To access the Event Viewer, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type "eventvwr.msc" (without quotes) in the Run dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Event Viewer.
The Event Viewer is divided into three main sections: Windows Logs, Applications and Services Logs, and Subscriptions. To inspect GPO-related events, navigate to the following path:
3. Expand the Windows Logs folder and click on the "System" log.
4. In the middle pane, you will find a list of events. Look for events with the source "GroupPolicy" or "GroupPolicy-Guid." These are the events related to GPO application.
Event ID: Every event in the Event Viewer is assigned a unique Event ID. Some common Event IDs related to GPO application are:
- Event ID 1502: Indicates that a user profile service is starting.
- Event ID 1508: Indicates that a user profile service is loading the user's configuration.
- Event ID 1509: Indicates that a user profile service has successfully loaded the user's configuration.
- Event ID 1512: Indicates that a user profile service has started a new logon session.
- Event ID 1058: Indicates that a GPO has been successfully applied.
- Event ID 1085: Indicates that a GPO has encountered an error during application.
Additional Details:
Inspecting the Event Viewer logs allows you to examine the sequence of events during GPO application. You can view the timestamps, Event IDs, and any additional information provided in the event description. This information can help identify any errors or warnings that occurred during the GPO application process.
Furthermore, you can filter the events based on specific criteria to narrow down your search. For example, you can filter by Event ID, source, or date to focus on relevant events.
It's worth noting that the Event Viewer logs can contain a large amount of data, and it may take some time to find the specific GPO-related events. However, being patient and thorough in your search can lead to valuable insights and troubleshooting information.
Using Group Policy Results Wizard

The Group Policy Results Wizard in the Group Policy Management Console is a powerful tool that allows you to easily analyze the GPOs applied to a specific user or computer. It provides a user-friendly interface to view all the policies applied, along with any errors or warnings that may have occurred.
To use the Group Policy Results Wizard, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Group Policy Management Console

First, you need to open the Group Policy Management Console. You can do this by clicking on the "Start" button, then typing "Group Policy Management" in the search bar, and selecting the appropriate result.
Step 2: Connect to the Domain

Once the Group Policy Management Console is open, you need to connect to your domain. Right-click on "Group Policy Management," select "Change Domain Controller," and choose the appropriate domain controller to connect to.
Step 3: Navigate to "Group Policy Results"

Next, expand the "Forest" and "Domains" sections to find the domain for which you want to analyze the GPOs. Right-click on the domain, select "Group Policy Results," and choose "Group Policy Results Wizard."
Step 4: Specify the User or Computer

In the Group Policy Results Wizard window, click on the "Next" button to begin. Then, select the option to "Use the computer or user scope" and enter the appropriate user or computer account for which you want to check the applied GPOs. You can also choose to use the currently logged-on user or computer.
Step 5: Review Results

Once you have specified the user or computer, click on the "Next" button to start the analysis process. The Group Policy Results Wizard will gather information on the GPOs applied, along with any errors or warnings that may have occurred. After the analysis is complete, you'll be presented with a detailed report.
The report will include information such as the applied GPOs, the time they were last applied, the source GPOs, any errors or warnings, and a summary of the policy settings. This information can help you identify any issues or conflicts with the GPOs and troubleshoot them accordingly.
By using the Group Policy Results Wizard, you can easily check the GPOs applied on a specific user or computer and ensure that they are being applied correctly. This can be especially useful in troubleshooting policy-related issues and ensuring the desired settings are being enforced.