How to block user settings in Windows 11

How to block settings access on Windows 11

If you are using Windows 11 Home edition, your best option for blocking settings access on Windows 11 is to use the registry. You can set a registry key to restrict users' access to settings through their user accounts.

Note: Editing the registry can be risky and can cause instability or a non-working PC if incorrect values ​​are entered. Before making any changes, back up the registry, create a restore point, or perform a complete backup of the system first.

Use these steps to block users from accessing Settings on Windows 11:

1. Press Windows key ROpenRun .
2. In "Run", type regedit and click "OK".
3. Registry Editor Once it opens, navigate to the following path:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

4. Right-click the Explorer key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Now, name the new key NoControlPanel and press Enter.
6. Double-click the NoControlPanel DWORD key you just created and set its valuedata to 1, then click OK .
7. Quit Registry Editor and restart Windows 11.
8. After following these steps correctly, when the user tries to enter the Settings app (or legacy Control Panel), a message will appear stating that it is restricted.
9. If you want to change it back for any reason, go back to Registry Editor and change the NocontrolPanel DWORD from 1 to 0.

You can also use this method if you are using Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, or use the Group Policy method outlined below.

How to disable Windows 11 Settings access through Group Policy

If you are running Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, you can use Group Policy to prevent users from accessing Settings and "control Panel".

To prevent users from accessing Control Panel or Settings:

1. Use the keyboard shortcut Windows key R to launch the Run dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc and click OK.
3. When Local Group Policy opens, navigate to the following path:

   用户配置 > 管理模板 > 控制面板

4. Now, double-click on the Disable access to Control Panel and PC Settings on the right Strategy.
5. When the following window appears, select Enable.
6. Click Apply and OK to save your selections.
7. If the user tries to access Settings, nothing will happen and the Settings app won't even open - there will be no alert notification. However, the setup may go into a loop trying to start. In this case, restart the PC and this will resolve the looping issue.
8. If a user attempts to open the Control Panel, they will receive a message stating that it is unavailable due to restrictions.

If you need to change the settings again, open Group Policy and set the Deny access to Control Panel and PC Settings policy to Not Configured. Restarting the PC will allow users to access settings and control panel again.

Configuring Windows 11 Settings

If you followed the above steps correctly, you should have blocked users from accessing the Settings app on Windows 11. Of course, don't forget the most obvious way to restrict user access - creating local user accounts without administrator access.

Settings aren't the only things you can block on Windows 11. For example, you can let users install apps only from the Microsoft Store. You can also create a guest account.

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