In this post, you will have a full understanding of Group Policy& Local Users and Groups. Then, you can learn how to manage Local Users and Groups via Group Policy.
Group Policy is a feature in Windows that allows administrators to manage and configure operating system settings, application settings, and user environment settings centrally. It is mainly used in a corporate or networked environment with Active Directory but can also apply to local computers.
★ Centralized management: Apply consistent settings across multiple users or computers.
★ Security control: Enforce password policies, account lockout policies, and access restrictions.
★ Configuration: Control desktop settings, software installation, and network resources.
★ Scope: Can be applied to users, groups, or computers, either locally or across a domain.
★ Tools: Managed via the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) for local policies or Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) for domain policies.
Local Users and Groups are accounts and groups that exist on a single Windows computer. They allow you to control who can log in and what they can do on that computer.
✍ Local Users: Individual accounts created on a computer. Each user can have a password, profile, and permissions.
➢ Example: Administrator (full control), Guest (limited access).
✍ Local Groups: Collections of users that share the same permissions or rights. Assigning rights to a group automatically applies them to all its members.
➢ Example: Administrators, Users, Power Users.
✍ Management tool: Managed via Computer Management → Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc).
Managing Local Users and Groups via Group Policy is a common administrative task in Windows environments, especially in domains where you want to enforce consistent user and group settings across multiple computers. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Press Win + R, type gpmc.msc, and press Enter.
This opens the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
In GPMC, navigate to the domain or Organizational Unit (OU) where you want to apply the policy.
Step 1. Right-click it and select “Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here”.
Step 2. Name the GPO (e.g., “Manage Local Users and Groups”) and click OK.
Step 3. Right-click the newly created GPO and select Edit.
Step 1. In the Group Policy Management Editor, go to Computer Configuration → Policies → Windows Settings → Security Settings → Restricted Groups.
Step 2. Right-click Restricted Groups → Add Group.
Step 3. Enter the local group name you want to manage (e.g., Administrators, Users, Remote Desktop Users) and click OK.
After adding the group, you have two main options:
✍ Members of this group:
Specifies which users or groups should be members of this group.
Any existing members not listed here may be removed automatically.
✍ This group is a member of:
Specifies which groups this group should be a member of.
➢ Example:
Add Domain Admins to the local Administrators group on all computers in the OU.
Add Helpdesk group to the Remote Desktop Users group on client PCs.
Step 1. Close the Group Policy Management Editor.
Step 2. The GPO is now linked to the chosen OU or domain.
Step 3. Run gpupdate /force on client computers or wait for the next policy refresh cycle.
Step 1. On a client computer, open Computer Management → Local Users and Groups → Groups.
Step 2. Check that the local group members match what you configured in the GPO.
While Group Policy in Windows is a powerful tool for managing Local Users and Groups, it can sometimes be complex, restrictive, or unavailable in certain editions of Windows, such as Home editions. For users seeking a more intuitive and flexible solution, AOMEI Partition Assistant can serve as an effective alternative.
Primarily known as a robust disk management tool, AOMEI Partition Assistant also offers features that simplify the management of Local Users and Groups. With its user-friendly interface, administrators can quickly:
✅ Create, edit, or delete user accounts without navigating through multiple Windows menus.
✅ Assign or modify group memberships with a few clicks, ensuring proper access permissions.
✅ Manage account properties such as passwords, account types, and login settings efficiently.
✅ Handle multiple users or groups simultaneously, saving time for IT administrators managing many accounts.
Unlike Group Policy, which often requires detailed configuration and administrative knowledge, AOMEI Partition Assistant provides a graphical, straightforward workflow that is easy to use for both beginners and experienced users. It also allows certain operations to be performed safely without risk to system stability, making it a reliable alternative for user and group management on Windows 10 and 11.
Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click the "Tools" main tab and select "Users and Groups".
Step 2. Click the "Users" tab and then click the "New User" button to create a new user account. You can also click the "Refresh" button to refresh the user list.
Step 3. Then, type the appropriate information in the dialog box. You can enter the name and description and set a password for the new user. And, you can select or clear the check boxes for: User must change password at next logon, Account is disabled, User cannot change password, Password never expires.
Step 4. After all is set, click "Create" to create the new user.
Step 5. Finally, you can see the user is created successfully in Windows Local Users and Groups. And, you can also easily manage the new user account.
Group Policy and Local Users and Groups are key Windows tools for managing user permissions and system settings. Group Policy offers centralized control across networks, while Local Users and Groups manage individual computer access. For simpler management, AOMEI Partition Assistant provides an easy-to-use alternative—allowing users to create, edit, and manage accounts or groups effortlessly, even in Windows Home editions where traditional tools like Group Policy are unavailable.