8 Ways to Fix “gpedit.msc Not Found” on Windows 11

gpedit.msc (also known as Local Group Policy Editor) is a system utility tool allowing users to view and edit group policy settings on their system. This tool is mainly used to configure advanced system settings unavailable in the standard Settings app or Control Panel. However, if you can’t find the tool, this guide will show you how to fix “gpedit.msc not found” on Windows 11.

The first thing to do whenever you see “Windows cannot find gpedit.msc,” is to check if you have made any typos. Windows search might not work properly if you make typing mistakes. If everything looks fine, move on to the fixes below.

1. Enable the Group Policy Editor Using a Batch File

A batch file is a script file that consists of a series of commands to execute specific actions in your system. You can enable Group Policy Editor on your Windows computer by running a simple batch file. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: For this, open Start and type Command Prompt in the search bar.

Step 2: Select ‘Run as Administrator’.

Step 3: Paste the following command and hit enter.

FOR %F IN ("%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientTools-Package~*.mum") DO ( DISM /Online /NoRestart /Add-Package:"%F" )

Step 4: After that, paste this command and hit Enter.

FOR %F IN ("%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientExtensions-Package~*.mum") DO ( DISM /Online /NoRestart /Add-Package:"%F" )

Wait until the commands take place. Afterward, you can use the Run program to check if gpedit.msc is running on your system.

2. Install Policy Plus

There is also a third-party program called Policy Plus, which you can install on your Windows PC to access the features of gpedit.msc. Here’s how:

Step 1: Download and install Policy Plus from the link below.

Download Policy Plus for Windows

Step 2: Once installed, click Yes to install all the necessary files.

Step 3: Select where to install the files and hit Begin.

Step 4: Click Yes to confirm.

3. Install and Enable gpedit.msc Manually

While Microsoft only ships Local Group Policy Editor with the Pro version of Windows, you can still install it on your Windows PC and fix “gpedit.msc not found” on Windows 11.

Step 1: Download the gpedit.msc setup file from the link below.

Download gpedit.msc for Windows

Step 2: Extract the file and open the folder.

Step 3: Double-click on setup.exe and follow the instructions.

Step 4: Next, right-click on the bat file and ‘choose Run as administrator.’

Step 5: When asked, press any button to exit the command prompt window.

Once done, restart the computer and then try to open the Group Policy Editor using the Run application.

4. Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise

gpedit.msc missing occurs based on the Windows version you are using. While writing this guide, Microsoft has limited Local Group Policy Editor to Windows 10/11 Pro and higher editions. For those with Windows Home, you need to upgrade it to the latest version. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Open Settings and choose System.

Step 2: Click on Activation.

Step 3: Select ‘Upgrade your edition of Windows.’

Step 4: Choose Open Store next to ‘Upgrade in the Microsoft app.’

From here, you can purchase Windows 10 or 11 Pro and then see if you can access Local Group Policy Editor on your system.

5. Run System File Checker and DISM

Suppose you have a system supporting gpedit.msc, but if you cannot access the tool, it can be because of an error with your system image. You can fix this by running the DISM tool.

Step 1: Search Terminal and click on ‘Run as Administrator.’

Step 2: Click Yes to permit to run > paste the following command and hit Enter.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

This should correct any system image issues, letting you run Local Group Policy Editor on your system.

6. Repair Windows

If you are sure that your Windows version supports Local Group Policy Editor but is still finding gpedit.msc missing message, you can reinstall Windows and see if the issue is still there. We have prepared a detailed guide on how to clean install Windows 11, where we have mentioned the steps in detail.

7. Copy Files and Folders for gpedit.msc

You can also fix “gpedit.msc not found” on Windows 11 by simply copying and pasting files and folders to certain locations. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open File Manager and navigate to the following path.

C:\Windows\SysWOW64

Step 2: Now, copy the following folders and files:

• GroupPolicy
• GroupPolicyUsers
• gpedit.msc

Tip: It’s best to use the search feature to find the necessary files and folders.

Step 3: Next, paste the folder inside the System32 folder.

Once done, you should be able to run the program without any issues. 

8. Perform a Clean Boot

Clean boot is a feature in Windows with which you can boot your system with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. With this, you can run the necessary system apps and features and determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program. You can check our detailed guide to understand the difference between safe boot and clean boot.

Fix the Unfixable

Even though Windows 11 Home edition doesn’t ship with the Group Policy Editor, we hope you can fix “gpedit.msc not found” on Windows 11. While using this feature, ensure only to change the settings you know to avoid causing issues to your PC.