# Local Group Policy Object Utility (Windows EXE)

## What

Local Group Policy Object Utility or LGPO.exe is a new command-line utility to automate the management of local group policy. It replaces the no-longer-maintained LocalGPO tool that shipped with the Security Compliance Manager (SCM), and the Apply\_LGPO\_Delta and ImportRegPol tools.

## When/Why

Many of the features help import required settings to your devices meeting organization policies for security compliance.  
  
Features:

- Import settings into local group policy from GPO backups or from individual policy component files, including Registry Policy (registry.pol), security templates, and advanced auditing CSV files.
- Export local policy to a GPO backup.
- Parse a Registry Policy (registry.pol) file to readable "LGPO text" directly to the console or redirected to a file which can edited and imported into local policy.
- Build a new Registry Policy (registry.pol) file from "LGPO text".
- Enable group policy client side extensions for local policy processing.


## How

The zip file contains the LGPO installer:

[LGPO.zip](https://kb.filewave.com/attachments/442) LGPO.exe v3.0 - Local Group Policy Object utility  
  
LGPO.exe has four modes:

1. Import and apply policy settings;
2. Export local policy to a GPO backup;
3. Parse a registry.pol file to "LGPO text" format;
4. Build a registry.pol file from "LGPO text".

To apply policy settings, use the LGPO.exe commands below, where one or more of the following (each of which can be repeated):

```
/g path                             import settings from one or more GPO backups under "path"
/m path\registry.pol     import settings from registry.pol into machine config
/u path\registry.pol      import settings from registry.pol into user config
/s path\GptTmpl.inf     apply security template
/a[c] path\Audit.csv     apply advanced auditing settings; /ac to clear policy first
/t path\lgpo.txt              apply registry commands from LGPO text

/e <name>|<guid>       enable GP extension for local policy processing; specify a GUID, or one of these names:
              **  "zone" for IE zone mapping extension
              **  "mitigation" for mitigation options, including font blocking
              **   "audit" for advanced audit policy configuration
              
/boot                                reboot after applying policies
/v                                       verbose output
/q                                       quiet output (no headers)
```

Some example GPO policies are listed below to use. Be sure you are updating the correct path and names for your GPOs.

To create a GPO backup from local policy:

```
LGPO.exe /b path [/n GPO-name]

/b path                       Create GPO backup in "path"
/n GPO-name           Optional GPO display name (use quotes if it contains spaces)
```

  
To parse a Registry.pol file to LGPO text (stdout):

```
LGPO.exe /parse [/q] {/m|/u} path\registry.pol

/m path\registry.pol         parse registry.pol as machine config commands
/u path\registry.pol          parse registry.pol as user config commands
/q                                           quiet output (no headers)
```

  
To build a Registry.pol file from LGPO text:

```
LGPO.exe /r path\lgpo.txt /w path\registry.pol [/v]

/r path\lgpo.txt              Read input from LGPO text file
/w path\registry.pol     Write new registry.pol file
```

## Related Content

- [Microsoft Download Security Compliance Toolkit and Baselines](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=55319)

## Digging Deeper

- [Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit Documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/device-management/windows-security-configuration-framework/security-compliance-toolkit-10)