Windows 10 21H2

See Windows Pro Install for initial Windows setup.

• Notable changes

• Release information

• Technical notes

• Shortcut keys

Important

GPO should be thought of a template framework that applies specific Registry changes based on specific conditions at the user, computer and domain level. Registry changes are extremely specific and apply to the user or computer. Recent updates with Windows have been pushing more and more GPO policies to only work in Education and Enterprise versions.

Registry policies are only used when there are no specific GPO polices that can be applied. Only settings that have been changed or are deemed important are listed. Apply based on your personal preferences. Registry settings may be found in reference material if provided.

A reboot is required once these changes are made.

Note

Any unlisted section/change assumes default settingss.

• Standalone Changes
  • 1. Cortana & Search
    • 1.1. Firewall
  • 2. Error Reporting
  • 3. Explorer Ads
  • 4. Location
  • 5. Meltdown and Spectre Patch
  • 6. Messaging
  • 7. Microsoft Defender
    • 7.1. Firewall
  • 8. OneDrive
    • 8.1. Firewall
  • 9. Paging
  • 10. Resource Exhaustion
  • 11. Restore Points
  • 12. Telemetry
    • 12.1. Firewall
  • 13. Update Notifications
  • 14. Services
  • 15. Speech
  • 16. Spotlight
  • 17. Windows Store Promotions
• Settings
  • 1. System
    • 1.1. Notifications & Actions
      • 1.1.1. Notifications
      • 1.1.2. Get notifications from these senders
    • 1.2. Focus Assist
    • 1.3. Multitasking
      • 1.3.1. Timeline
    • 1.4. Shared Experiences
      • 1.4.1. Nearby Sharing
      • 1.4.2. Share across devices
    • 1.5. Clipboard
      • 1.5.1. Clipboard history
      • 1.5.2. Sync across devices
    • 1.6. Remote Desktop
  • 2. Phone
    • 2.1. Phone
  • 3. Network & Internet
    • 3.1. Wi-Fi
      • 3.1.1. Hotspot 2.0 networks
  • 4. Personalization
    • 4.1. Lock screen
    • 4.2. Themes
    • 4.3. Start
    • 4.4. Taskbar
      • 4.4.1. Notification Area
      • 4.4.2. People
  • 5. Apps
    • 5.1. Apps & features
    • 5.2. Offline maps
  • 6. Accounts
    • 6.1. Sign-in options
      • 6.1.1. Manage how you sign into your device
      • 6.1.2. Require Sign-in
      • 6.1.3. Privacy
    • 6.2. Sync Your Settings
  • 7. Time & Language
    • 7.1. Date & Time
      • 7.1.1. UTC Realtime Clock
    • 7.2. Region
      • 7.2.1. Regional Format Data
  • 8. Gaming
    • 8.1. Xbox Game Bar
    • 8.2. Game Mode
  • 9. Search
    • 9.1. Permissions & History
      • 9.1.1. Cloud content search
      • 9.1.2. History
    • 9.2. Searching Windows
      • 9.2.1. Indexer Performance
  • 10. Privacy
    • 10.1. Manual Setting Privacy Options
    • 10.2. General
      • 10.2.1. Change privacy options
    • 10.3. Speech
      • 10.3.1. Online speech recognition
    • 10.4. Ink & Typing Personalization
      • 10.4.1. Getting to know you
    • 10.5. Diagnostics & Feedback
      • 10.5.1. Diagnostic data
      • 10.5.2. Improve inking and typing
      • 10.5.3. Tailored experiences
      • 10.5.4. View diagnostic data
      • 10.5.5. Delete diagnostic data
      • 10.5.6. Feedback frequency
    • 10.6. Activity History
    • 10.7. Location
      • 10.7.1. Allow access to location on this device
      • 10.7.2. Allow apps to access your location
      • 10.7.3. Allow desktop apps to access your location
    • 10.8. Camera
      • 10.8.1. Allow access to the camera on this device
      • 10.8.2. Allow apps to access your camera
      • 10.8.3. Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera
      • 10.8.4. Allow desktop apps to access your camera
    • 10.9. Microphone
      • 10.9.1. Allow apps to access your microphone
    • 10.10. Voice Activation
      • 10.10.1. Allow apps to use voice activation
      • 10.10.2. Allow apps to use voice activation when this device is locked
      • 10.10.3. Choose your default app for headset button press
    • 10.11. Notifications
      • 10.11.1. Allow access to user notifications on this device
      • 10.11.2. Allow apps to access your notifications
    • 10.12. Account Info
      • 10.12.1. Allow access to account info on this device
    • 10.13. Contacts
      • 10.13.1. Allow access to contacts on this device
    • 10.14. Calendar
      • 10.14.1. Allow access to calendar on this device
    • 10.15. Phone Calls
      • 10.15.1. Allow phone calls on this device
    • 10.16. Call History
      • 10.16.1. Allow access to call history on this device
    • 10.17. Email
      • 10.17.1. Allow access to email on this device
    • 10.18. Tasks
      • 10.18.1. Allow access to tasks on this device
    • 10.19. Messaging
      • 10.19.1. Allow access to messaging on this device
    • 10.20. Radios
      • 10.20.1. Allow access to radios on this device
    • 10.21. Other Devices
      • 10.21.1. Communicate with unpaired devices
      • 10.21.2. Use trusted devices
    • 10.22. Background Apps
      • 10.22.1. Let apps run in the background
    • 10.23. App Diagnostics
      • 10.23.1. Allow access to app diagnostic info on this device
    • 10.24. Automatic file downloads
    • 10.25. Eye Tracker
      • 10.25.1. Allow access to eye tracker on this device
    • 10.26. Motion
      • 10.26.1. Let Windows and your apps use your motion data and collect motion history
  • 11. Update & Security
    • 11.1. Delivery Optimization
    • 11.2. Windows Security
    • 11.3. Troubleshoot
    • 11.4. Find my device
• Security
  • 1. Virus & threat protection
    • 1.1. Virus & threat protection settings
      • 1.1.1. Real-time protection
      • 1.1.2. Cloud-delivered protection
      • 1.1.3. Automatic sample submission
      • 1.1.4. Exclusions
      • 1.1.5. Notifications
        • 1.1.5.1. Virus & threat protection notifications
        • 1.1.5.2. Get account protection notifications
      • 1.1.6. Firewall
  • 2. Account protection
    • 2.1. Dynamic Lock
  • 3. App & browser control
    • 3.1. Reputation-based protection settings
      • 3.1.1. Check apps and files
      • 3.1.2. SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge
      • 3.1.3. Potentially unwanted app blocking