DNS servers (Windows 10 Group Policy)

What it does

Defines the DNS servers to which a computer sends queries when it attempts to resolve names. This policy setting supersedes the list of DNS servers configured locally and those configured using DHCP. To use this policy setting, click Enabled, and then enter a space-delimited list of IP addresses in the available field. To use this policy setting, you must enter at least one IP address. If you enable this policy setting, the list of DNS servers is applied to all network connections used by computers that receive this policy setting. If you disable this policy setting, or if you do not configure this policy setting, computers will use the local or DHCP supplied list of DNS servers, if configured.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient

Why it needs changes for Intune

Policy references a Windows supportedOn definition.
ADMX-INTUNE-WINDOWS-SUPPORTEDON-REFERENCE

In Intune

Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_DnsClient/DNS_NameServerADMX_DnsClient on Microsoft LearnADMX-backed: Windows ships this template, so it is set with the template's own values, without an import.Windows builds listed: 10.0.22000, 10.0.19043.1202, 10.0.19042.1202, 10.0.19041.1202.

From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.

Options

Option	Type	Registry value	Allowed values
IP addressesRequired	Text	`NameServer`	Up to 255 characters

Configure and deploy

Choose a state and the option values; the output below is generated from the template for exactly that.

Fix the highlighted options to generate output.

History 2 retained releases

22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Translations changed; choose a language above to compare its wording.
1607 · 2.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

Template

Internal name: DNS_NameServer
Namespace: Microsoft.Policies.DNSClient
Template file: DnsClient.admx
Release: Windows 10 22H2 · 1.0 · file set bc15f6a5271783ee…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.DNS_NameServer)" explainText="$(string.DNS_NameServer_Help)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient" name="DNS_NameServer" presentation="$(presentation.DNS_NameServer)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.DNSClient:DNS_Client" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_WindowsXPOnly" />
      <elements>
        <text id="DNS_NameServerLabel" required="true" valueName="NameServer" />
      </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="DNS_NameServer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <textBox refId="DNS_NameServerLabel">
          <label>IP addresses:</label>
        </textBox>
      </presentation>

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.DNSClient:category:DNS_Client
<category displayName="$(string.DNS_Client)" name="DNS_Client" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:Network" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:Network
<category displayName="$(string.Network)" explainText="$(string.Network_Help)" name="Network" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_WindowsXPOnly
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WindowsXPOnly)" name="SUPPORTED_WindowsXPOnly" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <reference ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP" />
        </or>
      </definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP" />
Microsoft.Policies.DNSClient:category:DNS_Client
<category displayName="$(string.DNS_Client)" name="DNS_Client" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:Network" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.DNSClient:DNS_Client">DNS Client</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:Network
<category displayName="$(string.Network)" explainText="$(string.Network_Help)" name="Network" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:Network">Network</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:Network_Help">Allows configuration of components of the operating system used by a client computer to connect to a network. This includes DNS settings and Offline Files.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_WindowsXPOnly
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WindowsXPOnly)" name="SUPPORTED_WindowsXPOnly" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <reference ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP" />
        </or>
      </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_WindowsXPOnly">Windows XP Professional only</string></strings>