Set BranchCache Hosted Cache mode

ComputerNative Intune settingEnableWindowsBranchCache_Hosted

Supported on At least Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2*

22H2 · 1.0

What it does

This policy setting specifies whether BranchCache hosted cache mode is enabled on client computers to which this policy is applied. In addition to this policy, you must use the policy "Turn on BranchCache" to enable BranchCache on client computers. When a client computer is configured as a hosted cache mode client, it is able to download cached content from a hosted cache server that is located at the branch office. In addition, when the hosted cache client obtains content from a content server, the client can upload the content to the hosted cache server for access by other hosted cache clients at the branch office. Policy configuration Select one of the following: - Not Configured. With this selection, BranchCache settings are not applied to client computers by this policy. In the circumstance where client computers are domain members but you do not want to enable BranchCache on all client computers, you can specify Not Configured for this domain Group Policy setting, and then configure local computer policy to enable BranchCache on individual client computers. Because the domain Group Policy setting is not configured, it will not over-write the enabled setting that you use on individual client computers where you want to enable BranchCache. - Enabled. With this selection, BranchCache hosted cache mode is enabled for all client computers where the policy is applied. For example, if this policy is enabled in domain Group Policy, BranchCache hosted cache mode is turned on for all domain member client computers to which the policy is applied. - Disabled. With this selection, BranchCache hosted cache mode is turned off for all client computers where the policy is applied. In circumstances where this setting is enabled, you can also select and configure the following option: - Type the name of the hosted cache server. Specifies the computer name of the hosted cache server. Because the hosted cache server name is also specified in the certificate enrolled to the hosted cache server, the name that you enter here must match the name of the hosted cache server that is specified in the server certificate. Hosted cache clients must trust the server certificate that is issued to the hosted cache server. Ensure that the issuing CA certificate is installed in the Trusted Root Certification Authorities certificate store on all hosted cache client computers. * This policy setting is supported on computers that are running Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions with Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) 4.0 installed.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry key: SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\HostedCache\Connection

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_PeerToPeerCaching/EnableWindowsBranchCache_HostedADMX_PeerToPeerCaching 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
Type the name of the hosted cache serverRequired	Text	`Location`	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
- Wording changed.
1607 · 2.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

Template

Internal name: EnableWindowsBranchCache_Hosted
Namespace: Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache
Template file: PeerToPeerCaching.admx
Release: Windows 10 22H2 · 1.0 · file set bc15f6a5271783ee…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.WBC_HostedCache_Location)" explainText="$(string.WBC_HostedCache_Location_Help)" key="SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\PeerDist\HostedCache\Connection" name="EnableWindowsBranchCache_Hosted" presentation="$(presentation.WBC_Hosted_Cache_Location_TextBox)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
		<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:WBC_Cat" />
		<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:SUPPORTED_Windows7OrBITS4" />
        <elements>
               <text id="WBC_Cache_TextBox" required="true" valueName="Location" />
        </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="WBC_Hosted_Cache_Location_TextBox" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
                <textBox refId="WBC_Cache_TextBox">
                    <label>Type the name of the hosted cache server</label>
                </textBox>
            </presentation>

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:MicrosoftWindows
sha256:4b3cb6917b5e5b7cd142c0157f10882786b3e9ee67c29fd7b8f4c6cb2eec5fe7
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_Windows7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows7)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range minVersionIndex="1" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008" />
          <range minVersionIndex="6" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows" />
        </or>
      </definition>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008" />
Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:category:WBC_Cat
<category displayName="$(string.WBC_Cat)" name="WBC_Cat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:Network" />
    </category>
Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows7OrBITS4
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows7OrBITS4)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows7OrBITS4" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <reference ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7" />
          <reference ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:BITS40" />
        </or>
      </definition>
Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.Products:BITS40
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.Products:BITS40" />
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:MicrosoftWindows
<product displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows)" name="MicrosoftWindows" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000" versionIndex="1">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_SP1)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_SP1" versionIndex="1" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_SP2)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_SP2" versionIndex="2" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_SP3)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_SP3" versionIndex="3" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows2000_SP4)" name="MicrosoftWindows2000_SP4" versionIndex="4" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsXP)" name="MicrosoftWindowsXP" versionIndex="2">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsXP_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsXP_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP1)" name="MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP1" versionIndex="1" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP2)" name="MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP2" versionIndex="2" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003" versionIndex="3">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP1)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP1" versionIndex="1" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_R2)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_R2" versionIndex="2" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP2)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP2" versionIndex="3" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsVista)" name="MicrosoftWindowsVista" versionIndex="4">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsVista_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsVista_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsVista_SP1)" name="MicrosoftWindowsVista_SP1" versionIndex="1" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsServer2008)" name="WindowsServer2008" versionIndex="5">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsServer2008_RTM)" name="WindowsServer2008_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.WindowsServer2008_R2)" name="WindowsServer2008_R2" versionIndex="1" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows7)" name="MicrosoftWindows7" versionIndex="6">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows7_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows7_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer8)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer8" versionIndex="7">
           <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer8_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer8_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows8)" name="MicrosoftWindows8" versionIndex="8">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows8_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows8_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_RT)" name="MicrosoftWindows_RT" versionIndex="9">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_RT_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_RT_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3" versionIndex="10">
           <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_6_3)" name="MicrosoftWindows_6_3" versionIndex="11">
          <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT)" name="MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT" versionIndex="12">
            <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0" versionIndex="13">
            <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
          </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_10_0)" name="MicrosoftWindows_10_0" versionIndex="14">
            <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
        <majorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT)" name="MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT" versionIndex="15">
            <minorVersion displayName="$(string.MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT_RTM)" name="MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT_RTM" versionIndex="0" />
        </majorVersion>
      </product>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows">Windows operating system</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000">Windows 2000 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_RTM">Windows 2000</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_SP1">Windows 2000 Service Pack 1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_SP2">Windows 2000 Service Pack 2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_SP3">Windows 2000 Service Pack 3</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows2000_SP4">Windows 2000 Service Pack 4</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows7">Windows 7 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows7_RTM">Windows 7</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows8">Windows 8 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows8_RTM">Windows 8</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003">Windows Server 2003 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_R2">Windows Server 2003 R2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_RTM">Windows Server 2003</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP1">Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer2003_SP2">Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer8">Windows Server 2012 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer8_RTM">Windows Server 2012</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0">Windows Server 2016 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer_10_0_RTM">Windows Server 2016</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3">Windows Server 2012 R2 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsServer_6_3_RTM">Windows Server 2012 R2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsVista">Windows Vista operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsVista_RTM">Windows Vista</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsVista_SP1">Windows Vista Service Pack 1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP">Windows XP operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP_RTM">Windows XP</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP1">Windows XP Service Pack 1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindowsXP_SP2">Windows XP Service Pack 2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_10_0">Windows 10 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT">Windows 10 RT operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RTM">Windows 10</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_10_0_RT_RTM">Windows 10 RT</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_6_3">Windows 8.1 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT">Windows RT 8.1 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RTM">Windows 8.1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_6_3_RT_RTM">Windows RT 8.1</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_RT">Windows RT operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows_RT_RTM">Windows RT</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008">Windows Server 2008 operating systems</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008_R2">Windows Server 2008 R2</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008_RTM">Windows Server 2008</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:Network
<category displayName="$(string.Network)" explainText="$(string.Network_Help)" name="Network" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:Network">Network</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:Network_Help">Allows configuration of components of the operating system used by a client computer to connect to a network. This includes DNS settings and Offline Files.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows7)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range minVersionIndex="1" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:WindowsServer2008" />
          <range minVersionIndex="6" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows" />
        </or>
      </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7">At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7</string></strings>
Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:category:WBC_Cat
<category displayName="$(string.WBC_Cat)" name="WBC_Cat" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:Network" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:WBC_Cat">BranchCache</string></strings>
Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows7OrBITS4
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows7OrBITS4)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows7OrBITS4" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <reference ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows7" />
          <reference ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:BITS40" />
        </or>
      </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.PoliciesContentWindowsBranchCache:SUPPORTED_Windows7OrBITS4">At least Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2*</string></strings>