Prevent restoring previous versions from backups

ComputerNative Intune settingDisableBackupRestore_2

Supported on Supported Windows Vista through Windows 7

25H2 · 1.0

What it does

This policy setting lets you suppress the Restore button in the previous versions property page when the user has selected a previous version of a local file, in which the previous version is stored on a backup. If you enable this policy setting, the Restore button is disabled when the user selects a previous version corresponding to a backup. If you disable this policy setting, the Restore button remains active for a previous version corresponding to a backup. If the Restore button is clicked, Windows attempts to restore the file from the backup media. If you do not configure this policy setting, it is disabled by default. The Restore button is active when the previous version is of a local file and stored on the backup.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\PreviousVersions
Value name: DisableBackupRestore
When enabled: DWORD 1
When disabled: DWORD 0

In Intune

Native Intune setting: Yes — Policy CSP

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_PreviousVersions/DisableBackupRestore_2ADMX_PreviousVersions 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.

Configure and deploy

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

Enabled · Computer · template defaults

Registry file (.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\PreviousVersions]
"DisableBackupRestore"=dword:00000001

PowerShell

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Prevent restoring previous versions from backups
# Name: DisableBackupRestore_2
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: PreviousVersions.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\PreviousVersions' -Name 'DisableBackupRestore' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1

These deployment candidates come from the ADMX template; they are separate from the native CSP mapping above.

The OMA-URI is an inferred ADMX-backed Policy CSP candidate derived from the source ADMX file name and policy name.
Some Microsoft policies use built-in Policy CSP pages whose area names don't match the ADMX file name, so verify the candidate against Microsoft Learn before deployment.

ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)

./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_PreviousVersions/DisableBackupRestore_2

ADMX SyncML candidate

<SyncML xmlns="SYNCML:SYNCML1.2">
  <SyncBody>
    <Replace>
      <CmdID>1</CmdID>
      <Item>
        <Meta>
          <Format>chr</Format>
          <Type>text/plain</Type>
        </Meta>
        <Target>
          <LocURI>./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_PreviousVersions/DisableBackupRestore_2</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Data>&lt;enabled/&gt;</Data>
      </Item>
    </Replace>
    <Final/>
  </SyncBody>
</SyncML>

Intune remediation scripts

Detection

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
$reasons = [System.Collections.Generic.List[string]]::new()

function Test-RegistryValueExists {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    return $null -ne (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
}

function Test-RegistryValueEquals {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Kind,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Expected
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return $false
    }

    $valueObject = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($null -eq $valueObject) {
        return $false
    }

    $actual = $valueObject.$Name
    switch ($Kind) {
        'String' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'ExpandString' { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
        'DWord' { return [uint32]$actual -eq [uint32]$Expected }
        'QWord' { return [uint64]$actual -eq [uint64]$Expected }
        'MultiString' {
            $actualArray = @($actual)
            $expectedArray = @($Expected)
            if ($actualArray.Count -ne $expectedArray.Count) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Count; $index++) {
                if ([string]$actualArray[$index] -cne [string]$expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        'Binary' {
            $actualArray = [byte[]]$actual
            $expectedArray = [byte[]]$Expected
            if ($actualArray.Length -ne $expectedArray.Length) { return $false }
            for ($index = 0; $index -lt $actualArray.Length; $index++) {
                if ($actualArray[$index] -ne $expectedArray[$index]) { return $false }
            }
            return $true
        }
        default { return [string]$actual -ceq [string]$Expected }
    }
}

# Policy: Prevent restoring previous versions from backups
# Name: DisableBackupRestore_2
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: PreviousVersions.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\PreviousVersions' -Name 'DisableBackupRestore' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 1
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\PreviousVersions\DisableBackupRestore') | Out-Null
}

if ($reasons.Count -eq 0) {
    Write-Output 'Compliant'
    exit 0
}

$reasons | ForEach-Object { Write-Output $_ }
exit 1

Remediation

$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'

function Set-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $PropertyType,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][object] $Value
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        New-Item -Path $Path -Force | Out-Null
    }

    New-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -PropertyType $PropertyType -Value $Value -Force | Out-Null
}

function Remove-RegistryValue {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path,
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Name
    )

    if (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

function Clear-RegistryKeyValues {
    param(
        [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string] $Path
    )

    if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $Path)) {
        return
    }

    foreach ($propertyName in (Get-Item -LiteralPath $Path).Property) {
        Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    }
}

# Policy: Prevent restoring previous versions from backups
# Name: DisableBackupRestore_2
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: PreviousVersions.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\PreviousVersions' -Name 'DisableBackupRestore' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 1

History 5 retained releases

22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

4 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name: DisableBackupRestore_2
Namespace: Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions
Template file: PreviousVersions.admx
Release: Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set de4e49983ebd651f…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.DisableBackupRestore)" explainText="$(string.DisableBackupRestore_Help)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\PreviousVersions" name="DisableBackupRestore_2" valueName="DisableBackupRestore" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:PreviousVersions" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:SUPPORTED_Vista_through_Win7" />
      <enabledValue>
        <decimal value="1" />
      </enabledValue>
      <disabledValue>
        <decimal value="0" />
      </disabledValue>
    </policy>

Editor controls

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:category:PreviousVersions
<category displayName="$(string.PreviousVersions)" name="PreviousVersions" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsExplorer" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:definition:SUPPORTED_Vista_through_Win7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Vista_through_Win7)" name="SUPPORTED_Vista_through_Win7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
              <or>
                  <range ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindowsVista" />
                  
                  <reference ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows7" />
                  
              </or>
          </definition>
Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:unresolved:unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows7
<unresolved reference="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows7" />
Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:unresolved:unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindowsVista
<unresolved reference="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindowsVista" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsExplorer
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsExplorer)" explainText="$(string.WindowsExplorer_Help)" name="WindowsExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:category:PreviousVersions
<category displayName="$(string.PreviousVersions)" name="PreviousVersions" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsExplorer" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:PreviousVersions">Previous Versions</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:definition:SUPPORTED_Vista_through_Win7
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Vista_through_Win7)" name="SUPPORTED_Vista_through_Win7" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
              <or>
                  <range ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindowsVista" />
                  
                  <reference ref="unresolved(products):MicrosoftWindows7" />
                  
              </or>
          </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.PreviousVersions:SUPPORTED_Vista_through_Win7">Supported Windows Vista through Windows 7</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:WindowsExplorer
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsExplorer)" explainText="$(string.WindowsExplorer_Help)" name="WindowsExplorer" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsExplorer">File Explorer</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsExplorer_Help">Manages File Explorer settings. These include shell properties, folder options, file menus, and available drives.</string></strings>