System › LAPS
Configure authorized password decryptors
Supported on At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later
What it does
Configure this setting to control the specific user or group who is authorized to decrypt encrypted passwords. Configuring this setting has no effect unless password encryption has been enabled. If this setting is enabled, encrypted passwords will be decryptable by the specified group. If this setting is disabled or not configured, encrypted passwords will be decryptable by the Domain Admins group. This setting must be configured with either a domain-qualified name of a group or user, or a SID in string format. Valid examples include: contoso\LAPSAdmins [email protected] S-1-5-21-2127521184-1604012920-1887927527-35197 Do not enclose the user\group name or SID in enclosing quotes or parentheses. The specified user or group must be resolvable by the managed device, otherwise passwords will not be backed up. NOTE: this setting is ignored when Directory Services Repair Mode (DSRM) account passwords are backed up on a domain controller. In that scenario, this setting always defaults to the Domain Admins group of the domain controller's domain. See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2188435 for more information.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- Registry key
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\LAPS
In Intune
No native CSP; import the ADMX (Intune-ready).
From Microsoft's Policy CSP DDF files (DDF v2 Files, February 2026), read 18 Oct 2026.
Options
| Option | Type | Registry value | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authorized password decryptor | Text | ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal |
Up to 128 characters |
Configure and deploy
Choose a state and the option values; 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\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\LAPS]
"ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal"=""
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: Configure authorized password decryptors
# Name: LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: LAPS.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\LAPS' -Name 'ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal' -PropertyType 'String' -Value ''
- 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.
- The generated payload is incomplete because one or more ADMX element values were not supplied: TEXT_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal
ADMX profile candidate (OMA-URI)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ADMX_LAPS/LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipalIntune 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: Configure authorized password decryptors
# Name: LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: LAPS.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\LAPS' -Name 'ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal' -Kind 'String' -Expected ''
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\LAPS\ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal') | Out-Null
}
if ($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: Configure authorized password decryptors
# Name: LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: LAPS.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\LAPS' -Name 'ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal' -PropertyType 'String' -Value ''
History 5 retained releases
- 24H2 · 1.030 Sep 2024
- Description
… the Domain Admins group.
This setti…[added: domain-qualified name of a group or use…]SID in string
[removed: format ("S-1-5-21-2127521184-1604012920-1…][added: format. Valid examples include: contoso\…] or[removed: user][added: SID] in[removed: "domain\(group][added: enclosing quotes] or[removed: user)" format. ][added: parentheses. ]The specified user or group must be resolvable by the managed device, otherwise passwords will not be backed up.[added: NOTE: this setting is ignored when Directory Services Repair Mode (DSRM) account passwords are backed up on a domain controller. In that scenario, this setting always defaults to the Domain Admins group of the domain controller's domain.]…Whole description, marked
Configure this setting to control the specific user or group who is authorized to decrypt encrypted passwords. Configuring this setting has no effect unless password encryption has been enabled. If this setting is enabled, encrypted passwords will be decryptable by the specified group. If this setting is disabled or not configured, encrypted passwords will be decryptable by the Domain Admins group. This setting must be configured with either a [added: domain-qualified name of a group or user, or a ]SID in string
[removed: format ("S-1-5-21-2127521184-1604012920-1887927527-35197") or the name of a group][added: format. Valid examples include: contoso\LAPSAdmins [email protected] S-1-5-21-2127521184-1604012920-1887927527-35197 Do not enclose the user\group name] or[removed: user][added: SID] in[removed: "domain\(group][added: enclosing quotes] or[removed: user)" format. ][added: parentheses. ]The specified user or group must be resolvable by the managed device, otherwise passwords will not be backed up.[added: NOTE: this setting is ignored when Directory Services Repair Mode (DSRM) account passwords are backed up on a domain controller. In that scenario, this setting always defaults to the Domain Admins group of the domain controller's domain.] See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2188435 for more information.
- Description
… the Domain Admins group.
This setti…[added: domain-qualified name of a group or use…]SID in string
- 23H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
- Template definition changed; registry values, options and limits are the same.
- 22H2 · 3.015 Jul 2024
- Added in this release.
1 later release left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.LAPS- Template file
LAPS.admx- Release
- Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set
de4e49983ebd651f…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal)" explainText="$(string.LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal_Help)" key="SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\LAPS" name="LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal" presentation="$(presentation.LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.LAPS:LAPS_CAT" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.LAPS:SUPPORTED_Windows10" />
<elements>
<text id="TEXT_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal" maxLength="128" valueName="ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal" />
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="LAPS_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<textBox refId="TEXT_ADPasswordEncryptionPrincipal">
<label>Authorized password decryptor</label>
</textBox>
</presentation>Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.LAPS:category:LAPS_CAT
<category displayName="$(string.LAPS)" name="LAPS_CAT" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.LAPS:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows10
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows10)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows10" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:System
<category displayName="$(string.System)" explainText="$(string.System_Help)" name="System" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
Microsoft.Policies.LAPS:category:LAPS_CAT
<category displayName="$(string.LAPS)" name="LAPS_CAT" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.LAPS:LAPS">LAPS</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.LAPS:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows10
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows10)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows10" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.LAPS:SUPPORTED_Windows10">At least Microsoft Windows 10 or later</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:System
<category displayName="$(string.System)" explainText="$(string.System_Help)" name="System" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System">System</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System_Help">Allows configuration of various system component settings.</string></strings>