System › Security Account Manager
Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy
Supported on SUPPORTED_Windows10
What it does
This policy enables an administrator to configure the remote usage of change user password RPC methods in security account manager(SAM). When the policy is enabled, following options are supported: Block all change password RPC methods: block remote usage of all the security account manager(SAM) change password RPC methods. Allow strong encryption change password RPC method: allow remote use of the change password RPC method which uses strong encryption and blocks remote use of weak encryption methods. Allow all change password RPC methods: allows remote usage of all the change password RPC methods irrespetive of the encryption. Default policy: 1. Domain member computers - block all change password RPC methods. 2. Domain controllers - allow strong encryption change password RPC method. Note: If the policy is disabled or not configured, the machine will use the default policy.
What it writes
- Hive
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- Registry key
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options for Sam password change RPC method policyDefault: Allow strong encryption change password RPC method only | Drop-down list | SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy |
|
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\System\SAM]
"SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy"=dword:00000002
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 SAM change password RPC methods policy
# Name: SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: sam.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 2
- 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_sam/SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicyADMX 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_sam/SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy</LocURI>
</Target>
<Data><enabled/>
<data id="SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicySettings" value="1"/></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: Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy
# Name: SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: sam.admx
$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 2
if (-not $isMatch) {
$reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM\SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy') | Out-Null
}
if ($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 $propertyName -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
}
}
# Policy: Configure SAM change password RPC methods policy
# Name: SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: sam.admx
Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM' -Name 'SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 2
History 5 retained releases
- 24H2 · 1.030 Sep 2024
- Added in this release.
1 later release left it unchanged.
Template
- Internal name
SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy- Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.SAM- Template file
sam.admx- Release
- Windows 11 25H2 · 1.0 · file set
de4e49983ebd651f…
Definition, editor controls and support
Definition
<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy)" explainText="$(string.SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicyExplain)" key="Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\SAM" name="SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy" presentation="$(presentation.SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.SAM:SAM" />
<supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.SAM:SUPPORTED_Windows10" />
<elements>
<enum id="SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicySettings" valueName="SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy">
<item displayName="$(string.SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicyBlockAll)">
<value>
<decimal value="1" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicyAllowSecure)">
<value>
<decimal value="2" />
</value>
</item>
<item displayName="$(string.SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicyAllowAll)">
<value>
<decimal value="3" />
</value>
</item>
</enum>
</elements>
</policy>Editor controls
<presentation id="SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicy" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<dropdownList defaultItem="1" noSort="true" refId="SamrChangeUserPasswordApiPolicySettings">Options for Sam password change RPC method policy:</dropdownList>
</presentation>Supported platforms and category
Microsoft.Policies.SAM:category:SAM
<category displayName="$(string.SecurityAccountManager)" name="SAM" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System" />
</category>
Microsoft.Policies.SAM:unresolved:Microsoft.Policies.SAM:SUPPORTED_Windows10
<unresolved reference="Microsoft.Policies.SAM:SUPPORTED_Windows10" />
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.SAM:category:SAM
<category displayName="$(string.SecurityAccountManager)" name="SAM" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
<parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System" />
</category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.SAM:SecurityAccountManager">Security Account Manager</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:category:System
<category displayName="$(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>