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Windows 11 Group Policy settings

3,503 settings · 23H2 · 1.0 · 15 Jul 2024

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Windows Components › Microsoft Defender Antivirus › Security Intelligence Updates

Define file shares for downloading security intelligence updates

ComputerNative Intune settingSignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources

Supported on At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT

What it does

This policy setting allows you to configure UNC file share sources for downloading security intelligence updates. Sources will be contacted in the order specified. The value of this setting should be entered as a pipe-separated string enumerating the security intelligence update sources. For example: "{\\unc1 | \\unc2 }". The list is empty by default. If you enable this setting, the specified sources will be contacted for security intelligence updates. Once security intelligence updates have been successfully downloaded from one specified source, the remaining sources in the list will not be contacted. If you disable or do not configure this setting, the list will remain empty by default and no sources will be contacted.

What it writes

Hive
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry key
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates
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_MicrosoftDefenderAntivirus/SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSourcesADMX_MicrosoftDefenderAntivirus 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.
  • ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/Defender/SignatureUpdateFileSharesSourcesDefender on Microsoft LearnSets the option “Define file shares for downloading security intelligence updates”.Windows builds listed: 10.0.17763.

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

Options

OptionTypeRegistry valueAllowed values
Define file shares for downloading security intelligence updatesRequired Text DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources 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.

State
Options used when Enabled

History 3 retained releases

  1. 22H2 · 1.015 Jul 2024
    • Already present in the first release ChangeIntel keeps.

2 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name
SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources
Namespace
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender
Template file
WindowsDefender.admx
Release
Windows 11 23H2 · 1.0 · file set d784d0ea5f14a680…
Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources)" explainText="$(string.SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources_Explain)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" name="SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources" presentation="$(presentation.SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
            <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:SignatureUpdate" />
            <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows8" />
            <elements>
                <text id="SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources" required="true" valueName="DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources" />
            </elements>
        </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
    <textBox refId="SignatureUpdate_DefinitionUpdateFileSharesSources">
        <label>Define file shares for downloading security intelligence updates</label>
    </textBox>
    </presentation>

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:MicrosoftWindows
sha256:4b3cb6917b5e5b7cd142c0157f10882786b3e9ee67c29fd7b8f4c6cb2eec5fe7
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:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows8
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows8)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows8" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range minVersionIndex="7" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows" />
        </or>
      </definition>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:category:AntiSpywareDefender
<category displayName="$(string.AntiSpywareDefender)" name="AntiSpywareDefender" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
            <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
        </category>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:category:SignatureUpdate
<category displayName="$(string.SignatureUpdate)" name="SignatureUpdate" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
            <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:AntiSpywareDefender" />
        </category>
Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:MicrosoftWindows
<product displayName="$(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:WindowsComponents
<category displayName="$(string.WindowsComponents)" explainText="$(string.WindowsComponents_Help)" name="WindowsComponents" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions" />
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents">Windows Components</string><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents_Help">Contains settings for operating system components.</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_Windows8
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Windows8)" name="SUPPORTED_Windows8" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range minVersionIndex="7" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows" />
        </or>
      </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_Windows8">At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:category:AntiSpywareDefender
<category displayName="$(string.AntiSpywareDefender)" name="AntiSpywareDefender" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
            <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:WindowsComponents" />
        </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:AntiSpywareDefender">Microsoft Defender Antivirus</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:category:SignatureUpdate
<category displayName="$(string.SignatureUpdate)" name="SignatureUpdate" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
            <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:AntiSpywareDefender" />
        </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsDefender:SignatureUpdate">Security Intelligence Updates</string></strings>
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