Set Windows File Protection scanning

ComputerNeeds changes for IntuneWFPScan

Supported on Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only

23H2 · 1.0

What it does

This policy setting allows you to set when Windows File Protection scans protected files. This policy setting directs Windows File Protection to enumerate and scan all system files for changes. If you enable this policy setting, select a rate from the "Scanning Frequency" box. You can use this setting to direct Windows File Protection to scan files more often. -- "Do not scan during startup," the default, scans files only during setup. -- "Scan during startup" also scans files each time you start Windows XP. This setting delays each startup. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, by default, files are scanned only during setup. Note: This policy setting affects file scanning only. It does not affect the standard background file change detection that Windows File Protection provides.

What it writes

Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Registry key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Windows File Protection

Why it needs changes for Intune

Policy references a Windows supportedOn definition.
ADMX-INTUNE-WINDOWS-SUPPORTEDON-REFERENCE

In Intune

No native CSP; import the ADMX (needs changes first).

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

Options

Option	Type	Registry value	Allowed values
Scanning frequencyRequiredDefault: Do not scan during startup	Drop-down list	`SfcScan`	Do not scan during startup`0` Scan during startup`1`

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\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Windows File Protection]
"SfcScan"=dword:00000000

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: Set Windows File Protection scanning
# Name: WFPScan
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: WindowsFileProtection.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Windows File Protection' -Name 'SfcScan' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 0

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_WindowsFileProtection/WFPScan

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_WindowsFileProtection/WFPScan</LocURI>
        </Target>
        <Data>&lt;enabled/&gt;
&lt;data id="WFPScanList" value="0"/&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: Set Windows File Protection scanning
# Name: WFPScan
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: WindowsFileProtection.admx

$isMatch = Test-RegistryValueEquals -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Windows File Protection' -Name 'SfcScan' -Kind 'DWord' -Expected 0
if (-not $isMatch) {
    $reasons.Add('Value mismatch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Windows File Protection\SfcScan') | 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: Set Windows File Protection scanning
# Name: WFPScan
# Scope: Machine
# State: Enabled
# Source: WindowsFileProtection.admx

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Windows File Protection' -Name 'SfcScan' -PropertyType 'DWord' -Value 0

History 3 retained releases

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

2 later releases left it unchanged.

Template

Internal name: WFPScan
Namespace: Microsoft.Policies.WindowsFileProtection
Template file: WindowsFileProtection.admx
Release: Windows 11 23H2 · 1.0 · file set d784d0ea5f14a680…

Definition, editor controls and support

Definition

<policy class="Machine" displayName="$(string.WFPScan)" explainText="$(string.WFPScan_Help)" key="Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Windows File Protection" name="WFPScan" presentation="$(presentation.WFPScan)" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsFileProtection:WFP" />
      <supportedOn ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_WindowsPreVista" />
      <elements>
        <enum id="WFPScanList" required="true" valueName="SfcScan">
          <item displayName="$(string.WFPScan_NotAtBoot)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="0" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.WFPScan_AtBoot)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="1" />
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
      </elements>
    </policy>

Editor controls

<presentation id="WFPScan" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <dropdownList defaultItem="0" refId="WFPScanList">Scanning frequency:</dropdownList>
      </presentation>

Supported platforms and category

Microsoft.Policies.Products:product:MicrosoftWindows
sha256:4b3cb6917b5e5b7cd142c0157f10882786b3e9ee67c29fd7b8f4c6cb2eec5fe7
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.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_WindowsPreVista
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WindowsPreVista)" name="SUPPORTED_WindowsPreVista" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range maxVersionIndex="3" minVersionIndex="1" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows" />
        </or>
      </definition>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsFileProtection:category:WFP
<category displayName="$(string.WFP)" name="WFP" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System" />
    </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: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>
Microsoft.Policies.Windows:definition:SUPPORTED_WindowsPreVista
<definition displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_WindowsPreVista)" name="SUPPORTED_WindowsPreVista" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
        <or>
          <range maxVersionIndex="3" minVersionIndex="1" ref="Microsoft.Policies.Products:MicrosoftWindows" />
        </or>
      </definition>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:SUPPORTED_WindowsPreVista">Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only</string></strings>
Microsoft.Policies.WindowsFileProtection:category:WFP
<category displayName="$(string.WFP)" name="WFP" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/GroupPolicy/2006/07/PolicyDefinitions">
      <parentCategory ref="Microsoft.Policies.Windows:System" />
    </category>
<strings><string id="Microsoft.Policies.WindowsFileProtection:WFP">Windows File Protection</string></strings>