Policy
Computer location
Microsoft Windows
Policy overview
Key metadata and intent for this policy.
Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows2000, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2003, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista, WindowsXP
If this policy setting is enabled, it specifies the default location criteria used when searching for printers. This setting is a component of the Location Tracking feature of Windows printers. To use this setting, enable Location Tracking by enabling the "Pre-populate printer search location text" setting. When Location Tracking is enabled, the system uses the specified location as a criterion when users search for printers. The value you type here overrides the actual location of the computer conducting the search. Type the location of the user's computer. When users search for printers, the system uses the specified location (and other search criteria) to find a printer nearby. You can also use this setting to direct users to a particular printer or group of printers that you want them to use. If you disable this setting or do not configure it, and the user does not type a location as a search criterion, the system searches for a nearby printer based on the IP address and subnet mask of the user's computer.
Registry values
How enabled and disabled states update the registry.
No explicit registry values are set for enabled or disabled states.
Policy elements
Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.
| Scope | Element | Type | Registry mapping | Constraints & behavior | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer | Location ID PhysicalLocation_Name | text | Path Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers Value name PhysicalLocation Type REG_SZ | None |