Policy
DNS suffix search list
Windows 11 25H2
Policy overview
Key metadata and intent for this policy.
Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2003, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista, WindowsXP
Specifies the DNS suffixes to attach to an unqualified single-label name before submission of a DNS query for that name. An unqualified single-label name contains no dots. The name "example" is a single-label name. This is different from a fully qualified domain name such as "example.microsoft.com." DNS clients that receive this policy setting will attach one or more suffixes to DNS queries for a single-label name. For example, a DNS query for the single-label name "example" will be modified to "example.microsoft.com" before sending the query to a DNS server if this policy setting is enabled with a suffix of "microsoft.com." To use this policy setting, click Enabled, and then enter a string value representing the DNS suffixes that should be appended to single-label names. You must specify at least one suffix. Use a comma-delimited string, such as "microsoft.com,serverua.microsoft.com,office.microsoft.com" to specify multiple suffixes. If you enable this policy setting, one DNS suffix is attached at a time for each query. If a query is unsuccessful, a new DNS suffix is added in place of the failed suffix, and this new query is submitted. The values are used in the order they appear in the string, starting with the leftmost value and proceeding to the right until a query is successful or all suffixes are tried. If you disable this policy setting, or if you do not configure this policy setting, the primary DNS suffix and network connection-specific DNS suffixes are appended to the unqualified queries.
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.
| Element | Type | Registry mapping | Constraints & behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
DNS Suffixes: ID DNS_SearchListLabel | text | HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient\SearchList Type REG_SZ | None |
Other policies in this category
Explore related policies at the same level.
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- ComputerConfigure encrypted name resolutionAt least Windows Server 20H2, Windows 10 Version 20H2
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- ComputerConfigure NetBIOS settingsAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerConnection-specific DNS suffixWindows XP Professional only
- ComputerDNS serversWindows XP Professional only
- ComputerDynamic updateAt least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
- ComputerIDN mappingAt least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
- ComputerPrefer link local responses over DNS when received over a network with higher precedenceAt least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
- ComputerPrimary DNS suffixAt least Windows 2000