Policy
Prohibit adding and removing components for a LAN or remote access connection
Windows 11 25H2
Policy overview
Key metadata and intent for this policy.
Supported OS tags: Windows2000, WindowsServer2003, WindowsXP
Determines whether administrators can add and remove network components for a LAN or remote access connection. This setting has no effect on nonadministrators. If you enable this setting (and enable the "Enable Network Connections settings for Administrators" setting), the Install and Uninstall buttons for components of connections are disabled, and administrators are not permitted to access network components in the Windows Components Wizard. Important: If the "Enable Network Connections settings for Administrators" is disabled or not configured, this setting will not apply to administrators on post-Windows 2000 computers. If you disable this setting or do not configure it, the Install and Uninstall buttons for components of connections in the Network Connections folder are enabled. Also, administrators can gain access to network components in the Windows Components Wizard. The Install button opens the dialog boxes used to add network components. Clicking the Uninstall button removes the selected component in the components list (above the button). The Install and Uninstall buttons appear in the properties dialog box for connections. These buttons are on the General tab for LAN connections and on the Networking tab for remote access connections. Note: When the "Prohibit access to properties of a LAN connection", "Ability to change properties of an all user remote access connection", or "Prohibit changing properties of a private remote access connection" settings are set to deny access to the connection properties dialog box, the Install and Uninstall buttons for connections are blocked. Note: Nonadministrators are already prohibited from adding and removing connection components, regardless of this setting.
Registry values
How enabled and disabled states update the registry.
| Registry location | Type | Enabled value | Disabled value |
|---|---|---|---|
| HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Network Connections\NC_AddRemoveComponents | REG_DWORD | 0 | 1 |
Policy elements
Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.
This policy has no additional user input fields.
Other policies in this category
Explore related policies at the same level.
- UserAbility to change properties of an all user remote access connectionAt least Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
- UserAbility to delete all user remote access connectionsWindows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
- UserAbility to Enable/Disable a LAN connectionWindows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
- UserAbility to rename all user remote access connectionsWindows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
- UserAbility to rename LAN connectionsWindows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 only
- UserAbility to rename LAN connections or remote access connections available to all usersMicrosoft Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 operating systems only
- ComputerDo not show the "local access only" network iconAt least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
- UserEnable Windows 2000 Network Connections settings for AdministratorsWindows Server 2003 and Windows XP only
- UserProhibit access to properties of a LAN connectionAt least Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
- UserProhibit access to properties of components of a LAN connectionMicrosoft Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 operating systems only
- UserProhibit access to properties of components of a remote access connectionMicrosoft Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 operating systems only
- UserProhibit access to the Advanced Settings item on the Advanced menuMicrosoft Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 operating systems only