Policy
Allow installation of devices using drivers that match these device setup classes
Windows 11 25H2
Policy overview
Key metadata and intent for this policy.
Supported OS tags: Windows10, Windows10RT, Windows11, Windows7, Windows8, Windows81, WindowsRT, WindowsRT81, WindowsServer2008, WindowsServer2012, WindowsServer2012R2, WindowsServer2016, WindowsVista
This policy setting allows you to specify a list of device setup class globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) for driver packages that Windows is allowed to install. This policy setting is intended to be used only when the "Apply layered order of evaluation for Allow and Prevent device installation policies across all device match criteria" policy setting is enabled, however it may also be used with the "Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings" policy setting for legacy policy definitions. When this policy setting is enabled together with the "Apply layered order of evaluation for Allow and Prevent device installation policies across all device match criteria" policy setting, Windows is allowed to install or update driver packages whose device setup class GUIDs appear in the list you create, unless another policy setting at the same or higher layer in the hierarchy specifically prevents that installation, such as the following policy settings: - Prevent installation of devices for these device classes - Prevent installation of devices that match these device IDs - Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device instance IDs If the "Apply layered order of evaluation for Allow and Prevent device installation policies across all device match criteria" policy setting is not enabled with this policy setting, then any other policy settings specifically preventing installation will take precedence. NOTE: The "Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings" policy setting has been replaced by the "Apply layered order of evaluation for Allow and Prevent device installation policies across all device match criteria" policy setting for supported target Windows 10 versions. It is recommended that you use the "Apply layered order of evaluation for Allow and Prevent device installation policies across all device match criteria" policy setting when possible. Alternatively, if this policy setting is enabled together with the "Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings" policy setting, Windows is allowed to install or update driver packages whose device setup class GUIDs appear in the list you create, unless another policy setting specifically prevents installation (for example, the "Prevent installation of devices that match these device IDs" policy setting, the "Prevent installation of devices for these device classes" policy setting, the "Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device instance IDs" policy setting, or the "Prevent installation of removable devices" policy setting). If you enable this policy setting on a remote desktop server, the policy setting affects redirection of the specified devices from a remote desktop client to the remote desktop server. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, and no other policy setting describes the device, the "Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings" policy setting determines whether the device can be installed.
Registry values
How enabled and disabled states update the registry.
| Registry location | Type | Enabled value | Disabled value |
|---|---|---|---|
| HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceInstall\Restrictions\AllowDeviceClasses | REG_DWORD | 1 | 0 |
Policy elements
Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.
| Element | Type | Registry mapping | Constraints & behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
Allow installation of devices using drivers for these device classes: ID DeviceInstall_Classes_Allow_List | list | HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeviceInstall\Restrictions\AllowDeviceClasses\AllowDeviceClasses Type REG_MULTI_SZ | List: standard |
Other policies in this category
Explore related policies at the same level.
- ComputerAllow administrators to override Device Installation Restriction policiesAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerAllow installation of devices that match any of these device IDsAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerAllow installation of devices that match any of these device instance IDsAt least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1909
- ComputerApply layered order of evaluation for Allow and Prevent device installation policies across all device match criteriaAt least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 2106
- ComputerDisplay a custom message title when device installation is prevented by a policy settingAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerDisplay a custom message when installation is prevented by a policy settingAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerPrevent installation of devices not described by other policy settingsAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerPrevent installation of devices that match any of these device IDsAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerPrevent installation of devices that match any of these device instance IDsAt least Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 Version 1909
- ComputerPrevent installation of devices using drivers that match these device setup classesAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerPrevent installation of removable devicesAt least Windows Vista
- ComputerTime (in seconds) to force reboot when required for policy changes to take effectAt least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7