Setting Outlook Group Policies
Install the Office 2007 Policies
When you downloaded the Office 2007 policy templates you must install them first.
- Run the installer and accept the License Agreement.
- Type a location to extract the file to. For example: C:\Office2007Policies
- Open the folder in Explorer, select all the ADMX-files (15 in total) from the ADMX folder and the ADML-files (15) from the en-us folder (or your localized language when available) and copy them to:
C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions- If you want to control an Active Directory network environment, then you can also copy them to the \\Sysvol\Domain\Policies\PolicyDefinitions folder on a domain controller.
- If you get prompted if you want to overwrite the files, choose “Yes to All”.
If you get prompted by User Account Control (UAC), press Continue or provide Administrator level credentials.
If you also need the Policy Templates for the Outlook Social Connector, then you can download them here. More instructions about using the Outlook Social Connector Policy templates can be found at: How to manage the Outlook Social Connector by using Group Policy.
Install the Office 2010 Policies
When you downloaded the Office 2010 policy templates you must install them first. While there are separate packages for the 32-bit and 64-bit AdminTemplates, this only applies to the Office Customization Tools (OCT) and not the policy templates themselves. The adm and admx templates in both packages are exactly the same.
- Run the installer and accept the License Agreement.
- Select a location to extract the file to. For example: C:\Office2010Policies
- Open the folder in Explorer, select all the ADMX-files (13 in total) from the ADMX folder and the ADML-files (13) from the en-us folder (or your localized language when available) and copy them to;
C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions- If you want to control a Active Directory network environment, then you can also copy them to the \\Sysvol\Domain\Policies\PolicyDefinitions folder on a domain controller.
- If you get prompted if you want to overwrite the files, choose “Yes to All”.
If you get prompted by User Account Control (UAC), press Continue or provide Administrator level credentials.
Install the Office 2013 Policies
When you downloaded the Office 2013 policy templates you must install them first. While there are separate packages for the 32-bit and 64-bit AdminTemplates, this only applies to the Office Customization Tools (OCT) and not the policy templates themselves. The admx templates in both packages are exactly the same.
- Run the installer and accept the License Agreement.
- Select a location to extract the file to. For example: C:\Office2013\Policies
- Open the folder in Explorer, select all the ADMX-files (13 in total) from the ADMX folder and the ADML-files (13) from the en-us folder (or your localized language when available) and copy them to;
C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions- If you want to control a Active Directory network environment, then you can also copy them to the \\Sysvol\Domain\Policies\PolicyDefinitions folder on a domain controller.
- If you get prompted if you want to overwrite the files, choose “Yes to All”.
If you get prompted by User Account Control (UAC), press Continue or provide Administrator level credentials.
Install the Office 2016 Policies
When you downloaded the Office 2016 policy templates you must install them first. While there are separate packages for the 32-bit and 64-bit AdminTemplates, this only applies to the Office Customization Tools (OCT) and not the policy templates themselves. The admx templates in both packages are exactly the same.
- Run the installer and accept the License Agreement.
- Select a location to extract the file to. For example: C:\Office2016\Policies
- Open the folder in Explorer select all the ADMX-files (11 in total) from the ADMX folder and the ADML-files (11) from the en-us folder (or your localized language when available) and copy them to;
C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions- If you want to control a Active Directory network environment, then you can also copy them to the \\Sysvol\Domain\Policies\PolicyDefinitions folder on a domain controller.
- If you get prompted if you want to overwrite the files, choose “Yes to All”.
If you get prompted by User Account Control (UAC), press Continue or provide Administrator level credentials.
Setting Policies in an Active Directory network environment
This method describes how you can set Group Policies for clients in a corporate Active Directory environment. Aside from installing the policy templates for your Office version(s), you’ll need the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) to edit and set the policies.
- Open the GPMC through Control panel-> Administrative Tools-> Group Policy Management.
- In the left column, browse to the folder Group Policy Objects and select the Policy you wish to enforce Outlook policies on.
The Group Policy Management Console with the Default Domain Policy GPO selected.
- Right click the Policy and choose Edit…
- The policy templates which you installed for Outlook will be loaded automatically under;
User Configuration-> Policies-> Microsoft Office Outlook version.
You now will see Outlook listed and you can now enforce settings.
The Outlook 2016 policy template loaded in the Group Policy Management Editor.
Setting Policies on the local computer
Once you’ve installed the Group Policy Administrative Templates of your Office version, you can also control the Office policies on your own computer via the Group Policy Editor.
The Group Policy Editor is not available when you are using a “Home” version of Windows.
Your computer can but doesn’t need to be part of a domain for this.
- You can open the Group Policy Editor in the following way;
Start-> type; gpedit.msc - The policy templates which you installed for Outlook will be loaded automatically under;
User Configuration-> Administrative Templates-> Microsoft Office Outlook version. - You now will see Outlook listed and you can now enforce settings. Some of the settings will only take effect after you restart your computer.
The Outlook 2016 policy template loaded in the local Group Policy Editor.
Local policy settings are enforced to all users of that computer; even the administrator! As an administrator you can of course change the settings back with the Group Policy Editor when required.