We want admin laptops to start with a 15-minute power setting and specified actions for the power button and lid close, but still let users change those settings afterward. A Group Policy test keeps restoring the configured values after restart, even though I expected the policy to apply only once. What’s a good way to set the defaults?
How can I set default laptop power settings without locking users out?
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5C__Lomper
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If users need to change a setting, avoid enforcing it with a policy that keeps applying. Set the initial values through a one-time script instead, then let users manage them normally. Test the behavior for both the power plan and the lid and button actions, since they may be controlled by separate settings.
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A startup or logon script using Windows power-management commands could establish the baseline. Make it run once per device or user, depending on who owns the settings, and record that it completed so it does not overwrite later choices. Check which execution context is appropriate before rolling it out, especially if the settings are user-specific.
M3+Oxbury:
I’d test with a clean machine and a standard user first, then change the settings and reboot to confirm the script does not run again.
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Separate the requirement into two parts: a default and an enforced rule. If the request is really for a preferred starting point, deploy it during imaging or with a one-time management script. If some actions must stay fixed for security or operational reasons, keep only those in policy and be clear that users will not be able to change them.
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Be careful with an “apply once” option. If the policy keeps reapplying, verify exactly which setting is doing it and whether the policy is still in scope after the first application. A separate policy for the required settings can help keep the behavior understandable, but it will not make enforced values user-editable.
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5C__Lomper:
That makes sense. I may have treated the initial setup and the ongoing policy as the same thing.