How to Apply Group Policy to Windows 10, Servers or Desktops only

Last updated: Oct 6, 2023

It can be interesting to be able to apply GPO to certain type of machines only. For example you don't want to see automatic shutdown to be applied on servers. Let's see how to create WMI filter.

Create WMI Filter

Open Group Policy Manager :

Create WMI filter :

Give a name, a description and click on Add :

Set the Filter :

With Version like "10.%" for Windows 10

And ProductType="1" for desktop

Now we can apply the filter to a Group Policy. Open the GPO, in WMI Filtering section select the filter and click on Open

Click Yes :

Group Policy Management, Would you like to change WMI filter

WMI Filters Examples

Some filters examples.

Desktops

select * from Win32_OperatingSystem WHERE ProductType = "1"

Windows 10

select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where Version like "10.%" and ProductType="1"

Windows 7 or Vista

select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where (Version like "10.%" or Version like "6.0%") and ProductType="1"

Windows Servers (Domain Controller Only)

select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where ProductType="2"

Windows Servers (Non-Domain Controller)

select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where ProductType="3"

Windows 10 64 bits or Windows 2016/2019 DC

select * from Win32_OperatingSystem where Version like "10.%" and (ProductType="1" or ProductType="2") and OSArchitecture = "64-bit"

Parameters List

Here are some parameters to help to make your own filters.

Parameters
Desktops	ProductType = "1"
Servers (Domain Controller Only)	ProductType = "2"
Servers (Non-Domain Controller)	ProductType = "3"
32 bits	NOT OSArchitecture = "64-bit"
64 bits	OSArchitecture = "64-bit"
Windows XP or Server 2003/R2	Version like "5.1%" or Version like "5.2%"
Windows Vista or Server 2008	Version like "6.0%"
Windows 7 or Server 2008R2	Version like "6.1%"
Windows 8 Server 2012	Version like "6.2%"
Windows 8.1 or Server 2012R2	Version like "6.3%"
Windows 10 or Server 2016/2019	Version like "10.0%"
Windows 11 or Server 2022	Version like "10.0%"

Note: Type "ver" inside a terminal to display the Windows version.

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