WINDOWS SERVICE

gpsvc: Group Policy Client

Q: How do I check that it is the real service?

On Windows 11 build 26300 the service is registered as svchost.exe -k GPSvcGroup, runs as LocalSystem and loads C:\Windows\System32\gpsvc.dll, signed by Microsoft Windows. It depends on RPCSS and Mup. sc qc gpsvc prints the same on your PC.

Q: How do I see which policies apply to my PC?

Run gpresult /r in a Command Prompt for a summary of the policy objects applied to the computer and to your account, or gpresult /h report.html for a full report.

Applies the settings that administrators configure for the computer and its users through Group Policy.

TECHNICAL SUMMARY

Service name	gpsvc
Display name	Group Policy Client
Runs from	C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe
Command line	svchost.exe -k GPSvcGroup
Runs as	LocalSystem
Verdict	Leave it alone
Microsoft, Windows Server 2016 guidance	No guidance

Paths, signer and service account observed on Windows 11 build 26300 on 11 November 2026. Run the commands below to check your own PC.

Should you touch it?

Leave it alone

Microsoft states that if it is disabled the settings are not applied, and that components and applications that depend on Group Policy might not function as intended. Its guidance for Windows 10 and 11 IoT Enterprise rates it Don't disable. On the home PC used for this page, which is not joined to a domain, it was set to Automatic and was not running when we looked.

What PC Tweaker does with it

PC Tweaker does not change this service. No control in the catalogue stops it, disables it or edits its start type. Some PC Tweaker controls write policy registry values directly; each control's page lists the exact value and how to undo it.

Check it yourself

See its state and start type

Get-Service gpsvc | Format-List Name, DisplayName, Status, StartType
sc qc gpsvc

PowerShell

Common questions

What does the gpsvc service do?

Applies the settings that administrators configure for the computer and its users through Group Policy. It runs C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe (svchost.exe -k GPSvcGroup) as LocalSystem.

Can I disable gpsvc?

Leave it alone. Microsoft states that if it is disabled the settings are not applied, and that components and applications that depend on Group Policy might not function as intended. Its guidance for Windows 10 and 11 IoT Enterprise rates it Don't disable. On the home PC used for this page, which is not joined to a domain, it was set to Automatic and was not running when we looked.

How do I check that it is the real service?

On Windows 11 build 26300 the service is registered as svchost.exe -k GPSvcGroup, runs as LocalSystem and loads C:\Windows\System32\gpsvc.dll, signed by Microsoft Windows. It depends on RPCSS and Mup. sc qc gpsvc prints the same on your PC.

How do I see which policies apply to my PC?

Run gpresult /r in a Command Prompt for a summary of the policy objects applied to the computer and to your account, or gpresult /h report.html for a full report.