Would you like to learn how to configure a group policy to require domain controller authentication to unlock the workstation? In this tutorial, we will show you how to disable logon using cached account information and how to require domain controller authentication to unlock the workstation.

• Windows 2012 R2
• Windows 2016
• Windows 2019
• Windows 10
• Windows 7

Equipment list

The following section presents the list of equipment used to create this tutorial.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tutorial GPO - Require Domain Controller authentication to unlock workstation

On the domain controller, open the group policy management tool.

Windows 2012 - Group Policy Management

Create a new group policy.

Windows 2012 - Group Policy Objects

Enter a name for the new group policy.

Windows - Add GPO

In our example, the new GPO was named: MY-GPO.

On the Group Policy Management screen, expand the folder named Group Policy Objects.

Right-click your new Group Policy Object and select the Edit option.

Windows - Edit GPO

On the group policy editor screen, expand the Computer configuration folder and locate the following item.

Copy to Clipboard

Access the folder named Security options.

GPO - Windows local security options

Enable the option named Interactive logon: Number of previous logons to cache.

Set 0 as the value to not cache logons.

GPO - interactive logon - do not cache

Enable the option named Interactive logon: Require domain controller authentication to unlock workstation.

GPO - Require domain controller authentication to unlock workstation

In our example, we are forcing the computer to contact a domain controller before allowing the user to logon to the domain.

In our example, we are forcing the computer to contact a domain controller before unlocking the workstation.

To save the group policy configuration, you need to close the Group Policy editor.

Congratulations! You have finished the GPO creation.

Tutorial - Applying the GPO to require domain controller authentication to unlock the computer

On the Group policy management screen, you need to right-click the Organizational Unit desired and select the option to link an existent GPO.

Windows-2012-Applocker application

In our example, we are going to link the group policy named MY-GPO to the root of the domain.

GPO- tutorial linking

Congratulations! You are able to force the computer to contact a domain controller before unlocking the workstation.