LAPS, or Local Administrator Password Solution, is a feature in Windows Server that helps to automate the management of local administrator passwords on domain-joined computers. It uses Group Policy to deploy a script that resets the local administrator password on a regular basis. This helps to improve security by ensuring that the local administrator password is complex and unique, and it also helps to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to computers.
In some cases, the LAPS group policy template may not be showing in the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). This can be due to a number of factors, including:
The LAPS feature is not enabled on the domain controller.
The LAPS ADMX template is not installed on the domain controller.
The LAPS Group Policy object (GPO) has not been created.
Troubleshooting LAPS Group Policy Template Not Showing
Check if LAPS is enabled on the domain controller.
To check if LAPS is enabled on the domain controller, open the Local Security Policy console (secpol.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > LAPS.
If the LAPS settings are not present, then LAPS is not enabled.
To enable LAPS, open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and create a new Group Policy object (GPO).
In the GPO, navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > LAPS and enable the policy “Enable Local Administrator Password Management”.
Install the LAPS ADMX template.
The LAPS ADMX template is required for the LAPS Group Policy settings to be visible in the GPMC.
To install the LAPS ADMX template, download the LAPS installation package from the Microsoft website and extract the contents of the package to a folder on the domain controller.
Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and click on the “Administrative Templates” node in the left pane.
Right-click on the “Administrative Templates” node and select “Add/Remove Templates”.
In the “Add/Remove Templates” dialog box, click on the “Add” button and select the LAPS ADMX template file that you extracted earlier.
Click on the “OK” button to close the “Add/Remove Templates” dialog box.
Create the LAPS Group Policy object.
Once the LAPS feature is enabled and the LAPS ADMX template is installed, you can create the LAPS Group Policy object (GPO).
To create the LAPS GPO, open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and create a new Group Policy object (GPO).
In the GPO, navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > LAPS and configure the LAPS settings according to your requirements.
Common Questions about LAPS Group Policy Template Not Showing
Why is the LAPS group policy template not showing in the GPMC?
The LAPS group policy template may not be showing in the GPMC because the LAPS feature is not enabled on the domain controller, the LAPS ADMX template is not installed on the domain controller, or the LAPS Group Policy object (GPO) has not been created.
How do I enable LAPS on the domain controller?
To enable LAPS on the domain controller, open the Local Security Policy console (secpol.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > LAPS. Enable the policy “Enable Local Administrator Password Management”.
How do I install the LAPS ADMX template?
To install the LAPS ADMX template, download the LAPS installation package from the Microsoft website and extract the contents of the package to a folder on the domain controller. Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) and click on the “Administrative Templates” node in the left pane. Right-click on the “Administrative Templates” node and select “Add/Remove Templates”. In the “Add/Remove Templates” dialog box, click on the “Add” button and select the LAPS ADMX template file that you extracted earlier. Click on the “OK” button to close the “Add/Remove Templates” dialog box.
Conclusion
The LAPS group policy template is a powerful tool that can help you to improve the security of your domain. By following the steps in this article, you can troubleshoot the issue of the LAPS group policy template not showing and ensure that you are able to use LAPS to protect your computers.
LAPS is a valuable tool for improving the security of your domain. By following the steps in this article, you can troubleshoot the issue of the LAPS group policy template not showing and ensure that you are able to use LAPS to protect your computers.
