Copying a Group Policy Object (GPO) is a straightforward process primarily done using the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
The basic steps to copy a GPO involve selecting the source GPO and pasting it to a desired location within the console.
Steps to Copy a Group Policy
Here are the steps you can follow to copy an existing GPO based on the provided method:
- Select the GPO from which you are going to copy the policy settings.
- Open the Group Policy Management Console.
- Navigate through the console tree to find the GPO you wish to copy. This is your source GPO containing the settings you want to duplicate.
- On the Action menu, click Copy.
- With the source GPO selected, go to the 'Action' menu at the top of the GPMC window or right-click the GPO itself.
- Choose the 'Copy' option. This places a copy of the GPO's settings into memory.
- Select the All GPOs node into which you are going to paste.
- In the GPMC console tree, navigate to the location where you want to paste the copied GPO. The 'Group Policy Objects' folder (often referred to as the "All GPOs node") is a common destination, but you might also paste it within a specific domain or organizational unit if managing GPOs there.
- On the Action menu, click Paste.
- Select the destination node (e.g., 'Group Policy Objects').
- Go back to the 'Action' menu or right-click the selected node.
- Choose the 'Paste' option.
When you paste the GPO, the system will typically prompt you to give the new GPO a name. You can also choose whether to copy security filtering and WMI filters associated with the original GPO.
This process effectively creates a duplicate of the original GPO, allowing you to reuse its configuration settings as a starting point for a new policy or to transfer settings.
