Windows Cannot Find GPEDIT.MSC on Windows 11/10, Fixed Now!

When you search for Group Policy or gpedit.msc on your computer, you may get an error message that says that Windows cannot find GPEDIT.MSC, Make sure you have typed the name correctly, then try again. This post will explain how to fix Windows cannot find gpedit.msc problem safely and how to restore lost data on Windows 10/11 easily.

Fix Windows cannot find GPEDIT.MSC issue in 6 ways:

Using Windows OS can be frustrating sometimes. Especially when errors like "Windows Cannot Find GPEDIT.MSC on Windows 11/10" pop in. This error indicates that the group policy editor isn't enabled or is troubleshooting.

If you are also facing this error, this article is for you. Here we will be discussing fixing this error with various easy-to-use methods. We will also explain the group policy editor and its efficiency.

What Is Group Policy Editor

Group Policy Editor is a program that enables you to manage settings for Windows. It may be used to change everything from how the Start menu works to which programs are allowed to run on your PC. Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool, and it's critical to grasp how it works before altering anything.

Furthermore, group Policy Editor is a Microsoft Windows feature that lets administrators manage settings on computers or networks. For example, group Policy Editor can be used to control what users can do on their computer, like running programs, accessing files, and viewing registry keys.

The Group Policy Editor is considered to be a strong tool, and it may be used to make significant changes to a system. As a result, administrators should first grasp how the Group Policy Editor works before making any modifications.

Windows Cannot Find GPEDIT.MSC Error Introduction

If you are getting the "Windows cannot find GPEDIT.MSC " error on your Windows 10 computer, chances are that the Group Policy Editor is not included or not installed in your version of Windows 10.

You can get rid of this error through various methods. For instance, you may have to repair or update your Windows OS to fix this error. Also, enabling the group policy editor with a batch file is also an option.

In short, you either have to update your Windows OS or enable the group policy editor to fix this error. 

How to Fix Windows Cannot Find GPEDIT.MSC on Windows 10/11

So, as we mentioned, you can fix the Windows Cannot find GPEDIT.MSC Windows 11 error through various methods. Here we have shared six step-by-step methods to eliminate this error. So, let us find out how each of these methods works.

Fix 1. Check Your Windows Version First

If you are getting an error saying Windows was unable to locate GPEDIT.MSC, it is most likely because you are using an unsupported version of Windows. Only Professional and Enterprise versions of Windows include the Group Policy Editor, which includes GPEDIT.MSC as a component.

The first fix for this error is to check the Windows version first. Both Windows 10 and 11 home editions do not come with a group policy editor. So, here is how you can check your Windows version.

Step 1. Press Win + R to start the Run tool. Type winver and press enter.

Step 2. The following window dialogue box will open. Here the system will show the version of the copy of Windows that is installed on your PC or laptop.

If it says you have Windows 10 or 11 home edition installed, their group policy editor is missing here.

Fix 2. Update Windows 

Once you have found the Windows version, it is time to upgrade it (As Windows 10/11 home doesn't come with GPE).

To resolve this error, simply upgrade your version of Windows 10 to Pro or higher. You can do this by following these steps.

Step 1. Click on Start and go to "Settings." In the Settings menu, click on "Update & Security."

Step 2. Click on "Activation", and then select the "Go to Store" option.

Step 3. After that, you'll be able to purchase the upgrade from the store. You should be able to access GPEDIT.MSC without issue after upgrading.

Fix 3. Enable the Group Policy Editor with a Batch File

You may enable the Group Policy Editor on a Windows computer by running a simple batch file. This will enable the GPEDIT.MSC snap-in, allowing you to make changes to group policy settings.

Step 1. To utilize this technique, you'll first need to obtain the Enable_GPEDIT.ZIP file from the internet.

Step 2. Once you've got this file, extract its contents to a folder on your computer's hard drive.

Step 3. You'll find two files in this folder: an executable file and a .reg file.

Step 4. Double-click the file to start it. User Account Control may prompt you; if so, click "Yes" to continue. After this, all users on your computer will have access to the Group Policy Editor.

Fix 4. Run System File Checker

You can also use the System File Checker tool to scan for and fix any corrupt files on your system. Here is how to do it:

Step 1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard, then select "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu that appears.

Step 2. Type the following command: sfc /scannow into the Command Prompt and then press Enter. This will start a scan of all system files on your computer and attempt to repair any that are found to be corrupt.

Step 3. Once the scan is complete, restart your computer and try opening GPEDIT.MSC again. It should now work without any problems.

Fix 5. Repair Windows

Often, some corrupted Windows files can also cause such errors. So, repairing your Windows OS is also one option here. Follow the simple steps to repair Windows.

Step 1. To repair the Windows OS, you need a bootable disk or USB. Simply insert that into your PC or laptop and turn it on. Once the system turns on and the following text appears, "press any key now to boot from CD, DVD," just press enter or space (or any key) to continue.

Step 2. The Windows setup interface will pop up. So, to start with select your desired language preference.

Step 3. Now choose "Troubleshoot" to proceed further.

Step 4. The interface will give you different options. Here, you have to choose the third option, which says "Automatic Repair."

Step 5. The Windows will start the automatic repairing process. You have to wait until it's complete

Fix 6. Reinstall Windows

If system repair did not work in your case, you could consider reinstalling the Windows operating system. A freshly installed Windows 10/11 (Pro versions or higher) won't cause any such issues. So, here are the simple steps to follow for reinstalling Windows.

Step 1. Go to Settings and then go to "Update and Security".

Step 2. Click on "Recovery" and choose the "Get started" option.

Step 3. Now click on "Reset this PC" and the above blue screen will appear. As it says, you can choose two options. If you want to keep your files and remove other settings, click on "Keep my files". Whereas if you want to perform a clean install, click on "Remove everything".

Step 4. Once you have chosen one option (as discussed above), the Windows will be reinstalled.

How to Recover Lost Data on Windows 10/Windows 11

No matter which method you use, your main concern here would be to prevent data loss. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard has got you covered here.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a perfect all-in-one data recovery tool for users who want to get rid of such errors in a fast and convenient way. Loaded with features, this data recovery software lets you recover all forms of data files, including documents, videos, audio files, and important system files, in a matter of a few minutes.

Whether your system got crashed because of some corrupted file or is not booting up at all, you can use this tool to recover your data files. It is 100% safe and secure. No matter which Windows version you use, be it Windows 11/10/8/7, this tool is no short of recovering back that essential data. It can restore files from emptied Recycle Bin, HDD, SSD, SD card, pen drive, USB flash drive, camera, etc. 

Step 1. Run EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. Choose the drive where you lost files and start scanning. This software allows you to recover lost data from all devices, including HDD, SSD, USB drive, SD card, pen drive, camera, etc.

Step 2. Browse the full scan results. You can choose the file type you need by clicking on the file type filter. EaseUS data recovery software supports 1000+ file types like photos, videos, documents, emails, audio files, and many more. 

Step 3. Select the files you want to preview. Click "Recover" and set a storage location to save the recovered data. 

Conclusion

So, with the six methods we shared, you can easily fix the Windows Cannot Find GPEDIT.MSC on Windows 11/10 error. However, for an even better and easy way, you can download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.

This data recovery tool helps you get rid of such technical errors within data loss. It has a clean interface and lets you recover any type of data, whether it's a document or a video file format. It supports them all. So, download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard today!