How to configure client settings in Configuration Manager

Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)

You manage all client settings in Configuration Manager from the Client Settings node of the Administration workspace in the console. When you want to configure settings for all users and devices in the hierarchy, modify the default settings. If you want to apply different settings to just some users or devices, create custom settings and deploy to collections. Custom client settings override the default settings.

For information about each client setting, see About client settings.

Note

You can also use configuration items to manage clients to assess, track, and remediate the configuration compliance of devices. For more information, see Ensure device compliance.

Configure default client settings

1. In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Administration workspace, and select the Client Settings node.

2. Select Default Client Settings. On the Home tab of the ribbon, select Properties.

3. View and configure the client settings for each group of settings in the navigation pane.

Tip

Configuration Manager configures clients with these settings when they next download policy. To start policy retrieval for a single client, see Start policy retrieval for a Configuration Manager client.

Create and deploy custom client settings

When you deploy these custom settings, they override the default client settings. Before you begin this procedure, make sure that you have a collection the deployment. The collection should contain the users or devices that require these custom client settings.

1. In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Administration workspace, and select the Client Settings node.

2. On the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Create group, select Create Custom Client Settings. Then choose either Create Custom Client Device Settings or Create Custom Client User Settings.

   1. Specify a unique name and optional description.

   2. Select one or more of the settings groups.

   3. Select each group of settings from the navigation pane, configure the available settings, and then select OK to save the settings.

3. Select the custom client setting that you created. On the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Client Settings group, choose Deploy.

4. In the Select Collection window, select the appropriate collection, and then choose OK. To verify the targeted collection, switch to the Deployments tab in the details pane of the Client Settings node.

5. View the order of the custom client setting that you created. When you have multiple custom client settings, they're applied according to their order number. If there are any conflicts between settings, the setting that has the lowest order number overrides the other settings. To change the order number, on the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Client Settings group, choose Move Item Up or Move Item Down.

Tip

Configuration Manage configures clients with these settings when they next download policy. To start policy retrieval for a single client, see Start policy retrieval for a Configuration Manager client.

View client settings

When you deploy multiple client settings to the same device, user, or user group, the prioritization and combination of settings is complex.

1. In the Configuration Manager console, go to the Assets and Compliance workspace, and select either the Devices or Users node.

2. Select a device or user, and in the Client Settings group of the ribbon, select Resultant Client Settings.

3. Select a client setting from the left pane, and it displays the settings. In this view, the settings are read-only.

   Note

   To view the client settings, your account needs Read access to client settings.

Automate with PowerShell

Optionally, you can use the Configuration Manager PowerShell cmdlets to automate client settings. For more information, see the following articles in the PowerShell documentation:

• Get-CMClientSetting: Get an existing client settings object.

• New-CMClientSetting: Create a new client settings object.

• Remove-CMClientSetting: Remove a client settings object.

Use the following cmdlets to configure client settings for the specific group:

• Set-CMClientSettingBackgroundIntelligentTransfer
• Set-CMClientSettingClientCache
• Set-CMClientSettingClientPolicy
• Set-CMClientSettingCloudService
• Set-CMClientSettingComplianceSetting
• Set-CMClientSettingComputerAgent
• Set-CMClientSettingComputerRestart
• Set-CMClientSettingDeliveryOptimization
• Set-CMClientSettingEndpointProtection
• Set-CMClientSettingEnrollment
• Set-CMClientSettingGeneral
• Set-CMClientSettingHardwareInventory
• Set-CMClientSettingMeteredInternetConnection
• Set-CMClientSettingPowerManagement
• Set-CMClientSettingRemoteTool
• Set-CMClientSettingSoftwareCenter
• Set-CMClientSettingSoftwareDeployment
• Set-CMClientSettingSoftwareInventory
• Set-CMClientSettingSoftwareMetering
• Set-CMClientSettingSoftwareUpdate
• Set-CMClientSettingStateMessaging
• Set-CMClientSettingUserAndDeviceAffinity

Use the following cmdlets to manage deployments of custom client settings:

• New-CMClientSettingDeployment
• Remove-CMClientSettingDeployment

Next steps

About client settings