Order of GPOs

Question

What is the order wherein GPOs are applied for?

Answer 1

Group Policy settings are processed in the following manner:

1:- Local Group Policy object-each of the computer has exactly one Group Policy object which is stored locally. This processes for both computer and user Group Policy processing.

2:- Site-Any GPOs that have been linked to the site that the computer belongs to are processed next. Processing is in the order that is indicated by the administrator, on the Linked Group Policy Objects tab for the site in Group Policy Management Console (GPMC). The GPO along with the lowest link order is processed last, and thus has the highest precedence.

3:- Domain-processing of multiple domain-linked GPOs is in the order defined by the administrator, on the Linked Group Policy Objects tab for the domain in GPMC. The GPO along with the lowest link order is processed last, and thus has the highest precedence.

4:- Organizational units- GPOs which are linked to the organizational unit which is highest in the Active Directory hierarchy are processed first, then GPOs which are linked to its child organizational unit, and so on. At last, the GPOs which are linked to the organizational unit which contains the user or computer are processed.