How to Link a GPO to an OU

Group Policy Objects (GPOs) are essential for managing user and computer settings in an Active Directory (AD) environment. Linking a GPO to an Organizational Unit (OU) ensures that the policies apply only to the users or computers within that OU. Here's a detailed guide to linking a GPO to an OU.

Steps to Link a GPO to an OU

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)

1. Press Win + R, type gpmc.msc, and hit Enter.
2. This opens the Group Policy Management Console, where you can manage GPOs and their links.

2. Locate the Target OU

1. In the left pane, expand your domain.
2. Navigate to the OU where you want to link the GPO.

3. Link the GPO to the OU

1. Right-click the OU and select Link an Existing GPO.
2. From the list of available GPOs, choose the one you want to link.
3. Click OK to confirm.

4. Verify the GPO Link

1. Select the OU in the GPMC.
2. Check the Linked Group Policy Objects tab in the right pane to confirm the GPO is applied.

5. Force Group Policy Update

To ensure the policy takes effect immediately:

1. On a target computer, open Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Run the command:This updates the policies on the local machine.

   gpupdate /force

Related Article

1. How to Use the GPUpdate Command?
2. Microsoft article for Link the GPO to the Domain