Importing Administrative Templates for Intune

Microsoft is always increasing the capabilities of Intune, and a great step forward has been the introduction of ADMX file import. This functionality allows you to import ADMX files from Microsoft and third parties, expanding the range of application and OS settings you can manage.

By leveraging this feature, you can truly harness the full potential of cloud-only device management.

What Are the Benefits?

1. Enhanced User Experience
With ADMX imports, you can fine-tune user experience settings for applications, ensuring they work seamlessly out of the box. For example:

• Disable the splash screen in Adobe Reader.
• Configure the homepage, search provider, and other settings in Firefox.

These customizations deliver a “light-touch” experience for users, allowing applications to function exactly as intended without manual intervention. This not only improves usability but also drives adoption across your organization.

2. Improved Security Settings
ADMX imports enable you to enforce critical security settings. For example:

• Force Chrome to apply updates within 14 days, aligning with Cyber Essentials standards.
• Lock down Adobe update settings to ensure compliance with security policies.

By automating these configurations, you can significantly reduce vulnerabilities and ensure your devices remain secure.

3. Consistent Corporate Identity
Maintaining a consistent corporate identity is key for professionalism and brand perception. With ADMX imports, you can:

• Enforce corporate branding and desired settings across devices.
• Ensure consistency in user environments, both internally and externally.

This alignment reinforces your organization’s image while providing a unified experience for employees and stakeholders alike.

4. Simplified Device Management
ADMX imports reduce the complexity of managing diverse devices and applications by centralizing control through Intune.

• Streamline policy management for both cloud-only and hybrid environments.
• Eliminate the need for additional on-premises infrastructure, such as Group Policy Objects (GPOs), by transitioning settings to the cloud.

5. Flexibility and Scalability
The ability to import ADMX files opens the door for custom configurations that scale with your organization’s needs.

• Easily adapt policies as new applications or features are introduced.
• Apply different configurations based on user groups, locations, or device types, ensuring tailored and flexible management.

6. Faster Deployment of Policies
By importing ADMX files directly into Intune, you can push out settings faster compared to traditional GPO deployments.

• Instant updates to settings without relying on on-premises synchronization.
• Speed up onboarding for new employees or devices by pre-configuring essential settings.

How to Import ADMX Files into Intune

The process of importing ADMX files into Intune is straightforward but comes with one main consideration: you must first import any dependencies required by the ADMX file.

Identify Dependencies
Each ADMX file may have dependencies it requires, you can confirm this by either:

1. Inspecting the ADMX file directly.
2. Take the quicker route (as many IT admins do): attempt the import, and if it fails, check the error message to find out which dependency is missing.

Import Required Files
At a minimum, I highly recommended importing the Windows.admx file, as this is almost always required. You can download the latest Windows.admx file directly from Microsoft:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=105667

You can extract the Windows.admx file from the extracted files after running the admx installer.

1. Open the url https://intune.microsoft.com
2. Navigate to, Devices > Configuration > Import ADMX
3. Select Import
4. Then select your desired ADMX file and preferred ADML file for your language.

Using the imported ADMX files is equally as simple:

1. Open the url https://intune.microsoft.com
2. Navigate to, Devices > Policies
3. Select Create > New Policy
4. Select Platform, as Windows 10 then Templates
5. Select Imported Administrative templates (Preview)
6. Select Create
7. Set the desired name meeting your needs
8. You then will be presented with all of you imported ADMX files, looking similar to the image below
9. After select the desired settings, proceed with saving the configuration as required.

The ability to import ADMX files into Intune significantly enhances modern device management by enabling streamlined configurations, improved security, and a consistent user experience. This feature helps organizations simplify operations, meet compliance requirements, and maximize the benefits of cloud-based management.