On October 20th, 2020, Microsoft released Windows 10, version 20H2 build 19042 to Visual Studio Subscribers and organizations with access to the Software Download Center and the Volume Licensing Service Center. This version is also known as Windows 10 ‘October 2020 Update’. This Windows version introduces five new Group Policy settings.

New Group Policy Settings

Windows 10, version 20H2, build 19042 introduces the following new Group Policy settings:

Disable content optimized for the cloud

The new Configure the inclusion of Edge tabs into Alt-Tab Group Policy setting from the steadily expanding cloudcontent.admx template file lets you turn off cloud optimized content in all Windows experiences.

If you enable this policy, Windows experiences that use the cloud optimized content client component, will instead present the default fallback content. If you disable or do not configure this policy, Windows experiences will be able to use cloud optimized content.

The setting is found in the Cloud Content node underneath Windows Components and Administrative Templates for computer policies and applies to Windows Server 2016, and up, and Windows 10, version 1909, and up.

Configure the inclusion of Edge tabs into Alt-Tab

The new Disable content optimized for the cloud Group Policy setting from the new multitasking.admx template file controls the inclusion of Microsoft Edge tabs into Alt+Tab.

This can be set to show all tabs, the most recent 3 or 5 tabs, or no tabs from Edge. If this is set to show Open windows only, the whole feature will be disabled.

The setting is found in the Multitasking node underneath Windows Components and Administrative Templates for user policies and applies to Windows Server 2016, and up, and Windows 10, version 1909, and up with Microsoft Edge installed.

Allow Desktop Analytics Processing

The new Allow Desktop Analytics Processing Group Policy setting from the steadily increasing datacollection.admx template file allows IT admins to enable diagnostic data from devices to be processed by Desktop Analytics.

The following values can be configured:

• 0 (default)– Diagnostic data is not processed by Desktop Analytics.
• 2 – Diagnostic data is allowed to be processed by Desktop Analytics.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, diagnostic data from devices will not be processed by Desktop Analytics.

The setting is found in the Data Collection and Preview Builds node under Windows Components and Administrative Templates for computer policies and applies to Windows Server 2016, and up, and Windows 10, version 1909, and up.

Allow Update Compliance Processing

The new Allow Update Compliance Processing Group Policy setting from the steadily increasing datacollection.admx template file allows IT admins to enable diagnostic data from devices to be processed by Update Compliance.

The following values can be configured:

• 0 (default)– Diagnostic data is not processed by Update Compliance.
• 2 – Diagnostic data is allowed to be processed by Update Compliance.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, diagnostic data from devices will not be processed by Update Compliance.

The setting is found in the Data Collection and Preview Builds node under Windows Components and Administrative Templates for computer policies and applies to Windows Server 2016, and up, and Windows 10, version 1909, and up.

Allow WUfB Cloud Processing

The new Allow WUfB Cloud Processing Group Policy setting from the steadily increasing datacollection.admx template file allows IT admins to enable diagnostic data from devices to be processed by Windows Update for Business cloud.

The following values can be configured:

• 0 (default)– Diagnostic data is not processed by Windows Update for Business cloud.
• 8 – Diagnostic data is allowed to be processed by Windows Update for Business cloud.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, diagnostic data from devices will not be processed by Windows Update for Business cloud.

The setting is found in the Data Collection and Preview Builds node under Windows Components and Administrative Templates for computer policies and applies to Windows Server 2016, and up, and Windows 10, version 1909, and up.

Pro Tip!

Windows 10, version 20H2 is the first version of Windows 10 to have the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser installed. However, the Group Policy settings apparently didn’t make it. To manage the new Microsoft Edge, download the Microsoft Edge administrative template.