---
title: "📋 Outlook Add-In (classic): GPO setup for group-based activation"
url: "https://support.ftapi.com/en/article/-outlook-add-in-gpo-einrichtung-zur-gruppenbasierten-aktivierung"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-06-22T07:10:50.622Z"
---

# 📋 Outlook Add-In (classic): GPO setup for group-based activation

This article is a detailed guide for administrators on how to create a Group Policy Object (GPO) to centrally control the activation of the FTAPI Outlook Add-In for specific user groups.

## Activating the add-in on a group basis

If the FTAPI Outlook Add-In has been installed by the administrator for all users, the add-in starts when Outlook is opened. If you do not want all users to be able to use the FTAPI Outlook Add-In, this can be controlled via a Group Policy (GPO).

The automatic startup of an add-in in Outlook is controlled in the system registry via the "LoadBehavior" variable. A value of "3" means that the add-in starts together with Outlook, while a value of "0" leaves the add-in inactive. Inactive Outlook Add-Ins can still be activated manually by the user.

-   Open the Group Policy Management and create a new Group Policy Object
-   Navigate to: *User Configuration* > *Preferences* > *Windows Settings* > *Registry*

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/015a719b-b39d-4106-bbd4-633593ab9536)

-   Create the following registry elements one after the other   
      
    **Hive** HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER   
    **Key path** SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Office\\Outlook\\Addins\\FTAPI Outlook Add-In\\   
     

| **Name** | **Order** | **Action** | **Type** | **Value data** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Description | 1 | Replace | REG\_SZ | FTAPI Outlook Add-In |
| FriendlyName | 2 | Replace | REG\_SZ | FTAPI Outlook Add-In |
| Manifest | 3 | Replace | REG\_SZ | C:\\Program Files (x86)\\FTAPI\\Outlook Add-In\\FTAPIOutlookAddin2013.vsto\|   <br>vstolocal |
| LoadBehavior | 4 | Replace | REG\_DWORD | 00000000 |
| LoadBehavior | 5 | Replace | REG\_DWORD | 00000003 |

## Item-level targeting

To control the setting of these registry values on a group basis, you must define the security groups that should process this entry.

-   Navigate to: *Common* tab > *Item-level targeting* > *New Item* > *Security Group*

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/4e39e1c1-3642-40a9-a747-66b1001b24ca)

  
Through the "LoadBehavior" entry (order 5th position), members of the group receive the value "3". The "LoadBehavior" entry (order 4th position) must be configured differently here. Non-members of the target group have the value "0" set here due to negation.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/abb9490c-73b6-4087-bfa7-dcba391be9fa)

**Note:** Since this is a user configuration, but the Group Policy is placed in a computer OU, it may be necessary to enable the loopback processing mode.

Now link the GPO to the computer OU for which the settings should apply. When a user logs on, the registry entries are now set based on the group memberships.