- UE-V syncs settings Windows y apps between devices using templates and a network share.
- Agent 2.x is included in Windows 10 Enterprise since version 1607 and is backward compatible.
- Implementation requires a storage with appropriate permissions and activate the service via GPO or PowerShell.
- UE-V doesn't virtualize apps (that's App-V); its focus is on user experience and configuration consistency.
If you've ever changed computers and felt like your Windows just wasn't the same, you'll want to know what UE-V does. Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) allows your personal settings to follow you from one device to another., keeping the look, feel, and many preferences of your apps and operating system no matter where you sign in.
In corporate environments, where a user may be using multiple physical devices or VDI sessions, achieving a consistent experience saves time and reduces support tickets. UE-V captures and synchronizes Windows and application settings, saving them to a network share. that the organization centrally controls to ensure security and compliance.
What is UE-V and what is it for?
UE-V is a Microsoft solution that synchronizes user settings between Windows devices. Its objective is that, when changing equipment or session, the user retains the language, theme, accent colors, desktop background, font size, and a long etcetera., as well as application preferences such as language, appearance or behavior.
On a technical level, the client service monitors applications and system components and generates packages with configuration values. These packages are stored locally and copied to a network location called configuration storage., from where they are applied to the user's other devices when they log in.
Key features and usage scenarios
UE-V allows you to select what to sync and for whom. Administrators decide which Windows settings and apps move between devices, and they can do so in a granular way thanks to XML-based templates.
In addition to the built-in templates, you can create your own templates for third-party or line-of-business applications. This is useful when the company depends on specific software that is not covered by default., ensuring that your settings also travel with the user.
Another important advantage is resilience. If a device is replaced, the device is updated. hardware or a VM is returned to its initial state, settings are automatically retrieved from the storage location without user intervention.
UE-V components and how they work together
The functioning of UE-V is based on several well-defined elements. Understanding their role helps plan deployment and troubleshoot issues faster.
| Components | Function |
|---|---|
| EU-V Service | Runs on every device which participates in synchronization, monitors configuration changes in registered applications and in Windows, and synchronizes those changes between computers. |
| Configuration packages | Files containing the captured settings values. They are consolidated and stored locally, and replicated to the storage locationFor desktop apps, they're saved when you close the app; for Windows settings, when you log out, lock your computer, or log out remotely. |
| Storage location | Network share accessible to users. The UE-V service creates a hidden system folder per user. where you save and retrieve preferences. |
| Configuration Location Templates | XML files that indicate which registry keys and file paths are monitored and how to back them up. How to backup the registry. Several are included by default and can be created or edited for custom apps.Modern Windows apps may not require templates. |
| List of Windows Platform Applications | Managed list that defines which universal apps are enabled for sync. It can be expanded or reduced with PowerShell and WMI to fine-tune the scope. |
Requirements and compatibility
UE-V 2.x is the modern agent that works on multiple versions of Windows. Starting with Windows 10 version 1607, the UE-V agent is included in the Enterprise edition., which simplifies its adoption without MDOP in these systems.
In environments with older systems, the 2.x client is compatible with Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, and various editions of Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012. PowerShell 3.0 or higher and appropriate .NET Framework are required depending on the version, and 32- or 64-bit architectures as appropriate.
It is important to take into account the evolution of licensing. Historically, UE-V was part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), although in Windows 10 1607 and later the agent is already integrated into the system (Enterprise), eliminating that dependency.
Implementing the configuration storage location
The foundation of a successful UE-V implementation is robust configuration storage. It is recommended to create a dedicated SMB share with strict permissions so that each user has their own folder.
To prepare, create a security group with the users who will use UE-V and a folder on a central server. Grant permissions to the group and enable each user to create their personal subfolder when connecting, with full control within your own structure.
| SMB Permissions (Share) | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| All | Without permits |
| UE-V User Group | Full Control |
| Permissions NTFS | Ambit | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Creator/Owner | Only subfolders and files | Full Control |
| UE-V User Group | Only this folder | List folder/read data and create folders |
When defining the storage path, include the username marker at the end. Using %username% ensures that each person has a unique folder and avoid security issues or write conflicts.
Enable and configure the UE-V service on computers
Before activating the service, register any built-in or custom templates you want to use. You can register all built-in templates with PowerShell quickly and centrally.
Example of registration of integrated templates with PowerShell: Get-ChildItem C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\UEV\InboxTemplates\*.xml | % { Register-UevTemplate $_.FullName }
To configure the storage path from a local or domain policy, use the computer policy in Administrative Templates, Windows Components, User Experience Virtualization. Enables the storage path policy and specifies the share ending in %username% to create the folder per user.
If you prefer PowerShell, you can set the path with: Set-UevConfiguration -SettingsStoragePath \\servidor\UEV\%username%. Restart afterwards for the changes to take effect and validate the status with Get-UEVStatus.
On Windows 10 1607 or later (Enterprise), the UE-V agent is already included. Enable it with a policy (Use User Experience Virtualization) or with the Enable-UEV command. and restart the device to start syncing.
Funcionality test
To check synchronization, use two computers with the same user. Make visible changes on computer A, such as moving the taskbar, changing default fonts, or enabling word wrapping in Notepad.
Log out of computer A to force a saving of system settings; the sync provider also runs periodically. Log in to computer B and verify that the preferences have arrived, including changes to supported Windows or desktop applications.
If you change something on computer B and log back in on computer A, you'll notice that the settings travel both ways. This simple test confirms that packages and templates work as expected. in the infrastructure.
Managing Sync in Custom Apps
When a critical app isn't covered by the standard templates, the UE-V Template Generator comes into play. This utility, included with Windows ADK for Windows 10 version 1607, creates XML files that describe which registry keys and files should be monitored.
The typical flow is simple: install the Windows ADK with the Template Builder, run it, choose to create a new template, and point it to the app (for example, C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe). The generator profiles the app, closes the process, and allows you to review detected locations. before creating the final XML.
After generating the template (for example, Notepad.xml), distribute it through a central template repository (local folder or SMB share). The UE-V service checks this catalogue daily and updates its behaviour. applying the new templates without manual intervention on each computer.
If you're coming from previous versions of UE-V, it's a good idea to recreate templates with the new generator to take advantage of improvements, although older ones usually maintain compatibility. Validating and editing templates is possible from the tool itself to ensure accuracy.
Templates and cross-platform definition support
There are scenarios where a single definition file that covers multiple versions of Windows is desired. It is possible to convert UE-V templates to cross-platform definitions and merge them. using a conversion tool.
The typical procedure involves listing applications in a template with a command like convert show filename, and then converting with convert source destination /Index /V according to your needs. You can convert all the apps in a template or just those listed by index.
After converting for different systems, they are merged into a single file using the Platform element and the OSVersionNumber attribute to separate paths by system (e.g., AppData\Application\Win7\folder vs. AppData\Application\Win10\folder). This maintains a single artifact that covers multiple versions. without duplication.
Remember that a template can define more than one application. This simplifies management when multiple apps share configuration logic. and reduces the number of files to be distributed.
Settings synchronized by default
Out of the box, UE-V synchronizes a broad set of Windows and application elements. It includes Microsoft Office (2010, 2013 and 2016), Internet Explorer (10 and 11), many desktop apps like Notepad and a good number of Windows Platform apps.
On the system side, these include desktop background, accent colors, system language, and appearance settings. The default coverage is broad, but it can always be expanded with custom templates. to cover other organization-specific applications or configurations.
Coexistence with Citrix Profile Management
UE-V can coexist with Citrix Profile Management 5.x. When both mechanisms operate on the same profile, the last write wins, which can lead to conflicts if not planned properly.
It is recommended that you exclude the AppData\Local\Microsoft\UEV path from the scope of Citrix Profile Management. Also, avoid sharing UE-V managed profiles with profiles controlled solely by Profile Management. to prevent unexpected overwrites.
While Citrix's cross-platform configuration feature may seem overly complex, UE-V offers advantages such as improved app support and in-session synchronization. Choosing one or the other will depend on the needs and ecosystem of the company. and may require prior evaluation.
Version history and evolution
UE-V was born in 2012 within MDOP, evolved to the 2.x branch, and with version 2.0, it eliminated the mandatory client-side cache and allowed synchronization of apps prepared for UE-V. It also added the ability to link Microsoft accounts with domain accounts and launched the Company Settings Center. to facilitate self-recovery.
Version 2.1 was mostly corrective, but added support for Microsoft Office settings and allowed for synchronization of credentials and certificates. Service Pack 1 for 2.1 added support for Windows 10, network printers while roaming, and Microsoft Azure. for hybrid scenarios.
With Windows 10, version 1607, the agent was integrated into the system itself (Enterprise edition). Since then, the deployment is more straightforward and reduces historical dependencies on MDOP. in modern environments.
Benefits and limitations
UE-V is designed to replace or complement classic mobile profiles. When using roaming profiles, avoid copying large profiles every time you log in or out., reducing latencies on slow connections or with large profiles.
Its advantages include granularity, extensibility through templates, and the dynamic application of adjustments. In addition, it accelerates the incorporation of new equipment and recovery after reinstallations., since user settings are automatically applied at startup.
As a limitation, it depends on an agent in Windows and is not intended for non-Windows systems. It is also not supported on platforms prior to Windows 7 SP1., and some newer versions of Windows may require specific support checking with each release.
UE-V, App-V and alternatives
Although they sound similar, UE-V and App-V virtualizes applications they solve different problems. UE-V synchronizes user settings; App-V virtualizes applications, isolating them from the operating system. and allowing its centralized delivery without traditional installation on the equipment.
The App-V architecture includes a management server, one or more publishing servers, and the client on the computers. App-V isolation makes it easy to run different versions of the same app side by side and keeps legacy applications alive. that would otherwise collide with each other or with the environment.
In Windows 10 (1607 and later), the App-V client can be included in enterprise editions, but Microsoft has announced the end of life of App-V in April 2026. The recommendation is to migrate to MSIX and its application attachment in Azure Virtual Desktop, which modernizes the packaging and deployment of Win32, WPF, and Windows Forms apps.
For scenarios where you want to publish Windows applications to non-Windows devices, there are third-party alternatives. Web publishing solutions can reduce IT effort and extend reach beyond Windows, although your choice should align with licensing, security, and project objectives.
When working with third-party documentation, it's common to encounter machine translation warnings. It is advisable to compare critical information with the official English version to avoid misunderstandings., especially in regulated environments.
UE-V is a good fit when you want to maintain a consistent user experience across multiple Windows devices, with central control and customization through templates. Its deployment requires a well-secured shared folder, activating the service, registering templates and validating with tests.; from there, it reduces friction during equipment changes and accelerates user productivity.
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