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Capture and centralize your users' application settings and Windows OS settings by implementing Microsoft User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) 2.1 SP1. Then apply these settings to the devices users access in your organization, like desktop computers, laptops, or virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) sessions.
With UE-V you can:
Specify which application and desktop settings synchronize.
Deliver the settings anytime and anywhere users work throughout the organization.
Create custom templates for your line-of-business or non-Microsoft applications.
Recover settings after hardware replacement or upgrade, or after reimaging a virtual machine to its initial state.
Note
This documentation is a for version of UE-V that was included in the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). For information about the latest version of UE-V that's included in Windows 10 Enterprise, see Get started with UE-V for Windows.
Components of UE-V 2.1 SP1
This diagram shows how deployed UE-V components work together to synchronize settings.
Component
Function
UE-V Agent
Installed on every computer that needs to synchronize settings, the UE-V Agent monitors registered applications and the operating system for any settings changes, then synchronizes those settings between computers.
Settings packages
Application settings and Windows settings are stored in settings packages created by the UE-V Agent. Settings packages are built, locally stored, and copied to the settings storage location. - The setting values for desktop applications are stored when the user closes the application. - Values for Windows settings are stored when the user signs out, when the computer is locked, or when the user disconnects remotely from a computer.
The sync provider determines when the application or operating system settings are read from the Settings Packages and synchronized.
Settings storage location
This location is a standard network share that your users can access. The UE-V Agent verifies the location and creates a hidden system folder in which to store and retrieve user settings.
Settings location templates
UE-V uses XML files as settings location templates to monitor and synchronize desktop application settings and Windows desktop settings between user computers. By default, some settings location templates are included in UE-V. You can also create, edit, or validate custom settings location templates by managing settings synchronization for custom applications. Note: Settings location templates aren't required for Windows apps.
Windows app list
Settings for Windows apps are captured and applied dynamically. The app developer specifies the settings that are synchronized for each app. UE-V determines which Windows apps are enabled for settings synchronization using a managed list of apps. By default, this list includes most Windows apps. To add or remove applications in the Windows app list, see Managing UE-V 2.1 SP1 settings location templates using Windows PowerShell and WMI.
Managing settings synchronization for custom applications
Use these UE-V components to create and manage custom templates for your line-of-business or non-Microsoft applications.
Component
Description
UE-V Generator
Use the UE-V Generator to create custom settings location templates that you can then distribute to user computers. The UE-V Generator also lets you edit an existing template or validate a template that was created by using another XML editor.
Settings template catalog
The settings template catalog is a folder path on UE-V computers or a Server Message Block (SMB) network share that stores the custom settings location templates. The UE-V Agent checks this location once a day, retrieves new or updated templates, and updates its synchronization behavior. If you use only the UE-V default settings location templates, then a settings template catalog is unnecessary. For more information about settings deployment catalogs, see Configure a UE-V settings template catalog.
Use this table to compare UE-V to Synchronize Profiles in Windows 7, Synchronize Profiles in Windows 8, and the Sync PC Settings feature of Microsoft account.
Feature
Synchronize profiles Windows 7
Synchronize profiles Windows 8
Synchronize profiles Windows 10
Microsoft account
UE-V 2.0
UE-V 2.1 SP1
Synchronize settings between multiple computers
X
X
X
X
X
X
Synchronize settings between physical and virtual apps
X
X
Synchronize Windows app settings
X
X
X
X
Manage via WMI
X
X
X
X
Synchronize settings changes on a regular basis
X
X
X
Minimal configuration for Setup
X
X
X
X
X
X
Supported on non-domain joined computers
X
Supports Primary Computer Active Directory attribute
X
X
Synchronizes settings between virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)/Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and rich desktops
Learn about the types of User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) deployment you can execute and what preparations you can make beforehand to be successful.
Learn how to install and configure User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) features, for example, a network share that stores and retrieves user settings.
