Determine the availability of variations
Verified with Google Chrome — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Google\Google Chrome User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Google\Google Chrome Description
Configuring this policy allows to specify which variations are allowed to be applied in Google Chrome. Variations provide a means for offering modifications to Google Chrome without shipping a new version of the browser by selectively enabling or disabling already existing features. See https://support.google.com/chrome/a?p=Manage_the_Chrome_variations_framework for more information. Setting the VariationsEnabled (value 0), or leaving the policy not set allows all variations to be applied to the browser. Setting the CriticalFixesOnly (value 1), allows only variations considered critical security or stability fixes to be applied to Google Chrome. Setting the VariationsDisabled (value 2), prevent all variations from being applied to the browser. Please note that this mode can potentially prevent the Google Chrome developers from providing critical security fixes in a timely manner and is thus not recommended.
Registry
Software\Policies\Google\Chrome Software\Policies\Google\Chrome Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
Applying both scopes creates an ambiguous configuration (computer takes precedence over user). Only do this intentionally.
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Determine the availability of variations
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome]
"ChromeVariations"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Determine the availability of variations
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ChromeVariations' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Determine the availability of variations
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome' -Name 'ChromeVariations' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Determine the availability of variations
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ChromeVariations' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Determine the availability of variations
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Determine the availability of variations
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome' -Name 'ChromeVariations' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Determine the availability of variations
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ChromeVariations' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.