Allow download restrictions
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 - Default Settings (users can override) User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Google\Google Chrome - Default Settings (users can override) Description
Setting the policy means users can't bypass download security decisions. There are many types of download warnings within Chrome, which roughly break down into these categories (learn more about Safe Browsing verdicts https://support.google.com/chrome/?p=ib_download_blocked): * Malicious, as flagged by the Safe Browsing server * Uncommon or unwanted, as flagged by the Safe Browsing server * A dangerous file type (e.g. all SWF downloads and many EXE downloads) Setting the policy blocks different subsets of these, depending on it's value: 0: No special restrictions. Default. 1: Blocks malicious files flagged by the Safe Browsing server AND Blocks all dangerous file types. Only recommended for OUs/browsers/users that have a high tolerance for False Positives. 2: Blocks malicious files flagged by the Safe Browsing server AND Blocks uncommon or unwanted files flagged by the Safe Browsing server AND Blocks all dangerous file types. Only recommended for OUs/browsers/users that have a high tolerance for False Positives. 3: Blocks all downloads. Not recommended, except for special use cases. 4: Blocks malicious files flagged by the Safe Browsing server, does not block dangerous file types. Recommended. Note: These restrictions apply to downloads triggered from webpage content, as well as the Download link… menu option. They don't apply to the download of the currently displayed page or to saving as PDF from the printing options. Read more about Safe Browsing ( https://developers.google.com/safe-browsing ).
Registry
Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\Recommended Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\Recommended 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: Allow download restrictions
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\Recommended]
"DownloadRestrictions"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow download restrictions
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DownloadRestrictions' -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: Allow download restrictions
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\Recommended' -Name 'DownloadRestrictions' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow download restrictions
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DownloadRestrictions' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow download restrictions
# 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: Allow download restrictions
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\Recommended' -Name 'DownloadRestrictions' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow download restrictions
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DownloadRestrictions' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.