Turn off loading websites and content in the background to optimize performance
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Advanced Page User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Advanced Page Description
This policy setting determines whether Internet Explorer preemptively loads websites and content in the background, speeding up performance such that when the user clicks a hyperlink, the background page seamlessly switches into view. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer doesn't load any websites or content in the background. If you disable this policy setting, Internet Explorer preemptively loads websites and content in the background. If you don't configure this policy setting, users can turn this behavior on or off, using Internet Explorer settings. This feature is turned on by default
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PrefetchPrerender HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PrefetchPrerender Value name: Enabled
Enabled: Enabled = 0
Disabled: Enabled = 1
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: Turn off loading websites and content in the background to optimize performance
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PrefetchPrerender]
"Enabled"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off loading websites and content in the background to optimize performance
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PrefetchPrerender'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Enabled' -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: Turn off loading websites and content in the background to optimize performance
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PrefetchPrerender' -Name 'Enabled' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off loading websites and content in the background to optimize performance
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PrefetchPrerender'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Enabled' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off loading websites and content in the background to optimize performance
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
# 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: Turn off loading websites and content in the background to optimize performance
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PrefetchPrerender' -Name 'Enabled' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off loading websites and content in the background to optimize performance
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\PrefetchPrerender'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Enabled' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.