Prevent specifying the code download path for each computer
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Corporate Settings\Code Download Description
This policy setting prevents the user from specifying the code download path for each computer. The Internet Component Download service exposes a function that is called by an application to download, verify, and install code for an Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) component. If you enable this policy setting, the user cannot specify the download path for the code. You must specify the download path. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the user can specify the download path for the code.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings 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. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Prevent specifying the code download path for each computer
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"CodeBaseSearchPath"="" More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent specifying the code download path for each computer
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'CodeBaseSearchPath' -Value '' -Type String Intune 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: Prevent specifying the code download path for each computer
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings' -Name 'CodeBaseSearchPath' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent specifying the code download path for each computer
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'CodeBaseSearchPath' -Value '' -Type String SCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent specifying the code download path for each computer
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
# 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: Prevent specifying the code download path for each computer
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings' -Name 'CodeBaseSearchPath' -Expected '' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent specifying the code download path for each computer
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'CodeBaseSearchPath' -Value '' -Type String Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.