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Send internationalized domain names

Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026

Windows 11 25H2

Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0

Path in the GPO console

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel

Description

This policy setting allows you to manage whether Internet Explorer converts Unicode domain names to internationalized domain name (IDN) format (Punycode) before sending them to Domain Name System (DNS) servers or to proxy servers. If you enable this policy setting, you must specify when IDN server names should be sent: 0) Unicode domain names are never converted to IDN format. 1) Unicode domain names are converted to IDN format only for addresses that are not in the Intranet zone. 2) Unicode domain names are converted to IDN format only for addresses that are in the Intranet zone. 3) Unicode domain names are always converted to IDN format. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the user can control this setting by using Advanced Options in Internet Control Panel. By default, domain names are converted to IDN format only for addresses that are not in the Intranet zone.

Registry

HKLM Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
HKCU Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings

More options available

Options

Select the desired behavior
EnablePunyCode enum
  • Never convert to IDN format -> 0
  • Convert non-Intranet addresses to IDN format -> 1 (default)
  • Convert Intranet addresses to IDN format -> 2
  • Always convert to IDN format -> 3

Export Builder

BETA

Configure 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.

Scope

.reg file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Send internationalized domain names
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"EnablePunyCode"=dword:00000001
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Send internationalized domain names
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# 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 'EnablePunyCode' -Value 1 -Type DWord

Building a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.

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Theme

Adds one script line: the theme follows your site’s appearance and the height fits the content. If your site blocks scripts, the embed follows the visitor’s system theme.

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