Turn off sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs
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 uses 8-bit Unicode Transformation Format (UTF-8) to encode query strings in URLs before sending them to servers or to proxy servers. If you enable this policy setting, you must specify when to use UTF-8 to encode query strings: 0) Never encode query strings. 1) Only encode query strings for URLs that aren't in the Intranet zone. 2) Only encode query strings for URLs that are in the Intranet zone. 3) Always encode query strings. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, users can turn this behavior on or off, using Internet Explorer Advanced Options settings. The default is to encode all query strings in UTF-8.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel 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 sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel]
"UTF8URLQuery"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -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 sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs
# 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 sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off sending UTF-8 query strings for URLs
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'UTF8URLQuery' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.