Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0 on Windows 10
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer Description
This policy lets you restrict launching of Internet Explorer as a standalone browser. If you enable this policy, it: - Prevents Internet Explorer 11 from launching as a standalone browser. - Restricts Internet Explorer's usage to Microsoft Edge's native 'Internet Explorer mode'. - Redirects attempts at launching Internet Explorer 11 to Microsoft Edge Stable Channel browser. - Overrides any other policies that redirect to Internet Explorer 11. Even with this policy enabled launching Internet Explorer 11 using COM automation will still be allowed. To disable COM automation launches of Internet Explorer 11 use the "Disable Internet Explorer 11 COM Automation" group policy. If you disable, or don’t configure this policy, all sites are opened using the current active browser settings. Note: Microsoft Edge Stable Channel must be installed for this policy to take effect.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main MDM / Intune (CSP)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableInternetExplorerApp ./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableInternetExplorerApp Microsoft Learn documentation Mapping data: Microsoft Learn (CC BY 4.0)
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: Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0 on Windows 10
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"NotifyDisableIEOptions"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0 on Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NotifyDisableIEOptions' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableInternetExplorerApp
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="NotifyDisableIEOptions" value="0"/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0 on Windows 10
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'NotifyDisableIEOptions' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0 on Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NotifyDisableIEOptions' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0 on Windows 10
# 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: Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0 on Windows 10
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'NotifyDisableIEOptions' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable Internet Explorer 11 as a standalone browser
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0 on Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NotifyDisableIEOptions' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.