Disable Internet Explorer 11 Launch Via COM Automation
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 using COM automation. If you enable this policy, it prevents Internet Explorer 11 from being launched using COM automation. If you disable, or don’t configure this policy, Internet Explorer 11 COM automation launches are allowed.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main Value name: DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM
Enabled: DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM = 1
Disabled: DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM = 0
MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM 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 Launch Via COM Automation
; 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]
"DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable Internet Explorer 11 Launch Via COM Automation
# 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 'DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable Internet Explorer 11 Launch Via COM Automation
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($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 Launch Via COM Automation
# 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 'DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable Internet Explorer 11 Launch Via COM Automation
# 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 Launch Via COM Automation
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($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 Launch Via COM Automation
# 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 'DisableInternetExplorerLaunchViaCOM' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.