Internet Explorer Processes
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Local Machine Zone Lockdown Security User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Local Machine Zone Lockdown Security Description
Internet Explorer places zone restrictions on each Web page it opens, which are dependent upon the location of the Web page (Internet, Intranet, Local Machine zone, etc.). Web pages on the local computer have the fewest security restrictions and reside in the Local Machine zone. Local Machine zone security applies to all local files and content processed by Internet Explorer. This feature helps to mitigate attacks where the Local Machine zone is used as an attack vector to load malicious HTML code. If you enable this policy setting, the Local Machine zone security applies to all local files and content processed by Internet Explorer. If you disable this policy setting, Local Machine zone security is not applied to local files or content processed by Internet Explorer. If you do not configure this policy setting, the Local Machine zone security applies to all local files and content processed by Internet Explorer.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN This policy sets several registry values:
(Reserved) Enabled:
(Reserved) = 1 Disabled:
(Reserved) = 0 explorer.exe Enabled:
explorer.exe = 1 Disabled:
explorer.exe = 0 iexplore.exe Enabled:
iexplore.exe = 1 Disabled:
iexplore.exe = 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: Internet Explorer Processes
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN]
"(Reserved)"="1"
"explorer.exe"="1"
"iexplore.exe"="1"More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Internet Explorer Processes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '(Reserved)' -Value '1' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'explorer.exe' -Value '1' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Value '1' -Type StringIntune 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: Internet Explorer Processes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN' -Name '(Reserved)' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN' -Name 'explorer.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN' -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Internet Explorer Processes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '(Reserved)' -Value '1' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'explorer.exe' -Value '1' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Value '1' -Type StringSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Internet Explorer Processes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
# 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: Internet Explorer Processes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN' -Name '(Reserved)' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN' -Name 'explorer.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN' -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Internet Explorer Processes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '(Reserved)' -Value '1' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'explorer.exe' -Value '1' -Type String
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Value '1' -Type StringBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.