Internet Explorer Processes
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 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\Consistent Mime Handling User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Consistent Mime Handling Description
Internet Explorer uses Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) data to determine file handling procedures for files received through a Web server. This policy setting determines whether Internet Explorer requires that all file-type information provided by Web servers be consistent. For example, if the MIME type of a file is text/plain but the MIME sniff indicates that the file is really an executable file, Internet Explorer renames the file by saving it in the Internet Explorer cache and changing its extension. If you enable this policy setting, Internet Explorer requires consistent MIME data for all received files. If you disable this policy setting, Internet Explorer will not require consistent MIME data for all received files. If you do not configure this policy setting, Internet Explorer requires consistent MIME data for all received files.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_HANDLING HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_HANDLING 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 MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/ConsistentMimeHandlingInternetExplorerProcesses User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/ConsistentMimeHandlingInternetExplorerProcesses 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: 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_MIME_HANDLING]
"(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_MIME_HANDLING'
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
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/ConsistentMimeHandlingInternetExplorerProcesses
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_HANDLING' -Name '(Reserved)' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_HANDLING' -Name 'explorer.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_HANDLING' -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
)
if ($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_MIME_HANDLING'
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_HANDLING' -Name '(Reserved)' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_HANDLING' -Name 'explorer.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_MIME_HANDLING' -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
)
if ($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_MIME_HANDLING'
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.