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\Protection From Zone Elevation User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Protection From Zone Elevation Description
Internet Explorer places restrictions on each Web page it opens. The restrictions 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, making the Local Machine security zone a prime target for malicious users. Zone Elevation also disables JavaScript navigation if there is no security context. If you enable this policy setting, any zone can be protected from zone elevation by Internet Explorer processes. If you disable this policy setting, no zone receives such protection for Internet Explorer processes. If you do not configure this policy setting, any zone can be protected from zone elevation by Internet Explorer processes.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION 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/ProtectionFromZoneElevationInternetExplorerProcesses User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/ProtectionFromZoneElevationInternetExplorerProcesses 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_ZONE_ELEVATION]
"(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_ZONE_ELEVATION'
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/ProtectionFromZoneElevationInternetExplorerProcesses
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION' -Name '(Reserved)' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION' -Name 'explorer.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION' -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
)
if ($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_ZONE_ELEVATION'
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION' -Name '(Reserved)' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION' -Name 'explorer.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ZONE_ELEVATION' -Name 'iexplore.exe' -Expected '1' -Kind String)
)
if ($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_ZONE_ELEVATION'
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.