Turn on Protected Mode
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\Internet Zone User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\Internet Zone Description
This policy setting allows you to turn on Protected Mode. Protected Mode helps protect Internet Explorer from exploited vulnerabilities by reducing the locations that Internet Explorer can write to in the registry and the file system. If you enable this policy setting, Protected Mode is turned on. The user cannot turn off Protected Mode. If you disable this policy setting, Protected Mode is turned off. The user cannot turn on Protected Mode. If you do not configure this policy setting, the user can turn on or turn off Protected Mode.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3 HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3 MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/InternetZoneEnableProtectedMode User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/InternetZoneEnableProtectedMode 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: Turn on Protected Mode
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3]
"2500"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on Protected Mode
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '2500' -Value 0 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/InternetZoneEnableProtectedMode
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="IZ_Partname2500" value="0"/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on Protected Mode
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3' -Name '2500' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on Protected Mode
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '2500' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on Protected Mode
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista
# 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: Turn on Protected Mode
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3' -Name '2500' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on Protected Mode
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0 in Windows Vista
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '2500' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.