Allow installation of desktop items
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 through IE8 inclusive
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\Locked-Down Restricted Sites Zone User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\Locked-Down Restricted Sites Zone Description
This policy setting allows you to manage whether users can install Active Desktop items from this zone. The settings for this option are: If you enable this policy setting, users can install desktop items from this zone automatically. If you select Prompt in the drop-down box, users are queried to choose whether to install desktop items from this zone. If you disable this policy setting, users are prevented from installing desktop items from this zone. If you do not configure this policy setting, users are prevented from installing desktop items from this zone.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\4 HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\4 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: Allow installation of desktop items
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 through IE8 inclusive
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\4]
"1800"=dword:00000003More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow installation of desktop items
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 through IE8 inclusive
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\4'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '1800' -Value 3 -Type DWordIntune 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: Allow installation of desktop items
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 through IE8 inclusive
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\4' -Name '1800' -Expected 3 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow installation of desktop items
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 through IE8 inclusive
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\4'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '1800' -Value 3 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow installation of desktop items
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 through IE8 inclusive
# 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: Allow installation of desktop items
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 through IE8 inclusive
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\4' -Name '1800' -Expected 3 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Allow installation of desktop items
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 6.0 in Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 through IE8 inclusive
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Lockdown_Zones\4'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name '1800' -Value 3 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.