Turn off configuration of pop-up windows in tabbed browsing
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer Description
This policy setting allows you to define the user experience related to how pop-up windows appear in tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer. If you enable this policy setting, the user cannot configure pop-up windows in tabbed browsing. You must specify one of the following values: 0: Let Internet Explorer decide. 1: Force pop-up windows to open in new windows. 2: Force pop-up windows to open on new tabs. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Internet Explorer uses the user's setting for pop-up windows in tabbed browsing.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing 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 off configuration of pop-up windows in tabbed browsing
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing]
"PopupsUseNewWindow"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off configuration of pop-up windows in tabbed browsing
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PopupsUseNewWindow' -Value 0 -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: Turn off configuration of pop-up windows in tabbed browsing
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing' -Name 'PopupsUseNewWindow' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off configuration of pop-up windows in tabbed browsing
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PopupsUseNewWindow' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off configuration of pop-up windows in tabbed browsing
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
# 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 off configuration of pop-up windows in tabbed browsing
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing' -Name 'PopupsUseNewWindow' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off configuration of pop-up windows in tabbed browsing
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TabbedBrowsing'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PopupsUseNewWindow' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.