Notify users if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 10.0
Path in the GPO console
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer Description
This policy setting allows you to choose whether users will be notified if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser. If you enable this policy setting, users will be notified if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser. Users cannot change the setting. If you disable this policy setting, users will not be notified if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser. Users cannot change the setting. If you do not configure this policy setting, users can choose whether to be notified that Internet Explorer is not the default web browser through the Tell me if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser check box on the Programs tab in the Internet Options dialog box. Note that starting with Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8, the check box is located on the Advanced tab in the Internet Options dialog box. For more information, see "Group Policy Settings in Internet Explorer 10" in the Internet Explorer TechNet library.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main Value name: Check_Associations
Enabled: Check_Associations = yes
Disabled: Check_Associations = no
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. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Notify users if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 10.0
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Check_Associations"="yes"More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Notify users if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 10.0
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Check_Associations' -Value 'yes' -Type StringIntune 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: Notify users if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 10.0
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'Check_Associations' -Expected 'yes' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Notify users if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 10.0
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Check_Associations' -Value 'yes' -Type StringSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Notify users if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 10.0
# 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: Notify users if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 10.0
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main' -Name 'Check_Associations' -Expected 'yes' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Notify users if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 10.0
# Warning: In SYSTEM context (the Intune default), HKCU targets the SYSTEM profile. Run this script using the logged-on credentials.
$path = 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Check_Associations' -Value 'yes' -Type StringBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.