Disable "Configuring History"
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 30, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Delete Browsing History User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Delete Browsing History Description
This setting specifies the number of days that Internet Explorer tracks views of pages in the History List. To access the Temporary Internet Files and History Settings dialog box, from the Menu bar, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the General tab, and then click Settings under Browsing history. If you enable this policy setting, a user cannot set the number of days that Internet Explorer tracks views of the pages in the History List. You must specify the number of days that Internet Explorer tracks views of pages in the History List. Users can not delete browsing history. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, a user can set the number of days that Internet Explorer tracks views of pages in the History list. Users can delete browsing history.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel Value name: History
MDM / Intune (CSP)
Device
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableConfiguringHistory User
./User/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableConfiguringHistory 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: Disable "Configuring History"
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel]
"History"=dword:00000001
"DaysToKeep"=dword:00000014More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable "Configuring History"
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'History' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DaysToKeep' -Value 20 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/DisableConfiguringHistory
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>
<data id="DaysToKeep_Prompt" value="20"/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable "Configuring History"
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'History' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'DaysToKeep' -Expected 20 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable "Configuring History"
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'History' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DaysToKeep' -Value 20 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable "Configuring History"
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
# 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: Disable "Configuring History"
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'History' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel' -Name 'DaysToKeep' -Expected 20 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable "Configuring History"
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'History' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DaysToKeep' -Value 20 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.