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Disable the Reset Web Settings feature

Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026

Windows 11 25H2

Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 5.0 and Internet Explorer 6.0

Path in the GPO console

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer

Description

Prevents users from restoring default settings for home and search pages. If you enable this policy, the Reset Web Settings button on the Programs tab in the Internet Options dialog box appears dimmed. If you disable this policy or do not configure it, users can restore the default settings for home and search pages. The "Disable the Programs page" policy (located in \User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel), which removes the Programs tab from Internet Explorer in Control Panel, takes precedence over this policy. If it is enabled, this policy is ignored.

Registry

HKCU Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel

Value name: ResetWebSettings

Export Builder

BETA

Configure 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: Disable the Reset Web Settings feature
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 5.0 and Internet Explorer 6.0

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel]
"ResetWebSettings"=dword:00000001
More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)

PowerShell

# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Disable the Reset Web Settings feature
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 5.0 and Internet Explorer 6.0
# 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\Control Panel'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ResetWebSettings' -Value 1 -Type DWord

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