Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
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
Disables using the F3 key to search in Internet Explorer and File Explorer. If you enable this policy, the search functionality of the F3 key is disabled. Users cannot press F3 to search the Internet (from Internet Explorer) or to search the hard disk (from File Explorer). If the user presses F3, a prompt appears that informs the user that this feature has been disabled. If you disable this policy or do not configure it, users can press F3 to search the Internet (from Internet Explorer) or the hard disk (from File Explorer). This policy is intended for situations in which administrators do not want users to explore the Internet or the hard disk. This policy can be used in coordination with the "File Menu: Disable Open menu option" policy (located in \User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Browser Menus), which prevents users from opening files by using the browser.
Registry
HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions Value name: NoFindFiles
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: Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 5.0 and Internet Explorer 6.0
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions]
"NoFindFiles"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser
# 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\Restrictions'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoFindFiles' -Value 1 -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: Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser
# 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.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions' -Name 'NoFindFiles' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser
# 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\Restrictions'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoFindFiles' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 5.0 and Internet Explorer 6.0
# 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: Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser
# 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.
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions' -Name 'NoFindFiles' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Search: Disable Find Files via F3 within the browser
# 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\Restrictions'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NoFindFiles' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.