Security Zones: Use only machine settings
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 Description
Applies security zone information to all users of the same computer. A security zone is a group of Web sites with the same security level. If you enable this policy, changes that the user makes to a security zone will apply to all users of that computer. If you disable this policy or do not configure it, users of the same computer can establish their own security zone settings. This policy is intended to ensure that security zone settings apply uniformly to the same computer and do not vary from user to user. Also, see the "Security zones: Do not allow users to change policies" policy.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings Value name: Security_HKLM_only
MDM / Intune (CSP)
./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/SecurityZonesUseOnlyMachineSettings 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. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Security Zones: Use only machine settings
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings]
"Security_HKLM_only"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Security Zones: Use only machine settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Security_HKLM_only' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/InternetExplorer/SecurityZonesUseOnlyMachineSettings
Data type: String
Value:
<enabled/>Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Security Zones: Use only machine settings
# State: Enabled
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings' -Name 'Security_HKLM_only' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Security Zones: Use only machine settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Security_HKLM_only' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Security Zones: Use only machine settings
# State: Enabled
# 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: Security Zones: Use only machine settings
# State: Enabled
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings' -Name 'Security_HKLM_only' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Security Zones: Use only machine settings
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 5.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Security_HKLM_only' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.