Prevent configuration of top-result search on Address bar
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 9.0 through 11.0. Not supported on Windows 10
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Settings\Advanced settings\Searching User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Settings\Advanced settings\Searching Description
This policy setting allows you to specify whether a user can browse to the website of a top result when search is enabled on the Address bar. The possible options are: • Disable top result search: When a user performs a search in the Address bar, a list of search results from the selected search provider is displayed in the main window. • Enable top result search: When a user performs a search in the Address bar, the user is directed to an external top result website determined by the search provider, if available. If you enable this policy setting, you can choose where to direct the user after a search on the Address bar: a top-result website or a search-results webpage in the main window. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the user can select their preference for this behavior. Browsing to the top-result website is the default.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes 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: Prevent configuration of top-result search on Address bar
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 9.0 through 11.0. Not supported on Windows 10
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes]
"TopResult"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent configuration of top-result search on Address bar
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 9.0 through 11.0. Not supported on Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'TopResult' -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: Prevent configuration of top-result search on Address bar
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 9.0 through 11.0. Not supported on Windows 10
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes' -Name 'TopResult' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent configuration of top-result search on Address bar
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 9.0 through 11.0. Not supported on Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'TopResult' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent configuration of top-result search on Address bar
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 9.0 through 11.0. Not supported on Windows 10
# 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: Prevent configuration of top-result search on Address bar
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 9.0 through 11.0. Not supported on Windows 10
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes' -Name 'TopResult' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent configuration of top-result search on Address bar
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Only Internet Explorer 9.0 through 11.0. Not supported on Windows 10
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'TopResult' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.