Turn off phone number detection
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Settings\Advanced settings\Browsing User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Settings\Advanced settings\Browsing Description
This policy setting determines whether phone numbers are recognized and turned into hyperlinks, which can be used to invoke the default phone application on the system. If you enable this policy setting, phone number detection is turned off. Users won't be able to modify this setting. If you disable this policy setting, phone number detection is turned on. Users won't be able to modify this setting. If you don't configure this policy setting, users can turn this behavior on or off, using Internet Explorer settings. The default is on.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FormatDetection HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FormatDetection Value name: PhoneNumberEnabled
Enabled: PhoneNumberEnabled = 0
Disabled: PhoneNumberEnabled = 1
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: Turn off phone number detection
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FormatDetection]
"PhoneNumberEnabled"=dword:00000000More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off phone number detection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FormatDetection'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PhoneNumberEnabled' -Value 0 -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: Turn off phone number detection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FormatDetection' -Name 'PhoneNumberEnabled' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off phone number detection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FormatDetection'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PhoneNumberEnabled' -Value 0 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off phone number detection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
# 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: Turn off phone number detection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FormatDetection' -Name 'PhoneNumberEnabled' -Expected 0 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn off phone number detection
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 11.0
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FormatDetection'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'PhoneNumberEnabled' -Value 0 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.