Turn on the hover color option
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 23, 2026
Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
Path in the GPO console
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Settings\Display settings\Link Colors Description
This policy setting makes hyperlinks change color when the mouse pointer pauses on them. If you enable this policy setting, the hover color option is turned on. The user cannot turn it off. If you disable this policy setting, the hover color option is turned off. The user cannot turn it on. If you do not configure this policy setting, the user can turn on or turn off the hover color option.
Registry
HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Settings Value name: Use Anchor Hover Color
Enabled: Use Anchor Hover Color = yes
Disabled: Use Anchor Hover Color = no
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: Turn on the hover color option
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Settings]
"Use Anchor Hover Color"="yes"More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on the hover color option
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
# 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\Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Use Anchor Hover Color' -Value 'yes' -Type StringIntune 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 on the hover color option
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Settings' -Name 'Use Anchor Hover Color' -Expected 'yes' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on the hover color option
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
# 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\Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Use Anchor Hover Color' -Value 'yes' -Type StringSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on the hover color option
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
# 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 on the hover color option
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Settings' -Name 'Use Anchor Hover Color' -Expected 'yes' -Kind String)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Turn on the hover color option
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: At least Internet Explorer 7.0
# 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\Settings'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'Use Anchor Hover Color' -Value 'yes' -Type StringBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.