Enable deleting browser and download history
Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge Description
Enables deleting browser history and download history and prevents users from changing this setting. Even if this policy is disabled, the browsing and download history aren't guaranteed to be retained: users can edit or delete the history database files directly, and the browser itself can remove (based on expiration period) or archive any or all history items at any time. If you enable this policy or don't configure it, users can delete the browsing and download history. If you disable this policy, users can't delete browsing and download history. Disabling this policy disables history sync and open tab sync. If you enable this policy, don't enable the 'ClearBrowsingDataOnExit' (Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes) policy, because they both deal with deleting data. If you enable both, the 'ClearBrowsingDataOnExit' policy takes precedence and deletes all data when Microsoft Edge closes, regardless of how this policy is configured.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Value name: AllowDeletingBrowserHistory
Enabled: AllowDeletingBrowserHistory = 1
Disabled: AllowDeletingBrowserHistory = 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. ⓘ
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: Enable deleting browser and download history
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"AllowDeletingBrowserHistory"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable deleting browser and download history
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowDeletingBrowserHistory' -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: Enable deleting browser and download history
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'AllowDeletingBrowserHistory' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable deleting browser and download history
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowDeletingBrowserHistory' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable deleting browser and download history
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
# 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: Enable deleting browser and download history
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'AllowDeletingBrowserHistory' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Enable deleting browser and download history
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'AllowDeletingBrowserHistory' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.