Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes
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 - Default Settings (users can override) User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge - Default Settings (users can override) Description
Allows Microsoft Edge processes to start at OS sign-in and keep running after the last browser window is closed. In this scenario, background apps and the current browsing session remain active, including any session cookies. An open background process displays an icon in the system tray and can always be closed from there. If you enable this policy, background mode is turned on. If you disable this policy, background mode is turned off. If you don't configure this policy, background mode is initially turned off, and the user can configure its behavior in edge://settings/system.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended Value name: BackgroundModeEnabled
Enabled: BackgroundModeEnabled = 1
Disabled: BackgroundModeEnabled = 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: Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended]
"BackgroundModeEnabled"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BackgroundModeEnabled' -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: Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'BackgroundModeEnabled' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BackgroundModeEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes
# 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: Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes
# 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'BackgroundModeEnabled' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Continue running background apps after Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 77, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'BackgroundModeEnabled' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.