Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes
Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 78, 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
Microsoft Edge doesn't clear the browsing data by default when it closes. Browsing data includes information entered in forms, passwords, and even the websites visited. If you enable this policy, all browsing data is deleted each time Microsoft Edge closes. Note that if you enable this policy, it takes precedence over how you configured 'DefaultCookiesSetting' (Configure cookies) If you disable or don't configure this policy, users can configure the Clear browsing data option in Settings. If you enable this policy, don't configure the 'AllowDeletingBrowserHistory' (Enable deleting browser and download history) or the 'ClearCachedImagesAndFilesOnExit' (Clear cached images and files when Microsoft Edge closes) policy, because they all deal with deleting browsing data. If you configure the preceding policies and this policy, all browsing data is deleted when Microsoft Edge closes, regardless of how you configured 'AllowDeletingBrowserHistory' or 'ClearCachedImagesAndFilesOnExit'. To exclude cookies from being deleted on exit, configure the 'SaveCookiesOnExit' (Save cookies when Microsoft Edge closes) policy. To exclude passwords from being deleted on exit, configure the 'PasswordDeleteOnBrowserCloseEnabled' (Prevent passwords from being deleted if any Edge settings is enabled to delete browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes) policy.
Registry
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended Value name: ClearBrowsingDataOnExit
Enabled: ClearBrowsingDataOnExit = 1
Disabled: ClearBrowsingDataOnExit = 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: Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 78, Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended]
"ClearBrowsingDataOnExit"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 78, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearBrowsingDataOnExit' -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: Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 78, 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'ClearBrowsingDataOnExit' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 78, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearBrowsingDataOnExit' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 78, 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: Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 78, 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended' -Name 'ClearBrowsingDataOnExit' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Clear browsing data when Microsoft Edge closes
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 78, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\Recommended'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ClearBrowsingDataOnExit' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.