Force Windows executable Native Messaging hosts to launch directly
Verified with Microsoft Edge 152.0.4191.53 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 121, Windows 7 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Edge Description
This policy controls whether native host executables launch directly on Windows. If you enable this policy, Microsoft Edge is forced to launch native messaging hosts implemented as executables directly. If you disable this policy, Microsoft Edge launches hosts using cmd.exe as an intermediary process. If you don't configure this policy, Microsoft Edge decides which approach to use based on a progressive rollout from the legacy behavior to the Launch Directly behavior, guided by ecosystem compatibility.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge HKCU
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge Value name: NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly
Enabled: NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly = 1
Disabled: NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly = 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: Force Windows executable Native Messaging hosts to launch directly
; State: Enabled
; Scope: Computer (HKLM)
; Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 121, Windows 7 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge]
"NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Windows executable Native Messaging hosts to launch directly
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 121, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly' -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: Force Windows executable Native Messaging hosts to launch directly
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 121, 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Windows executable Native Messaging hosts to launch directly
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 121, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Windows executable Native Messaging hosts to launch directly
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 121, 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: Force Windows executable Native Messaging hosts to launch directly
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 121, 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
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge' -Name 'NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Force Windows executable Native Messaging hosts to launch directly
# State: Enabled
# Scope: Computer (HKLM)
# Supported on: Microsoft Edge version 121, Windows 7 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'NativeHostsExecutablesLaunchDirectly' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.